Participação social no planejamento do uso público no parque estadual de Ibitipoca, Minas Gerais

Abstract

The Ibitipoca State Park (PEIb), in Minas Gerais, Brazil, and its surrounding communities are presented as an opportune environment to study social, economic and environmental interrelations, as well as how these relations are directed to a participative management in the public use of the Conservation Unit. With the objective of analyzing the social participation in planning the public use of the Ibitipoca State Park, we evaluated the interaction between the park and the community from the Conceição do Ibitipoca district, as well as between the visitors for both parts. We associated the methodological tools of Participative Rapid/Rural Diagnostics (PRD) and the Participative Diagnostics of Conservation Units (PDCU). The data analysis was performed using two types of approach, one quantitative, involving the measuring of numerical variables, and another qualitative, based on data obtained through personal interaction and the cooperation from informants. In conclusion, the park generated land use expropriation in its limits due to historical practices incompatible with the current status of the area. The current relation between park and community was verified as linked to economic issues derived from tourism, however, not restricted to this aspect. In addition, the Ibitipoca State Park visitors know the park’s purposes and involve themselves with the local community, in general, only by using the offered touristic services.