Percepção de serviços ecossistêmicos por alunos do ensino médio e superior

Abstract

The study on environmental education themes is a path that allows the construction of scientific knowledge regarding socio-environmental issues. Ecosystem services are the benefits that natural ecosystems provide to humans. Understanding and valuing ecosystem services through environmental education is essential for the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. This work investigated and compared the understanding and perception of students, both from high school and from undergraduate Biological Sciences, regarding ecosystem services through a semi-structured questionnaire applied in a state school in Sorocaba and on the campus of a public university in the city of Sorocaba. The research demonstrated that there were differences in the perception of ES among students at different educational levels, with significant differences in perception evidenced by statistical tests, in the IPSE (Index of Perception of Ecosystem Services), and in the calculation of percentages. The lack of uniformity in understanding environmental services can be attributed to exposure to information through formal education, as well as social and cultural experiences shared among participants. The study highlights the need for specific educational strategies to promote awareness and understanding of ecosystem services, especially among high school students, whose perception may be limited by a lack of educational interventions tailored to their needs. The results emphasize the importance of environmental education in enabling individuals to understand and value ecosystem services, contributing to the construction of more sustainable and environmentally conscious societies. It is recommended to include topics related to biodiversity and ecosystem services early in the high school curriculum, accompanied by practical and theoretical activities to stimulate interest and understanding of these concepts as early as possible. Thus, raising the level of environmental awareness, which becomes broader with the introduction of scientific concepts of ecosystem services, contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the social and environmental impacts of known spaces, allowing for the proper importance to be given to the ecosystem and quality of life.