Escarpa devoniana: a valorização da APA por meio da educação ambiental

Abstract

The Environmental Protection Area (EPA) of the Devonian Escarpment integrates a conservation unit for sustainable use of the National System of Conservation Units in Brazil, created in 1992 with the aim of protecting the biodiversity of fauna and flora. Although it has an area of 392 thousand hectares through thirteen municipalities in Paraná, contributing with the ecological ICMS of the cities and encompassing several tourist points, this APA is still little known by the population, which ignores its potentialities, its importance, as well as its fragility. A bill that is in progress in the Legislative Assembly of Paraná (PL 527/16) foresees the reduction of more than 70% of the area of the Devonian Escarpment and has generated a great controversy when putting in battle the farmer who defend the approval of the project against the scientific milieu and civil society against the same. At this critical moment in the exercise of citizenship, it is perceived that a large portion of the population is unaware of the subject, having no arguments for positioning and not understanding that the reduction of the EPA affects the quality of life of thousands of people in the Campos Gerais region. Aiming to promote knowledge about the subject and raise awareness of the local natural heritage, it is intended to produce alternative didactic materials that can be used in elementary education, in Environmental Education activities. In addition, it is intended to include in the students' daily life the pertinent discussion that guides conservation and sustainability.