Reviving Indigenous Culture Through Community Based Tourism in Paraty and Ubatuba of Brazil: A Journey Towards Sustainability – Travel And Tour World

Report on Community-Based Tourism and Sustainable Development in Paraty and Ubatuba, Brazil

Introduction: A New Model for Sustainable Tourism

In the coastal regions of Paraty and Ubatuba, Brazil, a community-based tourism initiative is empowering indigenous and quilombola communities, providing a sustainable framework for economic development and cultural preservation. This movement directly supports the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by enabling local populations to manage tourism resources, protect their heritage, and create stable livelihoods. The initiative serves as a powerful example of how tourism can foster cultural exchange and environmental stewardship, moving away from exploitative, mass-tourism models.

The Nhandereko Network: A Framework for Community Empowerment and Sustainable Growth

Objectives and Structure

The Nhandereko Network, established in 2019 with support from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), is a collaborative entity representing indigenous and quilombola communities. Its primary objective is to facilitate community-led cultural tourism, thereby eliminating the need for external intermediaries and ensuring that economic benefits are retained locally. Through this network, villages such as the indigenous community of Rio Bonito and the quilombola community of Campinho have gained the visibility and structure needed to offer authentic cultural experiences to visitors.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

The network’s operations are intrinsically linked to key SDGs:

• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): By creating roles such as tour guides and artisans, the initiative provides meaningful employment. It promotes inclusive and sustainable economic growth by ensuring tourism revenues directly support local families.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): The model empowers historically marginalized communities, giving them control over their economic destiny and cultural narrative, thereby reducing socio-economic disparities.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): The network is dedicated to safeguarding the cultural and natural heritage of the communities, making them more resilient and sustainable.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The collaboration between community groups, Fiocruz, and the Social Technologies Incubator exemplifies the multi-stakeholder partnerships necessary to achieve sustainable development.

Economic, Cultural, and Environmental Impacts

Case Study: The Guarani-Mbya of Rio Bonito

For members of the Guarani-Mbya community, such as Tupã Mirim, community-based tourism has provided an alternative to low-wage labor. By becoming a tour guide in his own village, he now shares ancestral knowledge of farming, birdwatching, and traditional crafts. This directly contributes to:

• SDG 1 (No Poverty): Creating a direct and sustainable income stream that alleviates poverty.
• SDG 15 (Life on Land): Incentivizing the protection of sacred forests and local biodiversity as vital tourism assets.

Case Study: The Quilombo do Campinho

In Ubatuba, the Quilombo do Campinho has transformed its cultural heritage into a source of economic and spiritual strength. The community proudly showcases its agroforestry systems, handicrafts, and the traditional jongo dance. This approach supports:

• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): The community promotes sustainable agriculture by cultivating and selling pesticide-free products, such as the native palm heart, educating visitors on responsible production patterns.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): The revival and celebration of cultural traditions like the jongo dance strengthen community identity and preserve intangible cultural heritage.

Challenges to Sustainable Tourism Development

Threats from Mass Tourism and Land Tenure Issues

Despite its success, the initiative faces significant challenges. Community leaders express concern over the negative impacts of mass tourism, including environmental degradation and a lack of cultural respect from visitors. Furthermore, the lack of an official land title for the Rio Bonito village presents a major obstacle, impeding access to state resources and undermining long-term security. This issue highlights a critical challenge related to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), as legal recognition of territory is fundamental for sustainable development and justice for indigenous peoples.

Key Challenges Summary

• Environmental degradation and waste from unregulated tourism.
• Lack of legal land titles, which hinders development and protection.
• The need to balance economic growth with the preservation of cultural and environmental integrity.
• Competition from large-scale tourism conglomerates that promote unsustainable practices.

Strategic Path Forward and Recommendations

Future Outlook

The Nhandereko Network plans to expand its reach by enhancing digital marketing and forging strategic partnerships with travel agencies in major urban centers. However, community leaders emphasize that any growth must be managed carefully to align with the core principles of sustainability. The international recognition of Paraty and Ubatuba necessitates a steadfast commitment to community-led tourism to prevent the erosion of local culture and ecosystems.

Recommendations for Sustainable Growth

1. Prioritize Controlled Development: Implement policies that manage visitor numbers and activities to ensure tourism remains within the ecological and cultural carrying capacity of the communities.
2. Secure Legal Land Tenure: Advocate for and expedite the legal recognition of indigenous and quilombola territories to provide a secure foundation for sustainable planning and investment.
3. Strengthen Institutional Capacity: Continue to invest in the Nhandereko Network and similar community-led institutions to enhance their management, marketing, and advocacy capabilities.
4. Promote Responsible Tourism Education: Develop materials and programs to educate visitors on the importance of respecting local culture and environment, directly supporting SDG 12.

Conclusion: A Replicable Model for Global Sustainable Tourism

The community-based tourism initiatives in Paraty and Ubatuba offer a comprehensive and effective model for achieving sustainable development. By placing indigenous and local communities at the center of tourism management, the model demonstrates that it is possible to generate economic value while simultaneously protecting cultural heritage, conserving biodiversity, and reducing inequality. This approach provides a clear path for travelers seeking meaningful experiences and for a global tourism industry striving to become more sustainable and equitable.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 1: No Poverty

   • The article addresses economic vulnerability within indigenous and quilombola communities. It highlights how community-based tourism provides a new source of income and “economic stability,” moving individuals like Tupã Mirim away from “low-paying jobs” and toward self-sufficiency. This directly relates to alleviating poverty by creating sustainable livelihoods.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • This is a central theme. The article describes the creation of meaningful, decent work through tourism that is locally owned and managed. The Nhandereko Network’s goal to eliminate “exploitation from external intermediaries” and allow communities to “retain a larger share of tourism revenue” is a clear effort to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • The focus is on empowering historically marginalized groups—the indigenous Guarani-Mbya and quilombola communities. By giving them control over their tourism offerings, the initiative promotes their “social, economic and political inclusion,” as mentioned in the goal’s description. The struggle for land rights for the Rio Bonito village also highlights the fight against inequalities faced by these communities.

4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • The article explicitly discusses the goal of safeguarding cultural and natural heritage. The communities are working to protect their “sacred lands and heritage” from the negative impacts of “mass tourism,” such as “environmental degradation.” The entire model of community-based tourism described is an effort to make human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

5. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • The initiative promotes a sustainable form of tourism, which is a key aspect of responsible consumption and production patterns. The article contrasts the community-based model with “mass tourism,” advocating for “responsible tourism that emphasizes sustainable practices and cultural appreciation rather than exploitation.” This aligns with promoting sustainable tourism that is aware of its environmental and cultural impacts.

6. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • The article connects tourism directly to the protection of terrestrial ecosystems. Guiding visitors through “sacred forests,” promoting “birdwatching spots,” and practicing “agroforestry” in Quilombo do Campinho are all examples of the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. The communities’ efforts serve to protect biodiversity and their natural environment.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 1.4: Ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to… ownership and control over land.

   • This target is directly referenced in the article through the challenges faced by the Rio Bonito community. The text states, “The absence of an official land title for Rio Bonito adds another layer of complexity,” and notes that the lack of “legal recognition of their territory impedes further development.” This highlights the community’s struggle for control over their land.

2. Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men.

   • The story of Tupã Mirim exemplifies this target. He transitioned from “low-paying jobs like washing dishes and mowing lawns” to a fulfilling role as a tour guide in his own community. This represents a shift towards productive employment and decent work that also provides cultural affirmation.

3. Target 8.9: Devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.

   • The entire article is a case study of this target. The Nhandereko Network is a community-led initiative that implements a sustainable tourism model. It creates jobs (tour guides), promotes local culture (indigenous crafts, jongo dance, storytelling), and local products (handicrafts, pesticide-free agricultural goods like palm hearts).

4. Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… race, ethnicity, origin…

   • The article describes how community-based tourism has empowered indigenous and quilombola communities. For example, the Quilombo do Campinho transformed from a community “embarrassed by its heritage” to one that “proudly showcases its agricultural operations, handicrafts, and the traditional jongo dance,” demonstrating social and economic empowerment.

5. Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.

   • This target is central to the communities’ motivations. They use tourism as a tool for “reclaiming cultural identity” and “preserving the community’s identity.” They are actively protecting their natural heritage by resisting “the invasive pressures of large hotel chains” and safeguarding their “sacred forests” from the “environmental degradation” of mass tourism.

6. Target 12.b: Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism.

   • The article implies this target through the community’s cautious approach to growth. The concern of matriarch Ivanildes Kerexu about the “damaging effects of mass tourism” and the call from leader Sergio Salvati for “careful attention to the environmental and cultural sustainability” show an awareness of the need to monitor the impacts of tourism to ensure it remains beneficial. The Nhandereko Network itself acts as a tool for managing these impacts.

7. Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests.

   • The article mentions several practices that align with this target. The community in Quilombo do Campinho shares “the secrets of their agroforestry practices,” which is a sustainable use of land. The tours in Rio Bonito that go through “sacred forests” and highlight “birdwatching spots” also promote the conservation and sustainable use of forest ecosystems.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator for Target 1.4 (Implied): Proportion of population with legally recognized documentation of land tenure.

   • The article directly points to this indicator by stating there is an “absence of an official land title for Rio Bonito.” Progress would be measured by whether the community successfully acquires legal recognition for their territory.

2. Indicators for Target 8.9 (Implied):

   • Tourism direct GDP as a proportion of total GDP: The article implies this by mentioning that communities can “retain a larger share of tourism revenue,” suggesting that tourism is becoming a significant part of their local economy.
   • Number of jobs in the sustainable tourism industries: The training of Tupã Mirim as a tour guide is a specific example of job creation. The expansion of the network implies more such jobs are being created.
   • Number of local businesses created: The example of Tânia Ayres opening her restaurant and encouraging “her neighbors to do the same, creating a network of local businesses” is a direct indicator of progress.

3. Indicator for Target 11.4 (Implied): Total expenditure (public and private) per capita spent on the preservation, protection and conservation of all cultural and natural heritage.

   • While no monetary value is given, the entire Nhandereko Network, supported by Fiocruz, represents an investment in preserving cultural heritage (traditions, dances, crafts) and natural heritage (sacred forests, beaches). The existence and growth of the network serve as a proxy for this investment.

4. Indicator for Target 15.1 (Implied): Forest area as a proportion of total land area.

   • The emphasis on protecting “sacred forests” and resisting development from “large hotel chains” implies an effort to maintain the existing forest cover. The practice of “agroforestry” is also a sustainable land-use system that integrates trees, indicating a commitment to forest conservation.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: travelandtourworld.com