Community Based Ecotourism in the Quilombola Community Furnas da Boa Sorte, Corguinho (MS, Brazil): planning and sustainability

Abstract

Community Based Ecotourism represents a central opportunity for valuing the natural environment, together with social protagonism, autonomy and the valorization of the territory, based on the perspective of tourism as a source of employment generation, financial income and economic dynamism. The objective of this work is to present the participatory planning stages for the implementation of community based ecotourism in the Furnas da Boa Sorte Community, Corguinho, Mato Grosso do Sul, in the perspective of territorial management, socioeconomic development and sustainability. The study area is located in the Serra de Maracaju region, the eastern border of the Pantanal wetland. The activities were developed based on the Freirean perspective, from the permanent dialogue and to do with the community and not for it. The methodological steps consisted of: qualitative research, using semi-structured form; technical visit to the residences; and classes for the theoretical administration of contents related to themes: ecotourism, sustainability, environmental education, hospitality, participatory planning, agroforestry, and presentation of successful and inspiring experiences in community based tourism in Brazil. The interviews were attended by 22 people, representing 17 families and corresponding to 42.5% of the number of families in the community. The territory is rich in natural and cultural assets, which can be managed for the purposes of community-based ecotourism. Throughout the process of diagnosis and participatory planning it was realized that community livelihoods could be aligned with environmental conservation, with the possibility of effective management by agents of protection of the natural and cultural patrimony that are the residents of the community. Thus, community-based ecotourism allows us to envisage the possibility of conservation practices and responsible management of natural resources in the territory, contributing to an increase in the quality of life, economic dynamization and socio-environmental protection.