ÁGUA ESCONDIDA MUNICIPAL NATURAL PARK – NITERÓI/RJ: ENVIRONMENTAL RECOVERY AND POTENTIAL FOR PUBLIC USE

Abstract

The Água Escondida Municipal Natural Park, created in 2020, resulted from the recategorization of an Environmental Protection Area (APA) that had existed since 2008. Covering 62 hectares, it is an urban Conservation Unit with preserved forest remnants and areas undergoing vegetation recovery. It features elements of historical value (aqueduct and reservoir ruins) that bear witness to the early settlement of the city of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro. The objectives of the article are to present basic information about the area, the initiatives to restore the vegetation, and the potential for public use. The surveys included a review of documents and academic works related to the creation of the park, including its management plan published in 2024. Field visits, interviews with municipal managers, and photographic documentation were conducted. There are several access points to the park through streets located in five neighborhoods. Three main communities were identified at these access points, and the newly established boundaries serve strategic purposes to contain the spread of settlements on the hillsides, some of which are at risk of landslides and fires. The park offers potential for public use, including leisure, historical and cultural tourism, education, and research. Its proximity to educational institutions, such as the Fluminense Federal University, enables joint initiatives with the Niterói municipal government.