School of Nature Conservation: An Experience in Education …
787
entrepreneurship and opportunities for sustainable development, taking into account
the potential of the Atlantic Forest and Protected Areas in all spheres. They were
also able to meet and follow the work of the managers of the Conservation Units of
the Northern Coast of Paraná and other collaborators who work in the area, besides
living with researchers and their research. The lectures, workshops and experiences
in natural areas took place in Conservation Units, where space provides the necessary
environment for immersion in Nature Conservation, such as trails and other equipment, providing contact with preserved areas, experiences of restoration of degraded
environments, installed researches and people working in the environmental area.
After each of the modules, the students had one week to run local research on
the topic and to develop a practical activity, the results of which were shared at the
beginning of the next lesson, when impact indicators were collected. Six months
after the completion of the modules, the students were interviewed and the impact
of the initiative in relation to the perception about nature conservation, the look on
the territory and the possibilities of sustainable development were again evaluated.
3 Results
The forty-seven young residents of the rural area of Antonina, Paraná, who enrolled
participated in the theoretical-practical training until the end, making a total of fortyfour hours of course. These students have shown that they do not want to leave the
area when they finish their studies because they are very attached to their family and
friends. They also showed that they are not interested in extractive activities and do
not practice hunting, although they report that the practice was carried out in the past
by some member of the family in 20% of cases.
It was observed that, before the formations, the public was unaware of the definition and purpose of the Conservation Units of the region, especially in the case of
the RPPN category, which, because it is managed in a particular way, generates even
more doubts in the direct environment. The general idea about a “fenced area to let
the bush grow, where human presence is forbidden” prevailed among the participants
in the initiative. The expression “nature conservation” was associated mainly with
prohibitions, with direct benefits only for the protected of fauna and flora, without
positive impacts to society.
Initial indicators also led to non-recognition of regional scenic beauties, since
projected local images were attributed to other states or countries, as well as the lack
of knowledge of ecosystemic services generated by protected natural areas, such as
water consumed by the communities and its relation with the conserved forest.
After the training, the indicators brought an 80% increase in knowledge about
nature conservation and the consequent inclusion of the theme in the community’s
choices, especially in a way related to sustainable development. This fact also
appeared in the voluntary organization of groups engaged in the organization of
the public use of hitherto unmanaged tourist spots for nature conservation and local
development. Indicators presented a 40% increase in knowledge related to native
787
entrepreneurship and opportunities for sustainable development, taking into account
the potential of the Atlantic Forest and Protected Areas in all spheres. They were
also able to meet and follow the work of the managers of the Conservation Units of
the Northern Coast of Paraná and other collaborators who work in the area, besides
living with researchers and their research. The lectures, workshops and experiences
in natural areas took place in Conservation Units, where space provides the necessary
environment for immersion in Nature Conservation, such as trails and other equipment, providing contact with preserved areas, experiences of restoration of degraded
environments, installed researches and people working in the environmental area.
After each of the modules, the students had one week to run local research on
the topic and to develop a practical activity, the results of which were shared at the
beginning of the next lesson, when impact indicators were collected. Six months
after the completion of the modules, the students were interviewed and the impact
of the initiative in relation to the perception about nature conservation, the look on
the territory and the possibilities of sustainable development were again evaluated.
3 Results
The forty-seven young residents of the rural area of Antonina, Paraná, who enrolled
participated in the theoretical-practical training until the end, making a total of fortyfour hours of course. These students have shown that they do not want to leave the
area when they finish their studies because they are very attached to their family and
friends. They also showed that they are not interested in extractive activities and do
not practice hunting, although they report that the practice was carried out in the past
by some member of the family in 20% of cases.
It was observed that, before the formations, the public was unaware of the definition and purpose of the Conservation Units of the region, especially in the case of
the RPPN category, which, because it is managed in a particular way, generates even
more doubts in the direct environment. The general idea about a “fenced area to let
the bush grow, where human presence is forbidden” prevailed among the participants
in the initiative. The expression “nature conservation” was associated mainly with
prohibitions, with direct benefits only for the protected of fauna and flora, without
positive impacts to society.
Initial indicators also led to non-recognition of regional scenic beauties, since
projected local images were attributed to other states or countries, as well as the lack
of knowledge of ecosystemic services generated by protected natural areas, such as
water consumed by the communities and its relation with the conserved forest.
After the training, the indicators brought an 80% increase in knowledge about
nature conservation and the consequent inclusion of the theme in the community’s
choices, especially in a way related to sustainable development. This fact also
appeared in the voluntary organization of groups engaged in the organization of
the public use of hitherto unmanaged tourist spots for nature conservation and local
development. Indicators presented a 40% increase in knowledge related to native