Environmental valorization of the municipal park Lagoa Encantada, Cuiabá, Brazil

Abstract

The recreational value of Municipal Park Lagoa Encantada is given by the Contingent Valorization and Travel Costs methods. Current study was developed within the urban perimeter of Cuiabá MT Brazil, and used data from 110 questionnaires in randomized interviews by people in the MPLE. Rates by Travel Costs Method revealed that interviewed park users were willing to pay R$ 1.03/person/ visit to the park. Employing the Contingent Valorization Method, mean payment suggested by people lay between R$ 0.50 and R$ 1.00 per person/visit to the park. Since the park attends the needs of people in all age brackets, its structure and function for the general public proved to be correct. Most users (80.9%) live in the neighborhood. This fact shows that closeness of the park is highly attractive for visitation, especially for the practice of physical exercises, such as walking. Out of the 110 interviews, females (61.8%) are the most frequent users, followed by males (38.2%). Assets of the park amounted to R$ 589,489.60 by the Travel Costs Method, whilst total was estimated by the Contingent Valorization Method at R$ 572,320.00 at R$ 1.00 per visitor, at the best.