Difficulty level evaluation of the Una Ecoparque interpretative trail, Bahia – Brazil: physical and biological aspects and visitors physical effort

Abstract

Due to the subjectivity of the methodology used to rate the difficulty level of interpretative trails, a method was proposed and tested to rate the interpretive trail of the Una Ecoparque, located in the Southern Bahia Atlantic Forest. Data collection was based on the physical and biological aspects of the trail and on the physical effort parameters of the visitors. A random experimental design was used, with a factorial arrangement of three age ranges, three training levels and two genera. The trail analyzed was 2.105 meters long, and it had as a differential suspended bridges in the tree tops. The proposed methodology was shown as being appropriate for the categorization of the trails at the local, indicating a low difficulty level.