Educação ambiental e etnoconhecimento: parceiros para a conservação da diversidade de aves pantaneiras

Abstract

Our country has an enormous variety of ways of life and cultures which end up developing specific relations based on the dependence upon natural cycles, due to the fact that they are somewhat isolated. Among other characteristics, their symbols and myths are linked to the environment. These communities include the swamp communities São Pedro de Joselândia and Barra do Piraim, where people have vast knowledge about the animals that comprise the wildlife in the neighborhood. Therefore, this paper aims at verifying the perception these swamp dwellers have of the local bird fauna; based on this knowledge, we propose viable alternatives to preserve these species. Environmental Education is our ally in this attempt: it aims at integrating biological and social means so that the local knowledge and our diversity can be preserved. Key words: Biological and Cultural Diversity; Environmental Education; Local Knowledge.