INTEGRATING GEOINFORMATICS AND GEOCONSERVATION IN THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE TRANSCARIOCA LONG DISTANCE TRAIL

Long-distance trails (LDTs) promote societal benefits, as spaces for exchanging experiences, teaching, learning, and fostering environmental political engagement. LDTs strengthen conservation policies for protected areas by public use, as they encourage the implementation of ecological corridors. Considering geodiversity and geoheritage is paramount for nature conservation, and promoting these aspects is known as geoconservation. We aimed at developing strategies for the first official long-distance trail in Brazil, the Transcarioca Trail (TT), in Rio de Janeiro. Geoinformatics were used for inventory, quantification, promotion, monitoring, and for the management of geoheritage in the consolidation of the TT. A GIS was created compiling data available online or through partner institutions. Trail sections and interest points raised by TT volunteers were superimposed and analyzed, accounting for the citizen’s point of view. Field surveys collected on SW Maps, a smartphone-based app, take into account pertinent observations, stratigraphic units, use, general public interest and photographs, and are exported to ArcGIS (for layout) and Google Earth (for geoeducation and geotourism). Academic and field experiences considered within a geosystemic approach to geoheritage, aid proposing trail management actions that consider the Goals of the 2030 Agenda, highlighting the importance of people in the territory and the various interpretative possibilities. Thus, an online Google Forms questionnaire, with over 150 responses processed, yields the trail users’ perception of geodiversity, and results are broadcasted in Power BI, a business intelligence tool. This allows the analysis of data through filters such as trail sections and conservation units, which are fundamental part of the territory for the management of the TT and the associated Carioca Mosaic of Conservation Units. Products include a Pocket Guide developed in partnership with Conservation International, with 112 viewpoint lookouts highlighting the perception of geodiversity and contemplative vocation of the landscape. All the geodiversity of the city of Rio de Janeiro is visible from these TT lookouts. These combined steps present new possibilities for interpreting and managing geodiversity in long-distance trails.