Training of visitor guides and the Chapada das Mesas National Park management plan

Abstract

Chapada das Mesas National Park is an important territory that aims to protect the biological diversity of the Cerrado of Maranhão. Its public use through tourist visits currently takes place in only 02 attractions: Cachoeira de São Romão e Cachoeira do Prata. Thus, the visitor guide has an important role in the process of interpretive experience. In this sense, this research aims to understand how the conduction of visitors happens and contributes to the sustainable development of Chapada das Mesas National Park, from the perspective of the training of these agents and the content of their management plan. For this, the methodology used was the development of an exploratory, bibliographic, and documentary research, with subsequent application of action research and web survey. As a result, it was found that the management plan was prepared and instituted only in 2019, that is, 14 years after the creation of the Conservation Unit. Thus, the data collected from participants of Guiding Visitors in Natural Environments and Protected Areas Course reported that only 72% had direct or indirect contact with the instrument and 28% were unaware of the content. It concludes that it is necessary to enable professional training conditions for these guides, bringing the interpretative contents closer to their daily realities, contributing to a citizen science and to the professionalization of the visitation experience.