What do we know about the environmental impacts of tourism on Brazil’s tropical reefs?

Abstract

Reef environments concentrate high biodiversity and provide goods and services to humanity, including the economic benefits associated with tourism. Reef tourism grows worldwide, as does the environmental impacts caused by the activity. The aim of this work was to systematize and analyze the results of the researches that evaluated the impacts of tourism in Brazil’s tropical reefs, identifying the geographic scope of the studies, as well as the biological groups and ecological variables used for environmental assessment, distinguishing those that have changed in function of tourist use. 81 publications were identified, between 1996 and 2020, with an exponential increase in researches over time. Pernambuco and Rio Grande do Norte were the states with the largest number of studies on the subject, concentrating 50% of the studies found. Seven biological groups, including fish, algae and invertebrates, were evaluated in reef areas, considering variables such as richness, abundance and density. Most of the investigated variables were altered as a result of tourist activity on the reefs, except for the group of corals. An integrated understanding of the impacts of tourism can contribute to the development of management strategies in reef areas, seeking solutions that consider social, economic and environmental aspects.

Keywords
Tourist activity; Scientific production; Reef ecosystem