A ciência em ação: cidadania ecológica e sustentabilidade

Abstract

Raise society's awareness of environmental issues through scientific dissemination and citizen science activities with ecological research results complement social mobilization actions for the conservation and sustainable use of rivers urban. The objective of this study was to develop citizen science activities on the conservation and sustainability of rivers urban communities with different sectors of civil society in the southern portion of Serra do Espinhaço (MG), in the municipalities of Congonhas, Counselor Lafaiete, Itabirito, Moeda, Ouro Branco and Ouro Preto. Citizen science activities were carried out on results of studies developed by the Bentos Ecology Laboratory/UFMG on aquatic ecology, conservation of biodiversity, ecosystem goods and services, ecological processes, sustainable management of water resources in basins hydrographic, biomonitoring and benthic macroinvertebrates as bioindicators of water quality. The actions focused on: a) short, medium and long-term activities for adults, including lectures, interactive exhibitions, dynamic group, practical classes in the field and laboratory; b) short, medium and long-term activities for children and adolescents, including interactive lectures, playful games, practical activities in the field and laboratory and monitoring a stream close to basic education institutions. Over the course of 7 years, nine long and medium-term training courses were carried out for 283 teachers and collaborators and three short-term activities with lectures and interactive exhibitions for 209 adults. Forty long and medium duration activities were offered to children and adolescents, including monitoring ecological quality of water courses and the experience of “a day as a scientist” for 1,555 young people, in addition to three short duration covering interactive exhibitions and fun activities for 3,173 students. Activities carried out for more of 5 thousand adults and young people in municipalities in the southern portion of Serra do Espinhaço contributed to the dissemination and training in citizen science on aquatic biodiversity in streams, conservation and sustainable use of water resources.