Banca de DEFESA: JEISIANE DE SOUSA GALVÃO

ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACTS OF PUBLIC VISITATION IN THE SPACES OF THE CAUAMÉ AND BRANCO RIVERS IN THE URBAN AREA OF BOA VISTA – RR

Water Resources. Public use. Tourism and recreation. Environmental impacts. Environmental education

Lakes and rivers have been increasingly used by humans as means of leisure and recreation. This work deals with visitation opportunities and the use of water resources as means of recreation. The objective of this dissertation was to evaluate the environmental impacts caused by public visitation and recreation in the main resorts of the Cauamé and Branco rivers located in the urban area of the Municipality of Boa Vista, Roraima. Its methodology was a descriptive, exploratory and field research applying a Rapid Assessment Protocol for Urban Rivers (PARU) and thus defining the impacts that public use can generate on water resources and the environment. Eight beaches were identified in the urban area that are used by the population. According to PARU, four beaches were considered as “good” condition, one beach was considered as “excellent” condition and three beaches as “regular” condition. In all of them the practice of recreational activities was evident. The biggest impacts are related to the discharge of untreated solid waste effluents. On all the beaches it was possible to observe a lot of garbage without proper final destination. With this, it was possible to identify that the beaches located in the extension of the Cauamé River are the beaches that suffer the most impacts due to their easy access, with a much greater demand from visitors. The beaches on the Branco River are accessible only by river transport, and even though they are well visited, they do not suffer the same impact from the population. In view of this, it is concluded that a more active presence of the bodies responsible for tourism and the environment is necessary through the preparation of the area for waste collection, with inspection actions and environmental education programs, sensitization and awareness of visitors about the importance of cleaning these areas to ensure environmental and economic sustainability.