Environmental impacts of unorganized cave tourism: a study on the public use of the Gruta da Lancinha – Rio Branco do Sul, State of Paraná, Brazil

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5216/ag.v17i1.73513

Abstract

The Gruta da Lancinha has been receiving visitors in an unorganized manner for over 150 years, causing a series of environmental impacts that threaten this sensitive ecosystem. This work aimed to characterize the caverns’ visitors, investigating their origin, motivation, previous experiences, and the way in which their visitation has taken place. An online and physical qualitative survey was applied by adapting “summit books”, which are commonly used in mountaineering. Furthermore, the main environmental impacts caused by human visitation were registered and spatialized in GIS, revealing the relationship between both. Lastly, the lack of governmental support for the management of this important natural cavern was discussed, highlighting the urgent need for an environmental management plan for the Gruta da Lancinha Natural Monument.

Keywords: Nature Conservation. Caves. Caverns. Tourism. Natural Heritage.

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Published

2023-04-20

How to Cite

BÖCK, M. C.; PAZ, O. L. de S. da; PAULA, E. V. de. Environmental impacts of unorganized cave tourism: a study on the public use of the Gruta da Lancinha – Rio Branco do Sul, State of Paraná, Brazil. Ateliê Geográfico Journal, Goiânia, v. 17, n. 1, p. 274–304, 2023. DOI: 10.5216/ag.v17i1.73513. Disponível em: https://revistas.ufg.br/atelie/article/view/73513. Acesso em: 27 jun. 2024.

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