Valoração Econômica Ambiental Aplicada no Parque Nacional de Ubajara/CE.

Abstract

The National Parks (PARNAs) are the most representative category of Conservation Units in Brazil. Although they are fundamental to the preservation of natural heritageare, these units are subject to constant threats to their integrity which endangers the biodiversity and the activities of visitation in these protected areas. One of the causes is the lack of financial resources for the management of surveillance, maintenance and monitoring actions. The evaluation of the economic value of the benefits provided to visitors and their willingness to pay for the preservation of these natural sites may be the way to fill the lack of information regarding the valuation of the potentialities in these units. The present research aims at estimating the use value for recreation and the preservation of the Ubajara / CE National Park from environmental economic valuation methods for the development of policies that provide financial sustainability to the managing department with a view to the planning and execution of programs and projects indispensable to safeguard the existing natural resources and recreation infrastructure. In all, 414 Brazilian visitors were interviewed through structured questionnaire application between July and September in 2016. The Ubajara PARNA presented a total economic value of R$11,995,491.76 per year (approximately US$3,800,000.00 in July, 2017), and more than 80% of this amount resulted from the benefits derived from recreational activities, demonstrating that the visitor perceives the park as a suitable place for sports and leisure activities in contact with nature. The visitors stated their willingness to pay an average of R$20.48 (approximately US$6.52 in July, 2017) for the preservation of the conservation unit in addition to the current entrance costs resulting in the non-use value of R$ 2,062,008.32 (approximately US$656,600.00 in July, 2017) per year for the composition of a fund aimed at improving the environmental quality of the park. Characteristics such as marital status, participation in environmental entities, schooling level, origin of the trip in Fortaleza / CE, trips with multiple destinations and bid value influenced the visitor´s willingness to pay. The results of this study demonstrate the need to make the society aware of the importance of the park for the population´s well-being, and to promote a change in the financial handling pattern of the unit that lacks the necessary means to carry out its management.