Silenciamento ambiental da Caatinga frente aos demais domínios morfoclimáticos brasileiros nos livros didáticos do PNLD de 2021

Abstract

The present study assesses the attention given to the Caatinga biome in comparison to other Brazilian morphoclimatic domains. Despite being the only exclusively Brazilian biome with significant biodiversity and a high rate of endemic species, the Caatinga does not receive the recognition and importance it rightfully deserves. This is evident in its high rate of natural area loss, lower conservation investments, and the fact that only 2.2% of its territory is protected by integral conservation units. The choice of textbooks is justified by their formative role, as they have the potential to perpetuate ideologies, stereotypes, and prejudices prevalent in society. Therefore, it is crucial to examine whether the Caatinga is being marginalized compared to other Brazilian biomes and whether its portrayal is limited to its challenging climatic aspects, perpetuating environmental injustices as observed in the representation of traditional communities and their livelihoods in supplementary books distributed by the National Fund for Education Development (FNDE). To accomplish this, the textbooks endorsed in the Didactic Book Guide of the Natural Sciences and Technologies area (CNT) were scrutinized, given their relevance to the subject matter. The CNT area comprises seven approved collections, all of which were accessed digitally and subjected to analysis. The adopted methodology is qualitative, employing Bardin's Content Analysis as the methodological framework. The findings are discussed within the context of environmental justice and the role of liberating environmental education in fostering a sense of belonging and recognizing the significance of the Caatinga in maintaining ecosystem equilibrium, thereby acknowledging it as a part of Brazil's heritage. While there have been some modest improvements in the presentation of the Caatinga in textbooks when comparing earlier editions with versions from the 2018 PNLD triennium, there remains a reduction in the space allocated to its beauty, biodiversity, and ecological importance. However, the emphasis on its challenging climatic characteristics and arid landscape prevails in the majority of the works examined in this study. Consequently, we highlight these aspects to encourage new perspectives on the Caatinga in textbooks and to prompt educators in Brazilian primary education to play a critical role in ending the environmental marginalization of the Caatinga.