Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca/MG: potencial geoturístico e proposta de leitura do seu geopatrimônio por meio da interpretação ambiental

Abstract

The creation of conservation units is a legal resource turned to the environment protection as a whole; however, what one actually perceives is the valuing of biodiversity upon geodiversity. The state park of Ibitipoca (PEI) is a unit of integral use located at Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais, at a geological-geomorphological site in which lithology associated to irregular relief has provided such a rich touristic potential. Such potential astounds by the beauty and diversity of geodiversity, outstanding quartzite caves, fluvial beaches, water falls, miradors, natural bridges etc. All this natural abundance comprehends a scenario adequate to the understanding of aspects related to the evolution of the Earth planet; however, currently, there is not a project of educational and/or interpretative character involving this theme at the park. This condition has led us to, among others, to the main objective of this research: make it possible, through interpretative panels, the understanding, specifically, of the geological and geomorphological aspects of PEI, with a view to value and publicize its geopatrimony. To reach such objective one has done, in general, bibliographical revision about the theme and starting from four main axes (i- geodiversity, geopatrimony, geoconservation and geotourism; ii- characterizing of the study area, iii- environmental interpretation and iv- geoparks); field works in the study area with the inventory, georeferencing and photographical register of the abiotic basis attractives and, finally, office work to correlate primary data with the secondary and elaborate the maps, topographical profiles and interpretative panels. From this methodology one gathers that PEI comprehends a topographically raised region in the Plateau of Andrelândia, with typical landscapes of quartzite rocks, which, through past geological and geomorphological processes, have formed traces of beauty and value, involving the existing geological patrimony. The existence of this geopatrimony is one of the pillars of geotourism, a new touristic segment which searches to join an educational branch to the contemplation of this segment of nature, through interpretative means. Although it has a geotouristic potential, this park lacks educational and interpretative programs, this being a demand pointed by the tourists in researches made before. Hence, one of the results of the research has been the interpretative elaborated for the geosites with higher educational and touristic value, selected by qualitative and numeric methodologies. With its geotouristic potential presented, among other attributes such as consolidated infrastructure and being the most visited state park in Minas Gerais, one has considered reasonable to analyse the possibilities for PEI to be integrated into the Geoparks Net of UNESCO. However, it is still a long way to be tracked in this sense, showing that it is necessary much more than beauty or geological and geomorphological diversity. It is necessary join conservation and economic development, at a sustainable basis, respecting local identity and the other geographical attributes of the area, making a visit that reveals the systemic character of the environment possible. From this thesis, results were generated and presented as articles and panels, which one expects to influence directly or indirectly, the understanding and dissemination of the concept and importance of the geopatrimony, specifically, the State Park of Ibitipoca.