Written by Felipe Lobo, Giovanny Veras e Karina Miotto
Friday, 14 October 2011 07:30
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A region of countless natural wealth, Pan-Amazonia is home to millions of people. In addition to the task of containing deforestation and illegal activity, more alternatives are needed in order to place the region even more on the agenda of the nine countries which border the region – ecotourism is possibly the way forward. According to data from the Brazilian Association of Ecotourism and Adventure Tourism (Abeta), 54% of Brazilians who choose this type of tourism do it because of the contact with nature and the chance to practice outdoor activities. However that percentage level of interest doesn’t reach the largest tropical forest in the world which, in ecosystems terminology-biomes, counts for almost 60% of the whole country.
A study by the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) in September reveals that 71.2% of Brazilians prefer to take their vacations in Brazil - 48.9 % going to the North-East, 21.5% in the South and 15.8% in the South-East. Research figures for foreign visitors released last week by the Ministry of Tourism show that ecotourism is the second major reason for choosing Brazil- sun and beach comes first. All the same, in spite of all the year round sunshine, beautiful seaside and riverside beaches and plenty of ecotourism potential, not one of the nine Amazonian states appear in the ten most visited categories.
Ecotourism is a powerful tool for the conservation of biodiversity. One category which has shown itself to be efficient in the region is so called ‘community based ecotourism’ where, instead of hotels, the travelers stay with the local riverside villagers in the middle of the forest. Other ways of travelling in the Brazilian Amazonia region and getting to experience the rainforest is by using the ecotour lodges- the most famous are in the Amazonas State- and also in the Conservation Areas (UCs), such as the National Parks. Adventure is guaranteed, but high costs and transportation difficulties in these areas do not help to make the itineraries more popular.
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(Apart from the Brazilian borders, the beauty of the ecosystems –biome- (and) tackling the difficulties in making the region more popular with tourists is the same.)Even so, the map shows clearly that although difficult, it’s not impossible – there are ecotour lodges in other countries where forests exist.
Finding out about some ecotour lodges in the Pan-Amazonian Region.(in Spanish)
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In Amazonas
It is The State of Amazonas that offers the widest choice in terms of tourism in the Amazon Region, including the Conservation Areas. The Unini River, near the middle of the Negro River, has one of the largest concentrations of rainforest vegetation in the world. It was chosen by
Vitoria Amazonica Foundationfor the development of the Community-based Tourism Project for
Extractive Reserve (Resex, in Portuguese) of the Unini River. Resex is an area for sustainable use by traditional communities.
After discussions and research with the riverside communities, the main tourist attractions were mapped out. Interaction and exchange of similar experiences, like the
Mamiraua Sustainable Development Reserve,, also served as a basis for an action plan. “Going from Manaus, in Amazonas, as far as the last village on the Unini, takes three to four days by boat, which itself is an adventure. There, tourists can mingle with the villagers, go fishing and trekking, see a variety of plants and animals, learn some handicrafts using native fibers and ceramics, and swim in the streams. Lots of things to do”, says Carlos Durigan, FVA executive director.
The
National Anavilhanas Park is another rainforest tourist attraction, two and a half hours from Manaus. “We have Brazilians and foreigners. They all like to see the local nature and go out at night by boat to watch the alligators”, as Park Chief Priscilla Santos explains.
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Another option is the
Uatama Sustainable Development Reserve. Among its potential is its ease of access, being relatively near Manaus, besides the scenic beauty of the lakes, streams, mountains and trails. “ tourists who come here can find out about the turtle protection program which, since 1996, has repopulated the Uatuma basin with one hundred thousand animals,’’ says Andre Vianna, from the
Amazonas Conservation and Sustainable Development Institute (Idesam), which manages the Park.
Community Based Program
Maria Teresa Meinberg runs the
Aware Tourist Agency with trips to Para Sate passing through Belem and Marajo and
Alter do Chão village communities. “We increased our sales when we began to work with forest lodge hotels with a more ecological theme. That’s where the demand is, but we are also looking at extending community-based tourism. We have started a service in the villages as professional as the forest lodges or any other type of resort", says Meinberg.
Pan-Amazonia
In the Ministry of tourism site of Ecuador it says “ we are coordinating plans for tourism Development throughout the Amazon region. The objectives will strengthen proposals dealing with Ruta Del Yaku Namby or Ruta Del Agua, considered a flagship product in equatorial Amazonia, as it has as a central element biodiversity, ancestral cultures and water, besides the wonderful local cuisine.’’ The region, says the Ministry, promotes sport fishing, rafting, river excursions and canoeing. A meeting in July this year that launched “a study for the diversification of demand for sustainable tourism in Amazonia and the Yasuni Reserve Biosphere´´ makes clear the Ecuadorian Government’s intention to invest in tourist activities within the Yasuni Reserve Biosphere.
Another Pan-Amazonian country which intends to invest in rain forest tourism is Colombia. According to The Ministry of Tourism, “the system of national parks combines areas which, on all counts, have been recognized as top destinations for Colombians and foreigners´´. 28 out of existing 49 parks demonstrate their potential for ecotourism.
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In a document called “Pentur 2008-2018" by the Foreign Trade and Tourism Ministry of Peru, the government also showed interest in developing ecotourism, but without mentioning Amazonia specifically. As can be seen in the map, tourist activity is possible within the forest and, like in Brazil, in Conservation Areas.
Bolivia is no different. One well known option is Rurrenabque. Near La Paz the town has exuberant forest and is the gateway to the Madidi and Pilon National Parks. “Activity favors big business and taxi drivers”, confirms Yerko Nunez, Mayor of Rurrenabaque. However on the federal government site, there is no Ministry of Tourism showing efforts to develop visits to nature reserves.
In general terms, specialists are unanimous in saying that the Amazonia tourist potential is huge and needs to be better exploited. Ayslaner Gallo, from
MapsMut company, which carries out environmental management and planning, believes that tourism is an excellent tool for showing the reality of the forest.
