Avaliação do programa de educação ambiental Tamarzinhos, como contribuição para conservação das tartarugas marinhas na Praia do Forte-Bahia, Brasil

Abstract

In the base of the TAMAR Project in Praia do Forte, the first experience of the project aiming at reconciling tourism and sea turtle conservation took place, through the implantation of a Visitor Center that currently receives 500,000 people/year. One of the actions resulting from the implantation of the Center was the creation in 1995 of the “Training Program for Educating Little Ecological Guides”, currently called “Tamarzinhos”. This Program seeks to create opportunities for the students to participate in socio-educational experiences complementary to formal education, integrated to local economy. It strengthens a differentiated inclusive process aimed at valuing local culture and environmental conservation. The training program underwent adaptations along the years, and is currently framed as an environmental education proposal that is capable of accompanying the social transformations of Praia do Forte and surrounding communities, as well the challenges to sea turtle conservation in the region. Since 2006, it adopts the methodology of the triple focus in environmental education, as an education “about”, “in”, and “for” the environment. Previous studies carried out with ex-Tamarzinhos showed consistency in their knowledge on sea turtle conservation, as well as advances in their personal aspirations and increase in their self-esteem. It was still necessary, however, to identify and consolidate in the methodology of the Program which actions bring more contribution to changes in the participants’ values, attitudes, and habits/behaviors, towards a greater awareness and participation in efforts for environmental and, in particular, sea turtle conservation in Praia do Forte, in view of the social and environmental transformations in their communities. This was the goal of the present study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six ex-Tamarzinhos who were involved in different professional activities (two employees of the TAMAR Project shop in Praia do Forte; two employees of coastal resorts, one of the major threats to environmental and sea turtle conservation; and two employees engaged in diverse activities in Praia do Forte). The interview data were treated by means of content analysis, using categorical analysis techniques. Therefore, we obtained categories from the analysis of recording units identified in the interviews, related to educational methods used by the Tamarzinhos Program, for instance, the triple focus in environmental education. The results obtained in focus of environmental education “about” and “in” the environment indicated that ex-Tamarzinhos possess a basic knowledge about the biology and ecology of sea turtles and local ecosystems, as well as about the conservation actions carried out by the TAMAR Project in Praia do Forte. The interviewees also shown to have acquired knowledge and skills through the practical activities developed in the focus of education “for” the environment, within the triple focus of environmental education, which contributes to conservation and appreciation of culture as a ground for personal knowledge and the acquisition of new values, attitudes, and abilities. In their different professional and social activities, they report that they manage to use those abilities and promote other people’s interests in conservation. The present study suggests, thus, that the environmental education approach developed by the Program Tamarzinhos, using the triple focus, has been effective in changing values, attitudes, and abilities of the participants. According to the interviewees’ reports, the three focuses were presented in an integrated manner, despite their sequential development in the Program, and the interpersonal relations with the Program team as well as with other TAMAR members provided an effective link between the different focuses. According to the interviewees, the experiences embodying respect, care and loveliness to others, the place where they live, and the living beings dwelling in it were crucial to the understanding and changes in values and attitudes towards environmental and sea turtle conservation.