Environmental education: diagnostic of an area for application of an interdisciplinary and multiprofessional methodological model, with a transversal axe in environmental education Suarão project (Itanhaém, SP, Brazil)

Abstract

This work aims to present the preliminary results of a diagnostic of an area owned by Camillian Social Union, located inSuarao, Itanhaem, in the coast of Sao Paulo, SP., Brazil, for a ulterior implantation of the Suarao Project, whose general objectivesare: experimentation of the worked-out theoretical referents with Sao Camilo University Center students, professional improvement,and development of a community project that provides a better quality of life to local inhabitants. These aim to develop a real andsustainable use of the area. The “Suarao Project – a Learning Community” was conceived and elaborated in terms of a Interdisciplinaryand Multiprofessional Methodologhical Model which gradually encompasses the different areas of knowledge of the University Center,besides favoring the integration on a transversal axe in Environmental Education. It was divided in four phases: 1) Initial inquiry and environmental diagnostic of the place; 2) Data treatment and analysis; 3) Integration of the work in the multiprofessional and interdisciplinarylevels; 4) Implantation of intervention actions. The Biological Sciences course was charged of the execution of the first twophases, the object of this work, and the other two phases are in development. This initial phase had a multidisciplinary participation ofthe Biological Sciences Course, always obeying interdisciplinary work scripts and with the effective participation of the students. Theinquiry aimed to make a diagnostic of the place and the city, using the following profiles: history and geographic localization; demographicand spacial distribution of the urban clusters; environmental from the point of view of impacting and influence areas; sanitary;socio-economic; educational; health, habits and customs; activities developed in the area; local potentialities and prerequisites for theimplantation of intervention actions in environmental educative action. Results allowed the identification of a region that has beensuffering the impact of a non-planned and increasing urbanization Based on this diagnostic, some proposals, part of which already inexecution, had been elaborated.