Geotourism Social Constraints and Protection Instruments from the Sustainability Perspective: Evidence from the Northernmost Brazilian State

Abstract

In the last decades, the anthropogenic actions on the planet have dually gained visibility: on the one hand as promoters of strategies for safeguarding the environment at a global level and on the other hand as protagonists of the excessive exploitation of its natural resources, threatening the natural balance of the planet. Considering this scenario that results in a need to seek sustainable renewal, the Brazilian indigenous communities living in regions dominated by rock formations classified as natural heritage assume themselves as important vehicles in safeguarding the geological sites through the information they have. There is a lack of knowledge and devaluation regarding the potential of these indigenous communities. Accordingly, the objective of this chapter is to present a vision of the constraints of geotourism in the northernmost Brazilian state of Mucajaí, Roraima (RR), i.e., the duties and responsibilities necessary for the full implementation of geotourism, seeking to safeguard geodiversity in territories dominated by natural heritage, in which the community is sustainably integrated. A review of the official websites of the RR State and of the official legislation was carried out to understand the current geotourism constraints in this region. Based on the results found, regional leaders will be able to identify the specific needs of the region to fully implement the geotourism activity and to promote more sustainable practices to safeguard this region from the anthropic pressure. The use of strategic environmental assessment tools in decision-making on policies and plans for the development of geotourism in a given region should be considered by the official entities in order to ensure the correct assessment of the economic, social, and environmental impacts of this type of interventions.