The Importance of Regional Trails for the Viability of the Brazilian Long Trails Network

La Importancia de los Senderos Regionales para la Viabilidad de la Red Brasileña de Senderos Largos

Abstract

Accelerated urbanization has stimulated tourism in natural areas and the search for a reconnection between man and nature. In that context, this article narrates the implementation of the Brazilian Trails System (RBT) based on the monitoring of the Regional Trail Caminho das Araucárias activities and the analysis of official documents and data available in social media. We evaluated the RBT’s potential to contribute to environmental conservation, landscape connection, tourism promotion and well-being through open-air recreation. In this study, we found that 1.600 kilometers of new trails were created in two years, and that there has been a growth of volunteer work and of integration among Protected Area managers. Lastly, the study highlights the importance of regional trails in enabling the RBT and its valuable contribution to the conservation of protected areas and the generation of employment and local income, based on the good practices of similar international initiatives.

Keywords
Trails; Conservation; Tourism; Protected Areas; Brazilian Trails System; Araucárias Way