Environmental education, attitudes and knowledge of rural communities about the Andean Condor in the El Almorzadero paramo (Santander, Colombia)

Abstract

espanolLa educacion ambiental y la participacion comunitaria hacen parte de las lineas estrategicas establecidas para la conservacion del Condor Andino en Colombia. Sin embargo, son pocos los esfuerzos que involucran a las comunidades en procesos de conservacion de la especie. Este trabajo planteo evaluar las actitudes y el conocimiento de ninos y adultos acerca del Condor Andino. Se realizaron actividades de educacion ambiental con ninos de escuelas rurales para sensibilizar y reconocer la importancia natural y cultural de esta especie. Para los adultos, se desarrollo un taller de arbol de problemas con el fin de abordar el conflicto Condor-humano y se realizaron entrevistas semiestructuradas con productores de la region. Hubo una gran variedad de elementos biologicos, ecologicos y culturales que los ninos vincularon con el Condor. Los ninos creen que este se alimenta de animales vivos y complementan con carrona. Esto genera que no se valore la importancia ecologica que esta especie tiene en el paramo, ni su trascendencia para la gente. Por su parte, los productores de las zonas altas del paramo vincularon a la especie con mas elementos que los de zonas bajas. El perjuicio identificado es la perdida de animales domesticos a causa del Condor. Alrededor de esta problematica se identificaron causas y efectos resaltando la falta de asistencia tecnica y la perdida economica, respectivamente. A pesar del senalamiento de dichos perjuicios, la perspectiva general de los entrevistados frente a la especie es positiva. Es importante desarrollar actividades de educacion ambiental no solo en ninos sino tambien en adultos, evaluar la efectividad de las estrategias de educacion ambiental y vincular experiencias y conocimientos de la comunidad para crear lazos afectivos que incidan en la conservacion del Condor Andino. Finalmente, es pertinente generar puentes de comunicacion con entidades afines para fortalecer practicas de manejo de animales domesticos EnglishEnvironmental education and community participation are part of the strategy lines established for the conservation of the Andean Condor in Colombia. However, few efforts have been made with the purpose of involving local communities in the conservation process of the species. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the attitudes and knowledge of children and adults about the Andean Condor. Environmental education activities were carried out with children in rural schools in order to raise awareness and recognize the natural and cultural importance of this species. For adults, a problem tree analysis workshop was developed to address the human-Condor conflict and semi-structured interviews were conducted with producers in the region. There was a great variety of biological, ecological and cultural elements that the children linked with the Andean Condor. Children believe that it feeds on live animals and complements its diet with carrion. This generates that neither the ecological role of this species in the paramo , nor its transcendence for people are valued. Producers in the highlands of the paramo, on the other hand, linked the species with more elements than producers in the lowlands. The damage identified was the loss of domestic animals caused by condors. Causes and effects around this problem were identified, highlighting the lack of technical assistance and economic loss, respectively. Despite the indications of such damages, the general perspective of the interviewees regarding the species is positive. In conclusion, it is important to develop environmental education activities not only for children but also for adults, evaluate the effectiveness of environmental education strategies, and link the experiences and the knowledge of the community to create emotional ties that affect the conservation of the Andean Condor. Finally, it is pertinent to generate communication bridges with related entities to strengthen domestic animal management practices.