Ecotourism and nature appropriation in the Amazon: sustainability challenges in the Carajás National Forest (PA, Brazil)

Abstract

The Carajás National Forest (Flona Carajás), located in the Amazon, represents a space of tension between ecotourism practices and mineral exploitation. Promoted as a sustainable alternative, ecotourism faces structural and ideological barriers that limit its socio-environmental transformation potential, especially due to the territorial control exerted by mining activities. This article aims to reflect on the contradictions between the discourse of sustainable tourism and mining practices in Flona Carajás, highlighting the role of strategies adopted by ICMBIO and local social actors in territorial management. Using a qualitative and critical approach, grounded in the theory of coloniality, the research involved participant observation during meetings of the Public Use Program of Flona Carajás and analyzed official documents and promotional materials on ecotourism in the region. The results indicate that, although promoted as a counterpoint to mining, ecotourism in Flona Carajás reproduces a capitalist logic that commodifies natural resources, reinforcing the appropriation of nature as a commodity. It is concluded that it is necessary to break with this mercantilist perspective and promote a community-based and participatory tourism model that values shared management and respects both biodiversity and local communities.