Environmental education within Botanic Gardens. A Braziian case

Abstract

Botanic Gardens are increasingly becoming accessible to the public, developing scientific research, plant conservation and education. Today, according to Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGOI), there are about 33 thousand plant species threatened by extinction, while there are over 2500 botanic gardens in the world, most in urban centres, which receive about 200 million visitors per year. In this context, environmental education assumes a strategic role aiming to be sensitive and encourage the involvement of the public increasing the efforts for the biodiversity conservation. In the Rio de Janeiro Botanic Garden, Environmental Education follows social and environmental principles established by the National Program of Environmental Education –ProNEA and shares the guidelines of the Strategy of Conservation in Botanic Gardens, developing projects through the dialogue between diverse disciplines. The Environmental Education Centre (NEA) develops activities organised within the areas of scientific information, Training of Environmental Educators, Education of the Providers, Education for the Environmental Management, Research in Environmental Education encouraging the reflection of the environmental issue and the development of an educative program beyond the garden walls.