The invention of the ecological favela: a look at tourism and environment in the Morro Babilonia

Abstract

This article refers to the invention of what has been denominated “ecological favela”, as for a process developed in the favelas Babilonia and Chapéu Mangeira, in the Morro Babilonia, Leme, Southern zone of the city of Rio de Janeiro, from 1989 until 2013, breaking out the formation of the Parque Natural Municipal da Paisagem Carioca. I analyze this process in consonance to the increase of the tourism in the favelas, and I understand that the ecological favela is the joint of the two items that have become tourism attraction: the favela and the environment/ecology. The engagement of the favela dwellers to the area reforestation originated the newly park and contribute to the “ecological favela” invention, by redefining of these favelas identity, that have been related to the idea of environment preservation.