5.1 Inventory of geological sites
Six GF were defined (Table 1), represented by 17 geosites (Table 2 and Fig. 2). In addition, seven geodiversity sites (Table 3 and Fig. 3) and three viewpoints were also identified (Table 4 and Fig. 3). Figure 4 shows a map with the location of all inventoried sites.
The morphogenesis of the geosites are mainly associated with fluvial and mass movement processes (Quaternary deposits GL), tectonic reactivation (Cenozoic tectonism GF), intrusion and fracturing of alkaline rocks (first, second and third magmatic stages of alkaline intrusion GF), and metamorphic and ductile deformations (Proterozoic igneous and metamorphic rocks GF).
The distribution of these sites is not uniform in the territory; most of the inventoried sites are concentrated in the central region due to a high number of scientific publications, detailed mapping (scale 1:50.000), and excellent exposure of rock outcrops and relief features. In the south region there are less inventoried sites because of the dense Atlantic Forest cover and lacks geoscientific publications. The reduced number of sites in the north region is a result of the absence of rock outcrops since the igneous and metamorphic ones are quite weathered; therefore, the inventoried sites are only represented by waterfalls and hilltops. These are also a result of the distribution of the rocks in the park, since about 6% of the area is made up of alluvial and talus deposits of Quaternary age, 60% of alkaline rocks of Meso-Cenozoic age, and 34% of igneous and metamorphic rocks of Proterozoic age (ICMBio 2013).
As for access, 82% of the sites are reached only by trails and their difficulty levels are considered moderate to high. Among them, 27% have a length of up to 2 km, 27% between 2.1 and 6.0 km, 9% between 6.1 and 10.0 km, 23% between 10.1 and 20.0 km and 14% over 20 km.
Table 1
Description of the geological frameworks of the Itatiaia National Park, Brazil.
Geological Framework
|
Brief description
|
Geosites*
|
Quaternary deposits
|
It represents the geological, geomorphological and climatic processes that have controlled the evolution of the study area’s recent landforms.
|
(1) Bog of Aiuruoca River
(2) Bog of Preto River
(3) Fluvial deposits of Lago Azul
(4) Talus deposits of Serra Negra village
|
Cenozoic tectonism
|
It includes the Cenozoic tectonism records represented by the following structures: (i) NW-SE, corresponding to the elongation of the massif; (ii) ENE-WSW, following the basement and the arrangement of the Continental Rift of Southeast Brazil (CRSB); and (iii) W-E, more perceptible in the central sector of the IAM (Rosa and Ruberti 2018).
|
(5) Structural valley of Campo Belo River
(6) Fault escarpment of Couto-Prateleiras Hills
|
Third magmatic stage of alkaline intrusion
|
It includes nepheline syenite to trachyte, trachyte and two small bodies of basic rocks from the last magmatic intrusion of the IAM, 67.5 Ma (Rosa, 2017; Rosa and Ruberti, 2018).
|
(7) Biotite monzonite quarry
(8) Breccia of Pedra Furada Hill
|
Second magmatic stage of alkaline intrusion
|
It represents nepheline syenite to quartz syenite, trachyte and a small granite body formed during the second magmatic intrusion between 69.65 and 68.65 Ma (Rosa 2017; Rosa and Ruberti 2018). It also covers the peralkaline facies, symbolised by the circular ridge, one of the most outlined geomorphological features on the Itatiaia Plateau.
|
(9) Fracture planes of Pedra do Altar Hill
(10) Fluted erosion of Agulhas Negras Hill
(11) Ovos da Galinha boulders and trachyte dyke swarm
(12) Ring-dyke on Itatiaia Plateau
|
First magmatic stage of alkaline intrusion
|
This framework includes records of nepheline syenite rocks from the first magmatic intrusion, aged 71.26 Ma (Rosa 2017) and mostly embedded in the CRSB (Riccomini 1989), but not strongly affected or deformed by its evolution (Rosa and Ruberti 2018).
|
(13) Waterfalls of Campo Belo River Basin
|
Proterozoic igneous and metamorphic rocks
|
Basement composes the Paleoproterozoic rocks of Juiz de Fora Domain and Neoproterozoic rocks of Andrelândia Sequence (Occidental Terrane), related to the Trans-Amazonian Orogenic Cycle and the Brasiliano Pan-African Cycle.
|
(14) Leucogranite of Pedra Grande Hill
(15) Tectonics records of Rio Preto Waterfalls
(16) Metagranitoid of Enamorados Peak
(17) Mylonitic gneiss of Santa Clara Waterfall
|
* All geosites are also geomorphosites (Panizza 2001; Reynard et al. 2009) (excluding the Biotite monzonite quarry). |
Table 2
Geosites in the Itatiaia National Park. Interests are based on the categories adopted at the Brazilian scale and visible on GEOSSIT platform: GM: Geomorphological, HD: Hydrological, MT: Metamorphism, PE: Paleoenvironmental, PL: Plutonism, PT: Petrological, SD: Sedimentary, SF: Surface formations, TC: Tectonics (CPRM 2020).
Geosite
|
Coordinates 23 K (UTM WGS-84)
|
Interests
|
Brief description
|
Quaternary deposits
|
(1) Bog of Aiuruoca River
|
534151 / 7527107
|
SF, SD, HD, GM
|
Floodplain filled with peat sediments and one of the highest springs in Brazil (Teixeira and Linsker 2007). On its Western side, alluvial deposits with granules and pebbles are observed in the central and upper portion of the profile.
|
(2) Bog of Preto River
|
536460 / 7526460
|
SF, SD, HD, GM
|
Depressive area filled with alluvial deposits and the Spring of Preto River. A few metres from its left bank, alluvial deposits of up to one-metre high were observed, with sub-rounded granules at the top of the profile.
|
(3) Fluvial deposits of Lago Azul
|
539736 / 7517208
|
HD, SD, GM
|
Natural pool inserted in an incised valley (middle course of Campo Belo River), filled with boulders and cobbles along the riverbank, as well as pebbles, granules and sand deposited on its left bank.
|
(4) Talus deposits of Serra Negra village
|
530929 / 7532340
|
GM, SF
|
Talus deposits composed of large rock fragments in clay to a sand-clay matrix (ICMBio 2013) with convex tops and slopes. In lower regions, the exposed boulders are related to slope erosion.
|
Cenozoic tectonism
|
(5) Structural valley of Campo Belo River
|
532716 / 7524651
|
GM, TC, SF, SD, HD, PE, PL
|
Structural valley oriented in the NW-SE direction and segmented into six sub-areas including spring, peat, talus and colluvium deposits, linear concentration of boulders, waterfall and a microalaskite outcrop.
|
(6) Fault escarpment of Couto-Prateleiras Hills
|
532843 / 7524000
|
GM, TC, PL
|
Fault scarp oriented towards N70W (Penalva 1967) with rounded tops and straight slopes. It comprises four sub-areas on Itatiaia Plateau such as Índio cave, hills (Couto and Prateleiras) and boulders (Pedra da Maçã and Pedra da Tartaruga).
|
Third magmatic stage of alkaline intrusion
|
(7) Biotite monzonite quarry
|
526016 / 7526458
|
PT, PL
|
Quarry composed of greenish-grey with medium-grained massive crystals, a significant amount of poikilitic biotite, cleavage planes and no preferential orientation (Rosa and Ruberti 2018).
|
(8) Breccia of Pedra Furada Hill
|
528365 / 7527402
|
PT, PL, GM
|
Trachyte hill marked by fracture planes, top and smooth convex slopes. Some outcrops have fluidal textures with deformed fragments along the trail to reach it, suggesting subvolcanic conduct magmatism with intense activity.
|
Second magmatic stage of alkaline intrusion
|
(9) Fracture planes of Pedra do Altar Hill
|
533539 / 7525715
|
TC, PL, GM
|
Intensely fractured hill, with uneven surfaces, smooth convex top and straight slopes. Vertical and sub-vertical fracture planes are arranged on slopes and pitted erosion is observed on the ridge.
|
(10) Fluted erosion of Agulhas Negras Hill
|
534818 / 7525059
|
PT, TC, GM
|
Deeply dissected hill with uneven surfaces, sharp peaks and straight slopes. There are fluted and pitted erosion on fracture planes in the E-W direction formed by chemical dissolution due to microorganisms associated with water.
|
(11) Ovos da Galinha boulders and trachyte dyke swarm
|
535060 / 7526810 534929 / 7526795
|
PL, TC, GM
|
It includes two sub-areas: (i) five boulders arranged on a hill and aligned in the NW-SE direction, and (ii) biotite hornblende pulaskite slab crosscut by trachyte dykes.
|
(12) Ring-dyke on Itatiaia Plateau
|
536870 / 7528573
|
PT, PL, GM
|
Circular crest marked by water gaps developed by river erosion. Maromba and Aiuruoca Rivers are the most outstanding examples of these features (Teixeira 1961).
|
First magmatic stage of alkaline intrusion
|
(13) Waterfalls of Campo Belo River Basin
|
538868 / 7520001
539302 / 7519893
539161 / 7519592
539774 / 7518369
|
HD, SF, TC, GM
|
Waterfalls located in the Campo Belo and Maromba rivers with straight to convex slopes and fragments of rocks deposited along their valleys.
|
Proterozoic igneous and metamorphic rocks
|
(14) Leucogranite of Pedra Grande Hill
|
529562 / 7529067
|
PL, TC, GM
|
Convex top and slopes hill marked by stretched K-feldspar crystals and intrusions of quartz veins discordant with foliation.
|
(15) Tectonics records of Rio Preto Waterfalls
|
539405 / 7530390 539420 / 7530346
|
TC, MT, HD, GM
|
It includes two sub-areas: (i) slide waterfall composed of locally garnet-bearing banded paragneiss, showing axial plane foliation to isoclinal to tight folds, and (ii) cascade marked by banded paragneiss with moderate to high dip angle.
|
(16) Metagranitoid of Enamorados Peak
|
526108 / 7525221
|
MT, GM, TC
|
Hill marked by an outcrop of about 30 metres at its top, with uneven surfaces and straight slopes. Its foliation is oriented in the NW-SE direction, and the fracture planes are concordant with a moderate dip angle.
|
(17) Mylonitic gneiss of Santa Clara Waterfall
|
541600 / 7532273
|
MT, TC, HD, GM
|
Slide waterfall characterised by mylonitic gneiss with horizontal fracture planes, deformed feldspar crystals and foliation orientated in the NW-SE direction.
|
Table 3
Geodiversity sites in the Itatiaia National Park. Interests are based on the categories adopted at the Brazilian scale and visible on GEOSSIT platform: GM: Geomorphological, HD: Hydrological, HG: Hydrogeological, MT: Metamorphism, PL: Plutonism, PT: Petrological, SD: Sedimentary, SF: Surface formations, TC: Tectonics (CPRM 2020).
Geodiversity site
|
Coordinates 23 K (UTM WGS-84)
|
Interests
|
Brief description
|
(18) Lakes and wetlands with peat deposits
|
531616 / 7526418
|
SF, SD, HG, GM
|
Wetland filled with peat deposits and shallow lakes surrounded by steep hills and rocky peaks.
|
(19) Breccia of Camelo Hill
|
529874 / 7526124
|
PT, PL, GM
|
Intensely dissected hill, with irregular surfaces, smooth convex top, straight slopes and alveolar hollows.
|
(20) Pitted erosion of Pedra do Sino Hill
|
534737 / 7526045
|
PL, GM, TC
|
Hill marked by uneven surfaces, smooth convex top, straight slopes and chemical dissolution in the fracture planes.
|
(21) Aiuruoca Waterfall
|
534128 / 7527224
|
PL, TC, HD, GM
|
Cascade characterised by horizontal fracture planes and natural pool filled with rock fragments.
|
(22) Nepheline syenite of Três Picos Hill
|
542910 / 7519982
|
GM, PL
|
Hill marked by convex top and slopes and an outcrop of about two metres long by one metre wide on its ridge.
|
(23) Granitic gneiss of Alcantilado Waterfall
|
545202 / 7534632
|
PL, TC, HD, GM
|
Cascade characterised by foliation in the NW-SE direction and moderate dip angle.
|
(24) Gneiss of Cristais Waterfall
|
540397 / 7528736
|
MT, TC, HD, GM
|
Tiered waterfall and a natural pool marked by locally folded rocks, foliation in the NW-SE direction and low dip angle.
|
Table 4
Viewpoints in the Itatiaia National Park. Interests are based on the categories adopted at the Brazilian scale and visible on GEOSSIT platform: GM – Geomorphological, HD – Hydrological, TC – Tectonics (CPRM 2020).
Viewpoint
|
Coordinates 23 K (UTM WGS-84)
|
Interests
|
Brief description
|
(25) Viewpoint Flores Highway
|
528107 / 7526791
|
GM, TC
|
Visualisation of the Bocaina, Mantiqueira and Fina mountain ranges and Paraiba do Sul river valley.
|
(26) Viewpoint Último Adeus
|
540414 / 7516328
|
GM, TC, HD
|
Panoramic view of the Campo Belo river’s incised valley, Paraíba do Sul river valley, dam of Funil hydroelectric power plant and Bocaina mountain range.
|
(27) Viewpoint Alto dos Brejos Hill
|
539869 / 7535397
|
GM, TC
|
Panoramic view of the Bocaina mountain range, Paraíba do Sul river valley, talus deposits, asymmetric slopes, convex section slopes, Gavião peak and Pedra Selada protected area.
|
5.2 Analysis of the management plan
The main differences between the 1982 and 2013 plans are the size, as previously mentioned, and the applied methodological guidelines.
5.2.1 1982 plan
Although the scope of this study’s analysis is the latest version of the MP (ICMBio 2013), some aspects of the 1982 version are worth mentioning.
The 1982 version was developed by the Brazilian Institute for Forest Development, the institution that used to be responsible for park management, according to Decree No. 84,017/1979 (Brasil 1979). This Decree established general rules, which contained suggestions on the information that should be included in the MP, not imposing a specific technical requirement about its structure and writing. In this context, the 1982 plan has 207 pages and is divided in four chapters (i: national and regional context; ii: analysis of the protected area; iii: management and development, and; iv: implementing) that contains the area’s description, zoning, and proposal for management actions (IBDF, 1982). This plan is no longer used by park managers.
The plan details the aspects of regional and local geological and geomorphological features. Some sites are emphasised (Viewpoint of Último Adeus, Lago Azul, Maromba Waterfall, Agulhas Negras Hill, Pedra do Altar Hill, Bog of Aiuruoca River) regarding the analysis of the landscape.
The document presents some management objectives directly associated with geodiversity, such as: (i) protect the springs; (ii) conserve areas of natural beauty in the Serra da Mantiqueira, and; (iii) provide visitors with environmental education and interpretation associated with high altitude grasslands, rivers, slopes and valleys. Moreover, it stresses that the most significant aspects of the Park’s fauna, flora and geology must be considered in the development of interpretative trails. It also highlights that the geology and tectonics featured in the park represent an important heritage to be interpreted. Unfortunately, there is not any photo or local maps.
5.2.2 2013 plan
The latest version (ICMBio 2013) was prepared by ECOMEK Business Consulting and Environment, a company commissioned by Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio). It was prepared based on the methodological planning guidelines of Galante et al. (2002), i.e., planning is a continuous and collaborative process. These guidelines are adjusted to the rules of NSPA and sets out that an MP must be organised in four reports, including (i) contextualisation of the protected area in the international, federal and state levels (three chapters); (ii) regional analysis of the municipalities covered by its boundaries (nine chapters); (iii) analysis of the biotic and abiotic characteristics, and the anthropic, cultural and institutional factors (nine chapters), and; (iv) planning strategies and its relation with the surroundings (seven chapters). The INP’s MP characterises the area, draws and describes each zone’s activities, and plans the management over 487 pages. Moreover, the plan is well illustrated with several regional and local maps.
Several chapters describe aspects of geodiversity that deserve attention (column 3: Table 5). In some of them, abiotic aspects are clearly mentioned, such as “to conserve areas of natural beauty representing Serra da Mantiqueira” and “provide visitors with environmental education and interpretation, such as high-altitude grasslands, rivers, slopes and valleys”. In contrast, others are only indirectly mentioned (Table 5) or not even described (Visconde de Mauá region).
Several sites that have been inventoried in this work are mentioned in the document; however, only their potentials for tourism use are mentioned, with no consideration for their geological or geomorphological features.
Table 5
Analysis of the Itatiaia National Park management plan (ICMBio 2013).
Report
|
Chapter
|
Description of the management plan
|
Analysis of the description of Geodiversity
|
Contextualisation of the Itatiaia National Park
|
State context
|
Most management programmes and projects are focused on (i) conservation of biological aspects, (ii) environmental education programmes, (iii) infrastructure building, and (iv) support for creating protected areas within buffer zones. In addition, partner institutions can contribute to research, environmental education and awareness projects, eco-tourism activities, and tourist routes.
|
It does not mention the conservation of abiotic aspects, nor describe sites of geological interest that could be included in environmental education and awareness programmes.
|
Analysis of the region of the protected area
|
Physical Environment
|
Regional physical aspects are described based on abiotic (Geology, Geomorphology, Soil, Climate, Hydrography) and biotic (vegetation and fauna) characteristics.
|
The description is focused on regional aspects.
|
Cultural and historical aspects
|
Cultural and environmental heritages are described based on general aspects, location and current uses.
|
It includes sites linked to geodiversity, such as peaks and waterfalls. However, they are described only in relation to tourism potential.
|
Opportunities to sustainable economic development
|
The possibilities for strengthening the region are described through (i) infrastructure construction, (ii) reforestation and (iii) tourism, mainly eco-tourism, involving local communities.
|
It does not offer opportunities for linking environmental aspects to local communities.
|
Analysis of Itatiaia National Park
|
Characterisation of abiotic and biotic aspects
|
Specific abiotic (Climate, Geology, Geomorphology, Pedology, Hydrography) and biotic (Fauna and Flora) aspects are highlighted through detailed descriptions, maps and figures.
|
It describes the main physical aspects but does not assess the threats and degradation risk.
|
Statement of significance
|
Eleven aspects of relevance to protection are described, highlighting: (i) protect the watersheds of the main hydrographic basins; (ii) enable scientific research focused on the management of the area; (iii) conserve areas of natural beauty in Serra da Mantiqueira; (iv) recover, preserve and protect the Itatiaia Plateau; (v) provide visitors with environmental education and interpretation information, associated with high altitude grasslands, rivers, slopes and valleys.
|
Geodiversity is not highlighted concerning its importance for research.
|
Itatiaia National Park Planning
|
Specific management goals of Itatiaia National Park
|
Three pillars support the park’s objectives: (i) the NSPA; (ii) the specific objectives of its creation, and; (iii) its specific knowledge. The latter stands out because rare species, historical, archaeological or paleontological sites, ecosystems, geological and geomorphological formations of scenic beauty are essential for management. The management plan has 20 management goals, of which we highlight: (i) protection of the landscape and scenic beauty of Paraiba do Sul’s Valley and Serra da Mantiqueira; (ii) protection of springs; (iii) provision of activities for the public use, education and environmental interpretation of the natural environment; (iv) promote visits to population of the surrounding area to raise environmental awareness of the importance of preserving the region; and (v) encouragement and development of visiting and tourism activities as an opportunity to local economic development.
|
Despite mentioning the promotion of abiotic elements through public use, environmental education and interpretation activities, there is no project in progress.
|
Strategic evaluation of Itatiaia National Park
|
It is necessary to implement environmental education and awareness programmes targeted at visitors and neighbours, as natural resources, historical-cultural and environmental values are largely unknown.
|
It has no action in practice that includes abiotic aspects in environmental education and awareness programmes.
|
Zoning
|
Eight zones were mapped and described based on biotic, abiotic, land use and occupation characteristics, as well as allowed or forbidden activities.
|
There is no clear definition of the rules and activities regarding the use and management of biotic and abiotic elements.
|