Campos Ferruginosos National Park, in southeastern Pará, also holds archaeological records of the first human occupations in the Amazon. Ascom Ibama The federal government announced an investment of R$2.8 million for the Campos Ferruginosos National Park, in the interior of Pará, in order to transform it into a new nature tourism hub. The agreement was signed this Thursday (11), in Brasília, by the Ministry of Tourism, ICMBio and the mining company Vale. According to the Ministry of Tourism, the initiative focuses on structuring public visits to the unit, located between the municipalities of Parauapebas and Canaã dos Carajás, in the southeast of the state. The proposal, according to the government, is to take advantage of the park's environmental potential to stimulate the regional economy in a sustainable way, generating income and enhancing the value of the surrounding territories. ✅ Follow the g1 Pará channel on WhatsApp MinTur reported that the resource will be fully paid for by the mining company, which operates the world's largest iron and copper mining complexes in the region. The ceremony formalizing the agreement was attended by the Vice President of the Republic, Geraldo Alckmin. “This project is the result of a good partnership between the Ministry of Tourism, Vale and ICMBIO, meaning that the place can attract tourists, generate employment and income, promote environmental education and preserve the environment”, stated Alckmin, at the event in Brasília. According to the Minister of Tourism, Gustavo Feliciano, the project was designed to balance environmental conservation and economic activity. He highlighted that the intention is not just to welcome visitors, but to promote an experience of contact with nature combined with environmental education and respect for local wealth. Federal Government announces investments in national park in Pará. Diego Herculano/Ministry of Tourism Park structure The structuring provided for in the agreement is organized into three fronts. The first deals with planning and management of public use, with studies focused on welcoming visitors. The second focus on adventure tourism, with emphasis on the potential for exploring caves. The third will be aimed at training professionals and local communities, to insert the population into the tourism production chain. Expansion of tourism The movement follows the expansion of nature tourism in the country. In 2025, Brazilian national parks received more than 11.8 million visitors, a record number in the historical series and above the 10.9 million registered in the previous year. A study by the Nature with People program, by ICMBio in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, also points out that every R$1 invested in federal conservation units can generate a return of R$15.60 for the economy. Park with rare wealth The Campos Ferruginosos National Park is home to a unique ecosystem, formed in areas rich in iron and marked by ferruginous rock fields, caves, aquatic environments and endemic and threatened species. The unit brings together around 377 cataloged caves, as well as archaeological records of the first human occupations in the Amazon. The area is also part of the mosaic of the Carajás National Forest, where around 943 species of vertebrates are estimated, not counting fish. The survey by the Biodiversity Extinction Risk Assessment System identified 73 species with potential occurrence or already registered in the park at risk of extinction. The government said that "the future structuring of visitation will consolidate the park as a new sustainable tourism destination in Brazil." The expectation is that the initiative will help strengthen the local economy and position the Carajás region among national references in leisure combined with environmental conservation. VIDEOS: see all the news from Pará