Percepção ambiental sobre "meio ambiente" e "educação ambiental" de seringueiros no sudoeste da Amazônia, Mato Grosso, Brasil. DOI: 10.5007/2175-7925.2011v24n3p119

Abstract

The transformation of natural areas into agricultural areas is considered the main environmental impact resulting from human activities, and is a major threat to biodiversity. This may be related to the level of comprehension and perception of a society in relation to environmental problems and agricultural activities. The main objective of this work was to investigate the environmental perception of the Seringal Community, which is located in the Xingu river basin, in Querência, MT, in order to understand the relationships the inhabitants have with the surrounding natural spaces. The majority of the rubber tappers in this community may not associate the natural environment and environmental education with their routine. Some of them perceive the natural environment as untouchable, and feel nature is important without considering themselves as part of the environment. In addition, environmental education is seen only as an action of conserving nature. In this sense, the investigation of environmental perception constitutes an essential tool for research projects that focus on human-environment relationships and environmental management.