Economic valuation of ecosystem goods and services in the Serra da Capivara National Park: an approach based on the Travel Cost Method

Abstract

This article aimed to estimate the recreational use value of ecosystem goods and services in the Serra da Capivara National Park, located in the south of the state of Piauí, in the Northeast of Brazil, with a notable attraction of tourism based on nature, history and culture. The Travel Cost Method was used through the application of an online questionnaire for tourists who made visits to the location, whose information was collected during the month of June 2019. It was found that the profile of visitors includes, mostly, people with a higher level of schooling and income level, which rated the observation of the landscape in the viewpoints, visits to the Museum of Nature and the archaeological sites more highly. As a consensus, almost all users and non-users recognize the relevance of this natural space and are willing to pay an entrance fee, which would help in its conservation and support. The recreational use value of the Serra da Capivara National Park estimated from the Cost of Travel Method was R$ 7.1 million per year, a result that although impressive, may still be underestimated, since the estimated potential use value reached R$ 2.1 billion, confirming the importance of investments in infrastructure for the reception of visitors, as well as in environmental protection mechanisms that provide knowledge and maintenance of the ecological integrity of the Park and the economic tourism activity that it sustains.