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E. Schimanski 2010. The importance of Environmental Education to restore and preserve natural and cultural heritage
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The importance of Environmental Education to restore and preserve
natural and cultural heritage: the case of Pirai da Serra – South of
Brazil
Edina Schimanski *
State University of Ponta Grossa, Brazil
Abstract
Pirai da Serra is located in the south of Brazil and it represents an impressive natural and
cultural heritage. The area of Pirai da Serra is characterized by canyons, escarpments, grassland
vegetation, araucaria forests, fauna and flora diversity, archaeological material (rock art) and
cultural traditions. In the last decades, despite some efforts to avoid degradation, it is possible to
observe a permanent transformation in the landscape in terms of environmental collapse. Some
examples of local natural dilapidation are a wide use of land to increase agriculture,
development of exotic species of forest, forest burning and scarcity of water, among other
environmental impacts. Considering these circumstances, it is urgent the development of
Environmental Education practices which promote the involvement of the local community in
order to prevent a complete devastation. The local community participation (teachers, students,
parents, people from cultural groups, social movements and government, among others) is
essential to promote an environmental practice. This kind of practice must be able to
deconstruct non-environmental actions and increase the consciousness of people in relation to
restoration and preservation of natural and cultural heritage of the area.
Keywords: environmental collapse, cultural heritage, environmental education,
1. Introduction
This essay discusses environmental awareness related to the protection of natural and cultural
heritage. It argues that environmental education must be understood as a future-orientated
approach to people’s life in relation to preservation of the planet and humankind. Environmental
education represents an important tool for the defence of natural and ecological reserves such as
Pirai da Serra, located in the South of Brazil. This essay is organized into three parts. The first
part shows some aspects concerning the methodology of the research and discusses about the
importance of environmental awareness and environmental education. The second part presents
some considerations with regard to the importance of environmental education to preserve and
restore natural and cultural heritage. Finally, the last part brings about some reflections
concerning the idea of critical environmental education and the defence of natural and
cultural heritage.
2. Typifying the methodology of the study and introducing some essential concepts
about Environmental Education
Research practice in education, and particularly in environmental education, has adopted a
variety of approaches through different theories and methodologies. Distinct perspectives have
been used to conceptualise and analyse the development of environmental education practice.
* Email address: edinaschi@hormail.com
Forest Landscapes and Global Change-New Frontiers in Management, Conservation and Restoration. Proceedings of the IUFRO Landscape Ecology
Working Group International Conference, September 21-27, 2010, Bragança, Portugal. J.C. Azevedo, M. Feliciano, J. Castro & M.A. Pinto (eds.)
2010, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal.