Contribuição do ecoturismo para o uso sustentável dos recursos hídricos do município de Rondonópolis - MT

Abstract

The Municipality of Rondonópolis possesses several touristic attractions such as a great diversity of waterfalls and little beaches located in the surroundings of the urban area, which attract tourists from various locations. Aiming to understand how ecotourism can contribute to the conservation of water resources in the leisure areas, as well as their potential development of touristic activities in those places. To achieve the proposed objective, there was an analysis of the generation of social and environmental benefits in which it has opted for a qualitative and quantitative approach seeking to establish the utilization frequency of the users through questionnaires, photographic survey and Likerts scale of five points, seeking data to draw the profile of users that would help to understand the use related to ecotourism activities. The study is justified by the inexistence of methodological and theoretical framework of the theme in question. The research was conducted in three methodological steps: bibliographical research, identification of leisure areas and thematic maps elaboration for representation of touristic potential. The procedures included the use of various techniques subsidized in remote sensing and geoprocessing tools that allowed the analysis and spatial distribution of tourism activities of the main leisure areas. The spatial distribution of the waterfalls and its surroundings, we observe the biophysical characters such as: the endemic vegetation, the cachoeiras, the waterfalls, the rocky outcrops, rivers, little beaches and espraiados. The results showed a correct perception of respondents on existing interrelationships between ecotourism practices and the sustainable use of water resources. In conclusion though, a long way must be performed in order to prevent the economic benefits of ecotourism generate an inappropriate exploitation of natural resources, causing environmental problems, particularly to water resources in the surroundings.