Escola Parque: Educação Ambiental na Região do Parque Nacional do Iguaçu

Abstract

The Iguassu National Park holds enormous richness of species of fauna and flora of a forest that has practically disappeared. It is the largest National Park of Atlantic forest and it is located in an intensely crowded region in the southwestern part of Paraná. This area is today under constant threat. Aiming to minimize some of the environmental problems such as uncontrolled hunting and fishing, the illegal extraction of heart of palm, wild animals sicknesses due to feeding them improperly practiced by the tourists, discussions on closing Caminho do Colono, garbage found in inappropriate places, animals being run over on the road in and around the Iguassu National Park, The coming of exotic plants in the area, The use of fertilizers in and around The Iguassu National Park, various environmental and educational programs have been created through Parque School, located inside the park. That school works with community people every day as well as people from other cities, increasing their sensitvity concerning the importance to preserve the Conservation Unit. Parque School also offers courses for environmental agents and teachers who live around the park so that they become able to work with projects of environmental education. The study of case presented in this research uses the qualitative method, with the aim of performing a diagnostic of the Parque School,jobs, followed by a critical analysis of the actions and programs performed by it, through the results obtained in polls and questionnaires answered by the people involved in the process of educating. It is observed that the results of the school work have been excellent, however, they can still be improved, contributing even more to the preservation, therefore assuring a better future for the present and later generations. It is expected that the research helps improve the Parque School jobs, and that it performs its role and serves as inspiration and reference for the next steps and plans, leading the society to understand their role and responsibility in this process.