Importância socioambiental da Unidade de Conservação de Proteção Integral Monumento Natural Gruta Casa de Pedra (estado do Ceará)

Abstract

Conservation Units (UCs) are areas that, due to their relevant natural characteristics, are protected by the National System of Conservation Units law, which aims to promote the preservation, recovery and sustainable use of existing natural resources. These areas provide important Ecosystem Services (ES), that is, benefits arising from the functions performed by the ecosystem and which directly or indirectly contribute to social well-being. In this sense, this study aims to describe the socio-environmental importance of the Gruta Casa de Pedra Natural Monument Conservation Unit for the municipalities of Madalena and Itatira, Ceará, through semi-structured interviews with 35 residents, in addition to identifying and classifying the ecosystem services offered by this conservation unit, based on the perception of the local population. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were carried out regarding the benefits perceived by the interviewees, using non-parametric statistics. To characterize the ES mentioned by the population, the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES) methodology was used, which divides the services into three sections: provision, regulation and maintenance, and cultural. Subsequently, the SWOT/FOFA matrix was applied to the managers responsible for managing the unit, highlighting the strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and threats found in this protected area. It resulted that the Natural Monument (Mona) provides important ES, with the cultural ones being the most frequently perceived by the population, highlighting scientific studies and educational activities. Tourism is another cultural service frequently mentioned by interviewees, driven by natural formations and local history. Furthermore, managers pointed out that this UC has management advantages due to its small territorial area. However, the distance and geographic isolation between mountain ranges, combined with the scarcity of resources, contribute to difficulties in carrying out more efficient monitoring of the area, resulting in failures in its protection. In this regard, the high potential of the Gruta Casa de Pedra Natural Monument as a tourist attraction for the municipalities of Madalena and Itatira is notable, and that measures to improve the management of this area, such as the creation of a Management Plan, are essential to maintain the preservation of the biota and ecosystems in which it is located.