Inventory of Climbing Sites in São Paulo State, Brazil: Integrating Geodiversity Data for Sustainable Adventure Tourism

Climbing has gained popularity around the world, particularly since it was added to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Unlike indoor climbing, outdoor climbing typically takes place in some kind of geological site. This aspect inherently promotes the link to the environment and geoheritage through adventure tourism. Similar documentation, description, and analysis initiatives are sparse in South America, whereas European organizations have employed geoconservation approaches to list and promote climbing sites. Our study addresses a knowledge gap by compiling a list of climbing sites in São Paulo State, Brazil. To assess the geological, sociological, and environmental aspects of the cataloged places, data were acquired using community platforms, guidebooks, and mobile applications. GIS tools were then employed to carry out data treatment and analysis. A dashboard was developed to make the inventory accessible and encourage participation of the scientific and climbing community. The findings underscore locations to apply geoconservation management strategies and draw attention to potential risks associated with outdoor recreational activities. Furthermore, this inventory serves as a valuable foundation for future research integrating geoscience and adventure tourism.