Ecotourism potential at ESEC Taim and its interactions with the Paisagem das Águas Geopark project

Abstract

Ecotourism integrates a concern for sustainability, educational visits, and the involvement of local communities in the planning and management of the activity. It consists of practices that occur especially in areas of interest for nature conservation. These include Conservation Units (CUs), protected by Law No. 9985/2000, which establishes the National System of CUs (SNUC). The UNESCO Global Geopark (GMU) is a sustainable territorial development strategy focused on geoheritage conservation. The objective of this article is to investigate the ecotourism potential at the interface between CUs and GMUs, based on the case study of the Taim Ecological Station (ESEC Taim), part of the Landscape of Waters Geopark Project (PGPA). The study uses a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive approach, using a case study approach. Document analysis was conducted in June 2025, followed by thematic analysis. The PGPA encompasses the Lagoa dos Patos estuary, in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, an area of ​​international scientific and environmental significance. Among the eight Conservation Units (CUs) identified within the PGPA, ESEC Taim is the case in point. Created to protect springs that feed the Taim hydrological system, ensuring the maintenance of natural ecosystems, it is also recognized as a Ramsar site and a core zone of the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve. Although essential for environmental conservation, it has legal restrictions on public use, encouraging the enjoyment of surrounding attractions with strong aesthetic appeal linked to waterscapes and fauna and flora observation. The institutional documents consulted do not delve into the prospects for ecotourism in this CU and surrounding areas, limiting it to educational visits. On the other hand, there are tourist activities in the surrounding area promoted by local operators and guides, such as trails, interpretive tours, and admiring nature and the historic Vila da Capilha. These practices demonstrate potential for integrating biodiversity and geodiversity conservation with sociocultural enhancement, highlighting ESEC Taim as a priority area within the PGPA. Continuing research should encompass the other PAs, seeking to integrate their management with the PGPA, with a view to mutually strengthening conservation strategies and sustainable use of nature in the Lagoa dos Patos estuary.