Trail visitation monitoring with camera traps in Serra dos Órgãos National Park (RJ, Brazil)

Abstract

Visitor monitoring in Protected Areas is essential to understanding public demand and the impacts of visitation on natural environments. Various methods are used for this purpose, such as registration at entrance points and automatic counters. However, many parks face human and financial resource limitations that hinder the collection of detailed data on public use. The objective of this study was to quantify and characterize visitors on trails, through camera traps, at the Teresópolis sector of the Serra dos Órgãos National Park (RJ, Brazil), between October 2020 (reopening after the Covid-19 pandemic) and December 2022. Bushnell® Trophy Cam cameras, originally installed for wildlife monitoring, were used. The analysis focused on visitor distribution along the Suspensa, Mozart Catão, Cartão Postal, Jussara, and 360 trails, and included aspects such as movement direction, visitor gender, and the presence of children. The data were compared to the park’s official visitation records. Results showed that the Suspensa trail was the most visited and had the highest proportion of children relative to adults compared to the other trails. No significant differences were observed in visitation frequency between men and women. The use of camera traps proved to be a viable method for visitor monitoring, particularly when integrated with wildlife monitoring. This approach provides a broader understanding of human presence and supports the effective management and conservation of natural areas.