GEOSCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN THE BRAZILIAN SEMIARID REGION: A CASE STUDY IN THE PRIVATE RESERVE OF NATURAL HERITAGE OLHO D'ÁGUA DAS ONÇAS

Abstract

The Brazilian semiarid region is an environmentally fragile that suffers from deforestation and land degradation. In the sustainable development debate, it's essential integrating sustainability into geoscience education and training. In order to have sustainable development, it is necessary to sensitize people about the functioning of environmental dynamics, considering not only biotic factors, abiotic and biotic factors work together to create a ecosystem. Environmental Education offers objective instruments to elaborate and re-elaborate personal beliefs, values, attitudes and behaviour. We aimed to analyse and discuss how geoscience and environmental education can work together to environmental conservation and preservation in the Brazilian semiarid region. The study was conducted in the Private Reserve of Natural Heritage Olho d'água das Onças (Picuí-PB) in the Northeast of Brazil. Geomorphological, geological and pedological characterizations of the study area were carried out, in order to discuss the processes involved and understand the semiarid dynamics. Our results show two distinct environments with contrasting dynamics: the flat tableland domain with Latossolo Amarelo and edge of tableland with Neossolo Litólico. Environmental educational practices in the semiarid region need to take a holistic approach with interconnected environment (abiotic and biotic). It is essential to understand and discuss the processes, especially in relation to erosion and siltation processes, which generate different impacts with economic and social consequences. It is noteworthy that Environmental Education must be assumed as an educational process of continuous training, regardless of age and location. Knowing the dynamics of the physical environment of the semiarid is of paramount importance in order to avoid land degradation and restoring degraded lands.