Public use and visitor perception: the experience of a public-community partnership in the Alto Rio do Tanque Park (MG, Brazil)

Abstract

Partnerships in Protected Areas in Brazil have been established through different legal instruments, particularly concessions via public-private partnerships, especially in national and state parks. This strategy is justified by the institutional and budgetary limitations of management bodies, the need for investment in infrastructure, and the search for efficiency in public management. However, criticism has emerged regarding the elitization of access, the erosion of governance, and the disregard for traditional territorialities. In this context, the concept of Public-Community Partnerships has emerged, proposing the valorization of institutional arrangements anchored in the protagonism of local collectives, associations, and civil society organizations. Based on this, the article aims to analyze a public-community partnership experience in the Alto Rio do Tanque Municipal Natural Park, located in Itabira (MG, Brazil), involving a CSO founded by residents of the Serra dos Alves Community. The research, exploratory and descriptive in nature, adopted a qualitative-quantitative and participatory approach, based on primary and secondary data. Quantitative data were obtained by monitoring visitation and visitor evaluations between September 2022 and August 2025. During this period, the park received 30,497 visitors. The daily average was 27.83 visitors. The main reason for visiting was individual leisure. The evaluation of the reception was largely positive and indicated a high probability of recommending the park to others. The work of the Bromélia Institute has strengthened community belonging, environmental conservation, and local cultural appreciation, highlighting the importance of public-community partnerships as a democratic and inclusive alternative in the management of protected areas. The Institute was recognized by most of the survey participants as the UC's management body. However, there are gaps in public use management and opportunities for improvement.