"SER MATA ATLÂNTICA" PROGRAM: CHALLENGES AND POSSIBILITIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF VARGEM ALTA, STATE OF ESPÍRITO SANTO, BRAZIL

Abstract

The "Ser Mata Atlântica" Program, implemented in Vargem Alta, is an environmental education project focused on valuing the local ecosystem and training educators. The main objective of the program is to promote environmental awareness among students and teachers, encouraging sustainable practices and the understanding of ecological and cultural interdependencies. Based on Ecological Literacy concepts  by David Orr (1992) and on a place-based learnin approach.The program aims to create a sense of belonging and responsibility towards the environment among participants. To structure the methodology, the analysis was constructed from the perspective of Content Analysis, as proposed by Bardin (1977) and in the use of thematic categorization according to Franco (2008). As a result, the program has strengthened local environmental education, with teachers and students demonstrating a high level of engagement and awareness. The introduction of practical activities, such as outdoor classes and the use of natural resources as an object of study, promoted meaningful and contextualized learning. The participants' responses highlighted their enthusiasm and involvement with the content, showing that the program met their objectives of developing a critical and reflective ecological awareness. The "Being Atlantic Forest" Program represents a successful experience in environmental education. Its approach, centered on the community and the local environment, proved to be a replicable methodology for other localities that aim to promote sustainability and care for the local environment in their daily educational practices.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.56238/sevened2024.032-013