Identificação dos atributos físicos, bióticos e socioculturais do Parque Nacional Serra de Itabaiana - SE

Abstract

The Serra de Itabaiana National Park, located in the state of Sergipe, created on July 15, 2005, is a fully protected Conservation Unit (CU) that plays a fundamental role in the preservation of the region's natural and cultural resources. Despite the approval of its Management Plan in 2017, the document does not make evident which attributes are present in the park. Therefore, the present work seeks to identify and map the physical, biotic, and sociocultural attributes in the Serra de Itabaiana National Park, aiming to support the management and public use of the unit. The methodology employed included the collection and analysis of secondary data from academic literature, technical visits for primary data collection, and the use of geotechnologies, such as Google Earth and Avenza Maps, for georeferencing points of interest. The results revealed a rich diversity of attributes. The physical attributes include varied geology and geomorphology, with mountains, valleys, caves, and rock outcrops of great importance for geotourism. The mountain range also functions as a water divider and the birthplace of more than 100 springs, feeding rivers such as the Jacarecica and Poxim, and has a humid tropical climate. The biotic attributes are characterized as an ecotone between the Atlantic Forest and the Caatinga, housing a diversity of physiognomies, such as rupestrian fields and seasonal forests, in addition to endemic and threatened species. Finally, the sociocultural attributes highlight the historical connection between the park and the surrounding communities, expressed in legends such as the "Poço das Moças" (Maidens' Well) and the "Carneiro de Ouro" (Golden Ram), in addition to religious practices and the importance of the site as a refuge for runaway enslaved people. The word "Itabaiana" refers to the "mountain home of the people from where the waters come." The study concludes that the identification and valorization of these attributes are essential for effective management, which balances biodiversity conservation with sustainable public use and the valorization of the region's cultural heritage.