Since the 1980s, ecotourism has evolved in Brazil, mainly in the public government sphere, through the work of institutions such as the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) and, in the case of Minas Gerais, the State Forestry Institute (IEF). New environmental areas have been created since then, such as the Ibitipoca State Park (PEI), in the state of Minas Gerais.
The PEI was created by a state law on July 4, 1973 and covers an area of Atlantic Forest of 1488 hectares, occupying the municipalities of Lima Duarte and Santa Rita do Ibitipoca - MG. Ibitipoca is a word that comes from Tupi-Guarani and means "Bursting Mountain", which fits in perfectly with the park due to the large number of caves and waterfalls and the high incidence of lightning in the region. These characteristics create a geodiverse environment with quartzite caves, river beaches, waterfalls, viewpoints and natural bridges. These characteristics make the area incredibly attractive to tourists.
The fauna is rich in biodiversity, and the area is also home to endangered species such as the puma (Puma concolor), the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) and the sauá (Callicebus personatus). Also appearing are the howler monkey (Alouatta guariba), the purple-breasted parrot (Amazona vinacea), the coati (Nasua nasua), the common swift (Streptoprocne biscutata), as well as the Ibitipoca tree frog (Bokermannohyla Ibitipoca), an endemic species of anuran amphibian identified for the first time in the park region. There is no doubt about the importance of state parks and preserved areas in the conservation of species, both fauna and flora, as well as in environmental education through ecotourism. PEI is part of this reality!
Environmental education is an important tool for conservation, since the better informed people are about anthropogenic impacts, the more interested they become in helping to conserve natural resources and biodiversity. Everyone has a great responsibility in this game and only with everyone's help can we ensure that more and more species, such as the Ibitipoca tree frog, become known, conserved and respected.
REFERENCES:
BENTO, Lilian Carla Moreira et al. Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca/MG: potencial geoturístico e proposta de leitura do seu geopatrimônio por meio da interpretação ambiental. 2014 .
Parque Estadual de Ibitipoca, Instituto Estadual de Florestas: http://www.ief.mg.gov.br/component/content/192?task=view#:~:text=A%20fauna%20%C3%A9%20rica%2C%20com,%2Dcoleira%20falha%2C%20entre%20outros .
Governo do Estado de São Paulo: https://www.infraestruturameioambiente.sp.gov.br/fundacaoflorestal/pagina-inicial/parques-estaduais/
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