Educação ambiental no contexto do manejo do guaraná (Paullinia cupana Kunth) na região do Alto Urupadí (Maués-Amazonas)

Abstract

The peculiarity of the Amazon is agricultural production on the banks of rivers or creeks during drought or in swiddens of terra firme throughout the year. In general, the rural population in the Amazon has been presenting an aging process, without replacement of labor. The young people of the countryside have been looking for opportunities in the city to continue their studies and better employment conditions, since the conditions of education and work in the countryside are precarious. In this context, the school is an important space for raising society's awareness about the need to care for the environment from Environmental Education (EA), emphasizing the importance of adopting better production and consumption strategies that contribute to sustainability in the use of natural resources. Taking advantage of the students' experience and experiences in EA methodologies can be more efficient in rural areas of the Amazon. The objective of this study was to analyze the environmental education practices developed in the Brasileia community, located in the Alto Urupadí - Maués region, in the context of guaraná management. The study was carried out using a qualitative and quantitative approach, with primary and secondary data sources. Primary data were collected through a form with teachers, community president, school and community leaders. Already with the students, a workshop was held. As a result, it was observed that despite not knowing the term "environmental education" and its scientific concept, families and the school community are at a satisfactory level of EE, demonstrating that experience, experiences, practical and empirical learning also educate. This education needs to be better used by the government, to strengthen the teaching and learning process in the riverside areas of the Amazon. For this, there is a need for investments in the training of teachers, hiring through public tender of new teachers, reducing the rotation of these professionals; in quality school transportation and safe food, through the timely school feeding acquisition program.