Proposta de Metodologia de Capacidade de Suporte:

Estudo de caso no Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca – MG – Brasil

Abstract

The pressure on natural areas has increased due to the artificial model available in large cities densely packed with concrete and asphalt and devoid of green areas. The most visited park in Minas Gerais is the Ibitipoca State Park (IbSP), a unique and fragile place due to its quartzite formations and which needs to be monitored for the impacts of visits. Despite the resilience over the years, it is necessary to measure its carrying capacity. This work presents the methodology created by NAGEA from the incorporation of new elements to the Cifuentes Methodology (1992) in order to achieve a better adaptation to the Brazilian reality. The new method brings with it the creation of the correction factor for exposed roots; change in the accessibility factor through the classification of average ramps from 10% to 12%; addition of lateral vegetation in the solar brightness correction factor; the conversion of one-off occurrences to linear ones; and the use of the inclined distance instead of the horizontal. In April 2019 at PEIb, the three itineraries available for visitation were monitored: Janela do Céu, Pico do Pião and Águas. With the use of GNSS receivers, the trails were mapped and occurrences such as flooding, superficial soil wear, exposed roots and stretches with vegetation cover. The data were processed, tracing the plan and the longitudinal profile of each trail, determining the ramps. With the application of the methodology, the following results were obtained: 959 daily visitors across PEIb, 152 in the Águas Circuit, 457 in the Janela do Céu Circuit and 360 in the Pico do Pião Circuit. However, carrying capacity methodologies are not an end in themselves, they are only a guide for more comprehensive strategies and integrated with the planning and monitoring of impact indicators in protected areas.