Conservation Units in Mato Grosso
CUIABÁ AND SANTO ANTÔNIO DO LEVERGER – MATO GROSSO
Urban park and accommodation in natural areas
The study covers four Conservation Units (UC) that are inserted in the Cerrado, the second largest biome in South America, which represents 24% of the national territory and about 40% of the state territory of Mato Grosso. It is estimated that only 20% of the original portion of this biome is preserved, being one of the biomes most affected by the intervention and anthropic pressure.
The State of Mato Grosso seeks to support the conservation processes of its biomes. In this sense, the role of the four UCs – which are State Parks – is extremely relevant for the protection of the Cerrado and the dissemination of information and awareness about the importance of their conservation.
The public use in UC foreseen by the SNUC (National System of Conservation Units) is an important tool to contribute to the conservation and protection of UC. This work aims to raise the current and necessary conditions for the elaboration of planning tools that maximize the use of the tourist potential of the parks, allowing a greater diversity of recreational, educational, and business activities associated with public use and tourism in protected areas.
Three parks are in Cuiabá: State Park (PE) Mãe Bonifácia, PE Zé Bolo Flô and PE Massairo Okamura. PE Águas Quentes is placed in the municipality of Santo Antônio do Leverger, 85 km from the capital.
We carried out a diagnosis that contemplates the analysis of the tourist context in the UC region, identifying social and economic aspects, including assessing the main tourist destinations in the surroundings and similar locations. The analysis scale covers the municipalities of Cuiabá and Santo Antônio do Leverger, including the study of each of the parks. Several field visits and conversations with stakeholders were carried out.
The diagnostic step allows the identification of the profile of each park and the conceptual axes that make up the guidelines proposed for the Masterplan for public use in each location.
As they are conservation units, the zoning of the parks defined by the respective Management Plans is rigorous, which allows us to identify the nuclei where the main activities and services occur. The areas of each park where improvements and new activities aimed at developing partnerships were observed.
In addition to the proposals to implement improvements in attractions, infrastructure, and existing activities. An attractive anchor was proposed in each park, in the highest frequency services and activities centers, which is an element that can make up the main revenue generating unit of the park and designate an attractive base for the establishment of partnerships. Anchor attractions were proposed, such as: cultural facilities (museum, interpretation center and cultural center); food service; Cerrado interpretation garden; sport Center; square for holding fairs among other events.
Due to its location in a natural area, the strategy adopted for the Águas Quentes State Park was different from the approach for urban parks. Another peculiarity of the park is the presence of the thermal hotel, a concession operating on site. Thus, the vision of the future identified for the UC focuses on strengthening the area of the park already destined for public use – the hotel. The proposal aims at its repositioning in the market and a new business panorama for the hotel complex, which is strengthened as an element of dissemination and enhancement of the UC itself, becoming a unique attraction in the region.
The relationship with the natural context, taking into account the uses and the current occupation of the hotel complex, directs the characterization and distribution of the program of uses in sectors, forming an arc of functions in a system that seeks greater interaction with the natural attributes: relationship with water bodies and hydrothermal vents, with the native vegetation of the Cerrado and with the slope of the terrain.
