Sustainability Index of the Gruta do Lago Azul Natural Monument, Bonito Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Silva-Melo, Marta Regina da; Guedes, Neiva Maria Robaldo; Melo, Gleidson André Pereira de

doi:10.14393/SN-v33-2021-53828

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Articles • Soc. nat. 33 • 2021 • https://doi.org/10.14393/SN-v33-2021-53828 copy

Sustainability Index of the Gruta do Lago Azul Natural Monument, Bonito Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

With relevant scenic beauty, the Gruta do Lago Azul is one of the most important caves with national speleological heritage and is a tourist attraction with worldwide visibility. This study aims to analyze the sustainability index of the Natural Monument of the Gruta do Lago Azul in Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul state. The Barometer of Tourism Sustainability (BTS) and AMOEBA of Tourism Sustainability Indicators (ATSI) were used to analyze the level of sustainability. Twenty indicators were selected that resulted in the following indices: the Human System had an average of 48.62% and the Ecological System was 58.17%. The verified index is in an intermediate stage, proportional to 41-60%, and is considered satisfactory. Despite this, a Management Plan and an Environmental Education Program were absent, and these are required by the National System of Conservation Units (SNUC). Given the foregoing, it is inferred that the integrity of the level of sustainability of the Natural Monument of the Gruta do Lago Azul is still uncertain. Therefore, to promote authentic sustainable tourism in areas that provide essential environmental services to society, such as the Gruta do Lago Azul, it is necessary to implement a compatible level of development to meet the needs of current generations, without compromising the capacity of future ones.

Keywords:
Natural heritage; Tourist cave; Barometer of Tourism Sustainability

Sector	Value scale (%)
Sustainable (excellent)	81-100
Potentially sustainable (good)	61-80
Intermediate	41-60
Potentially unsustainable (poor)	21-40
Unsustainable (bad)	1-20

Cronbach Alpha	Internal consistency
α > 0.9	Excellent
α > 0.8	Good
α > 0.7	Acceptable
α > 0.6	Questionable
α > 0.5	Poor
α < 0.5	Unacceptable

Respondents	K	$S_{i}^{2}$	$S_{t}^{2}$	α
387	16	17.85	92.39	0.86

	Indicators	SI*	Values (%)
Human System	Access (between the city and the cave)	SI1	50,50
	Customer service and reception (guides, monitors)	SI2	76,70
	Security equipment	SI3	57,40
	Information and promotion of tourist attraction	SI4	57,10
	Accessibility	SI5	41,80
	Internal infrastructure (ladders, handrails, boardwalks)	SI6	46,20
	Promotion of environmental education	SI7	56,50
	Care and attention to natural tourist attraction	SI8	72,90
	Risk management (PPEs, first aid, experienced guides)	SI9	27,10
	Creation and conduction of socio-environmental activities	SI10	0,00
Ecological System	Trash management	SI11	70,20
	Vegetation (general state of conservation)	SI12	65,90
	Effects of visitation on natural spaces	SI13	43,30
	Stress on local fauna which disturbs the equilibrium state	SI14	42,80
	Soil degradation	SI15	66,70
	Fragile environment of the cave	SI16	76,50
	Represents a vulnerable ecosystem	SI17	54,40
	Possesses relevant geological information	SI18	61,90
	Control of carrying capacity	SI19	100,00
	Management plan	SI20	0,00

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E-mail: sociedade.natureza@ig.ufu.br

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[1] AUTHORS' CONTRIBUTION

Marta Regina da Silva-Melo conceived the study, collected and analyzed the data, wrote and reviewed the text. Neiva Maria Robaldo Guedes guided the preparation of the study and analyzed the data. Gleidson André Pereira de Melo elaborated the situation map, performed the statistical tests, and reviewed the text.