Excursionism and nature conservation: From the love of trees to ecology (1920 – 1970)
excursionism; mountaineering; Rio de Janeiro; nature conservation
The excursionist associations that emerged in the former capital of Brazil, the city of Rio de Janeiro, can be considered the spaces in which the organized mountaineering was developed and institutionalized in Brazil, even though they were not strictly performing mountaineering activities. These groups, mainly formed by an urban middle class, whose practice is directly related to exuberant natural environments, advocated in different moments for nature protection and conservation. This work presents how, both collectively and individually, the excursionists advocated and worked in favor of nature between the 1940s and 1960s. The first chapter aims to understand the foundation of excursionist associations as part of a broader historical process related to amateur sports and nationalism. In the same chapter, the approach and involvement of excursionist associations with public authorities, such as the Federal Forestry Council and the Federal Forestry Service, are explored. The following chapters address the development and the intensification of the relations between excursionists and conservationists, as well as the progressive assimilation of nature conservation in the institutional documents of the associations. The research examines the records of the excursionist associations' bulletins and widely-circulation newspapers. During the research, there were found plenty of evidence that the excursionists were aware of nature conservation ideas. Furthermore, there was an active dialogue and incorporation of these ideas into their educational processes.