Conservation Units (CUs) are fundamental in the protection of biological diversity. In Brazil, they have the function of guaranteeing the sustainable use of the biomes, such as the Atlantic Forest. With only 12% of forest... [ view full abstract ]
Conservation Units (CUs) are fundamental in the protection of biological diversity. In Brazil, they have the function of guaranteeing the sustainable use of the biomes, such as the Atlantic Forest. With only 12% of forest remnants of its original coverage, it shelters the largest Brazilian urban centers, which, in some cases, share space with important protected areas. In the state of Rio de Janeiro, the city of São Gonçalo is one of the dormitory towns that support the state capital, but suffers with structural precariousness. With more than one million inhabitants, it has a history of disorderly population growth that has generated serious basic infrastructure problems that remain to this day, such as lack of access to water and sewage treatment. In this context, the aim of this research was to document the structural and ecological situation of the Conservation Units of São Gonçalo under local government administration and, mainly, the population’s perception about those spaces and their use for educational purposes. For this, interviews were conducted with the administration of the CUs, in addition to visits to the areas and interview with the only employee of the units. In result, data were collected regarding the history, characteristics and community involvement related to the Units. Founded in 1991, Engenho Pequeno's Environmental Protection Area (EPA) was created based on a popular initiative to prevent its 13 km² of Atlantic Forest remnants from being transformed into a dumping ground. Ten years later, part of its territory was destined to the creation of the Municipal Natural Park of São Gonçalo. Both areas are administered by the town hall and have almost zero visit rates. Furthermore, according to the official CUs' registration, they do not have a management plan or educational program, although they are described as reserved spaces for conservation activities and academic studies based on Sustainable Development and Environmental Education (EE). Without appropriated security, the CUs become easy targets for depredation. In some forests, irregular constructions threaten the ecosystem balance. At the headquarters, there is only one employee working, and the biology laboratory, with data and samples collected in the Units, is totally abandoned. In conclusion, this study found that the lack of public investment and educational actions on the Conservation Units of São Gonçalo directly implies the difficulty of protecting those spaces. Therefore, access to information about the ecological and social relevance of protected areas is an essential strategy to bring the community closer to environmental issues, as well as to engage it in the protection of the municipality's natural patrimony. Moreover, the data of this work may encourage the local government to plan public actions centered on the protection and occupation of the CUs on the work for a sustainable city. The theoretical references considered in this work were the researches of: Carlos Frederico Loureiro on EE and participatory management of CUs; Michele Sato and collaborators on Environmental Education; Jesus Martín-Barbero on Communication and Education; and Paulo Freire on Pedagogy.
Keywords: urban forests; environmental education; communication; sustainable management.
