Experience Report: Ecotourism as an Instrument for the Preservation of Historical-Cultural and Environmental Heritage

IFSP (Federal Institute of São Paulo), Brazil

Abstract: This experience report is the result of the extension project “Ecotourism at Brasital”, whose purpose is the dissemination and preservation of the cultural and historical heritage of the Educational, Cultural and Tourist Center (CECT) Brasital, an old textile factory inaugurated in 1890 in São Roque, a town located in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Fieldwork and action research were used — those involved the study of local history and oral stories, the manufacturing of signs with identification of trees and description of historical buildings, waste collecting, historical-cultural monitoring and environmental education in ecological trails. Besides that, small interventions were carried out in the place and, as a consequence, there was an increase in the number of visitors during the period and the diffusion of principles of maintenance and cleaning of public space.