Mata ciliar e educação ambiental: um estudo sobre a importância da conscientização de alunos no município de Santa Maria – RS

Abstract

The riparian forests play numerous essential functions in the environment, being considered as a permanent preservation area by the Brazilian Forest Code. However, due to the exploitation of the natural resources in Brazil, where intense exploitation and devastation take place, the suppression of this ciliary vegetation has enormous consequences for the rivers and all the biodiversity. The objective of the present work was to raise awareness and to bring to the knowledge of the students of the 3rd year of the High School of the Walter Jobim State High School in the municipality of Santa Maria, RS, concepts such as: what is a riparian forest, its importance for the environment and its characteristics. In addition, it sought to emphasize socio-environmental problems generated, changes and questions about the new Forest Code in order to arouse interest for responsible citizenship and disseminate Environmental Education in the community in which they live. The research was a bibliographical one and an analysis of a questionnaire answered by the students in order to investigate their conceptions about the topic ciliary forest. Given the results obtained with the students' responses to the questionnaire, it was found that many students, although they had already heard about Environmental Education, knew little about what it was really about and approximately 77% of the class had not heard of ciliary forest and its benefits. They also did not know the existence of changes in the Forest Code and did not know the numerous problems that the devastation of this vegetation affects the big cities. Based on the data generated, the great majority of the students realized the real importance of preserving the environment, especially the care with the riparian forests, and the fundamental role of Environmental Education. However, it is still necessary to work further on Environmental Education in the classroom so that there is a necessary means for the construction of responsible individuals that promote a healthy quality of life and contribute to sustainable development, as well as provide information aimed at awareness of the communities involved. The research brought as theoretical foundation authors such as Giani Motin Mocellin, Francisco Marcondes De Almeida, Alcione Adame, Elaine Oliveira Praes, Rachel Trajber and Marcos Sorrentino.