Understanding visitors’ experiences in Protected Areas through Social Media posts in Brazil

Autores

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34024/cebzdh11

Palavras-chave:

Conservation Culturomics, Cultural Ecosystem Services, Ecotouris, iEcology, Parks

Resumo

Social media is used as a tool to monitor and manage visitor use in Protected Areas (PAs). While PAs are primarily designed to conserve ecosystems, they also play an important role in promoting human well-being through ecotourism in areas that allow visitation. The objective of this study was to analyze the provision of cultural ecosystems services (CES) carried out by Brazilian PAs, through content analysis of social media photos and videos. In total, 2,147 posts were analyzed, 1,001 on Instagram and 1,146 on Facebook. The most frequently recorded attractions were landscapes (47.1%) and water bodies (27%). Although there were differences among biomes: in the Amazon and Cerrado, water bodies were more prominent (40.5% and 40.4% of posts, respectively), whereas in the Pantanal and Pampa, animal species received greater attention (49.0% and 28.0%, respectively). Sixteen types of sports activities were identified, with hiking and cycling standing out in almost all biomes. Most visitors preferred to share individual photos or videos (40.2%), while posts featuring children (5.6%) or traditional populations (0.5%) were relatively rare. Our findings highlight patterns in visitor interests and contribute to a broader understanding of human-nature interactions, providing a basis for future research on the use of protected areas.

Biografia do Autor

  • Isabela Alves, Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul

    Graduated in Biological Sciences, she holds a Teaching Certification from the Federal University of Fronteira Sul (UFFS), Cerro Largo Campus (2020–2023). She volunteered in the projects “Conservation Biology” (2022–2023) and “Botany Teaching Monitoring” (2023). She is currently a Master’s student in the Graduate Program in Environment and Sustainable Technologies at UFFS, in the research line of Environmental Quality, focusing on Biodiversity Conservation and Terrestrial Ecosystems. She is also a volunteer in the umbrella project titled “Conservation Biology.”

  • Daniela Oliveira de Lima, Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul

    Graduated in Biological Sciences from the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM) and a Masters and PhD in Ecology from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), including a doctoral exchange period at Imperial College London, United Kingdom. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia. She is currently a Professor of Ecology at the Federal University of Fronteira Sul (UFFS), Cerro Largo campus (RS), where she also serves as coordinator of the undergraduate programs in Biological Sciences. In addition, she is a permanent member of the Graduate Program in Environment and Sustainable Technologies (PPGATS). Her research focuses on understanding how land use and climate change influence biodiversity in the ecotone between the Atlantic Forest and the Pampa, aiming to contribute to the development of more resilient and sustainable landscapes for both people and biodiversity

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10.11.2026

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ALVES, Isabela; LIMA, Daniela Oliveira de. Understanding visitors’ experiences in Protected Areas through Social Media posts in Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Ecoturismo (RBEcotur), [S. l.], v. 19, n. 4, p. 485–502, 2026. DOI: 10.34024/cebzdh11. Disponível em: https://periodicos.unifesp.br/ecoturismo/article/view/21475. Acesso em: 11 nov. 2026.
Recebido 18.11.2025
Aceito 15.04.2026
Publicado 10.11.2026