O TURISMO COMO FERRAMENTA PARA A EDUCAÇÃO AMBIENTAL NO PARQUE NACIONAL SERRA DA CAPIVARA, PIAUÍ

Abstract

Tourism in protected areas is currently one of the main ways for society to be in contact with nature. These areas, in addition to having the preservation of natural heritage as their function, also enable the carrying out of activities to promote the well-being of visitors, allowing for an awareness of environmental sustainability. From this perspective, the objective of this work is to discuss the importance of tourism in promoting environmental education in the Serra da Capivara National Park, Piauí. The adopted methodology consisted of bibliographical research, through consultations in books, articles and websites of some agencies and fieldwork for a greater knowledge of the object of study. It is concluded that the Serra da Capivara National Park has a significant importance in contributing to the development of tourist practices in the state of Piauí, as the park exhibits a diversity of natural environments that mainly reflect on geodiversity (geological-geomorphological aspects) and on the rich biodiversity of the caatinga biome that characterizes the region. Therefore, the tourism developed in the park, in addition to enabling the contact of visitors with the environment, awakens in individuals a positive look towards natural environments and the preservation of biodiversity and geodiversity, essential points in the context of environmental education.