Application of theTourism Ecological Footprint Method for Assessment of Environmental Impacts of the Tourism in Islands: a Study in Fernando de Noronha

Abstract

The tourism may generate positives and negatives impacts. Among the positives, there is the economic growth, the employment and income generation, the environmental preservation, the knowledge dissemination. Regarding the negatives impacts, it is stressed the degradation of the natural resourses. This negative interference generated by the realization of the tourism, can be mitigated through of the application of tools such as the Tourism Ecological Footprint Method. This method assesses the environmental impact of the tourism in a tourist destination, such as Fernando de Noronha (FN) – PE. Thus, this study aims to assess the environmental impact of the tourism in Fernando de Noronha – PE, through the Tourism Ecological Footprint. For this purpose, was used a descriptive research, of quantitative approach, using secondary data. These were analyzed through the guidelines proposed by the aforementioned method. The results point out that the tourism held conducted in FN causes a negative environmental impact, which can be viewed in the ecological deficit of 26,7548 global hectares. This result alerts for necessity of to adopt actions as the substituition of the energetic matrix used in the island, as well the awareness of tourists towards the conservation of natural resources in the destination.