Sustainable tourism is an ongoing practice in Bahia

O  Brazil  is internationally recognized as the nation with the greatest biodiversity on the planet. In Bahia, we have the Tinharé Archipelago, which makes up the municipality of Cairu (located in the Southern Lowlands of the state), and within it the Island of Boipeba, surrounded on one side by the ocean and on the other by the Rio do Inferno, endowed with exuberant natural beauty. The region is recognized by UNESCO  as a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site.

The exuberance of the place is attractive to thousands of people every year, promoting tourism and contributing to the development and maintenance of the city’s economy. As the main source of income for the local population, the practice continually needs to be rethought to become viable not only financially, but also to ensure the health of the environment.

 The country is still taking small steps when it comes to Sustainable Tourism, but the concept is already established in the business plans of large companies and even smaller ones.  It is also noticeable the concern to raise awareness among ordinary citizens about the need to preserve local flora and fauna, regardless of having tourism as a raw material.

In Boipeba, the native population is aware of the paradise where they live and has plenty of reasons to care for this true ecological sanctuary. Thus, there are independent movements on the Island for the preservation and care of natural resources that work on collecting and recycling garbage, for example. There is also an association of fishermen who, in addition to extracting their food and sustenance from the sea, monitor residents and passersby to avoid polluting actions.