The newly opened Caminhos da Ibiapaba trail in Brazil's northeast region spans 186 kilometers along paths once used by 19th-century merchants, marking the first waymarked long-distance footpath in the country with standardized black and yellow footprint signage. This trail is part of a growing network aimed at increasing access to national parks, developing local economies, and better preserving the environment, contrasting with the long-established hiking networks in the US or European countries.

Pedro Cunha e Menezes, director of protected areas at Brazil's environment ministry and the architect of the government's trail policy launched in 2018, emphasizes that hiking trails serve as a tool for conservation by allowing people to connect with nature. Menezes stated, "There's no point telling people, you only protect what you know, if you don't give them the tools to know. The trail is this tool. People who hike, people who camp, these people often become defenders of the environment." Trails also help control wildfires, deter illegal activities like poaching, and can act as wildlife corridors, especially when connecting protected areas as the Caminhos da Ibiapaba does.

The trail starts in Ubajara National Park in Ceará state and ends in Sete Cidades National Park in Piauí, crossing contrasting landscapes in three different biomes: the tropical Atlantic forest, the dry Caatinga, and the biodiverse Cerrado savannah. Forests are being restored along stretches of the path, with Menezes noting that the long-term goal is to connect all conservation units within vegetation corridors to aid species migration and prevent extinction.

Brazil currently has 22 officially recognized long-distance trails covering 7,000 kilometers, along with hundreds of shorter paths that have adopted the distinctive signage. Menezes added that new trails are emerging daily, driven by civil society and local communities, making the process slower but more robust as it fosters a sense of belonging. In São João da Fronteira, locals created a secondary trail with signs guiding visitors past ancient rock art and carnauba wax palms, highlighting the trail's cultural and economic benefits.

The trail is expected to bring economic opportunities to an overlooked region, boosting small businesses that offer food, lodging, and cultural experiences to hikers and cyclists. Darlene Glória Fausto, who led local efforts, said, "Besides being a valuable resource that enhances our local history and culture, the trail also brings an economic dimension to our community." It also provides an alternative to small-scale farming, which often involves land clearing and fire use, with park director Diego Rodrigues noting that the trail shows farmers they can earn income by protecting the forest. While overtourism is not yet a concern, Menezes cautioned that trails are not a panacea and require management to balance conservation and development.

Source: www.theguardian.com