Trilha interpretativa virtual: estratégia de educação ambiental no Parque Nacional Serra de Itabaiana - Sergipe

Abstract

Brazil owns an exotic natural heritage with a high diversity of biotic and abiotic natural assets. In this context, the creation of Conservation Units, such as the Serra de Itabaiana-SE National Park, is essential as a policy of environmental valuation and protection. Thus, the development of practices in Environmental Education seeks to raise the awareness of students, in this study, at Colégio Estadual Professor Nestor Carvalho Lima, facing the environmental crisis. Thus, this work has as general objective to develop Environmental Education strategies aimed at valuing and conserving the geodiversity of the PARNA Serra de Itabaiana-SE. To this end, a bibliographic survey on the subject was carried out. Field activities were also carried out to recognize the social and environmental impacts and a semi-structured interview with the person responsible for managing PARNA. In the school environment, remotely, questionnaires were applied and workshops were held on the importance of CUs, with an emphasis on PARNA and Environmental Education as an alternative to the environmental crisis, and, consequently, the degradation of abiotic elements - geodiversity. The results achieved demonstrated the need to develop practices in Environmental Education in protected spaces for a connection between society and nature, for example, the environmental interpretation through virtual tools. PARNA is a Conservation Unit category of the strict protection group, consolidated as the only National Park in the state. Faced with threats to the natural heritage, urban and agricultural expansion, deforestation, clandestine trails, inadequate disposal of solid waste, fires, illegal hunting, mineral exploration and disordered tourism stand out. In this context, there is an urgent need to recognize and value the geodiversity of PARNA, as a support for the conservation of biodiversity. Thus, there is a need to develop strategies in Environmental Education, such as the Virtual Interpretative Trail consisting of an application “PARNASI” and an “Informative – Instructional Guide”. These tools were added to the workshops and discussions held, resulting in reflections aimed at raising awareness and social mobilization in formal education through Environmental Education, enabling the recognition, appreciation and protection of the socio-biodiversity of the PARNA Serra de Itabaiana Conservation Unit, SE.