Environmental Education Research Articles

El legado matemático de la escritura cuneiforme: matemática funcional en la antigua mesopotamia

Tourism for the observation of large cats, such as the jaguar in the Brazilian Pantanal and the puma in Chilean Patagonia, has emerged as a powerful tool to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable economic development. This article explores the opportunities and challenges associated with this form of tourism, highlighting best practices and strategies for maximizing benefits and mitigating negative impacts. The analysis reveals that big cat tourism can provide significant economic benefits to local communities, creating livelihoods and raising living standards. However, it is crucial to maintain a balance between economic benefits and ecological sustainability. Implementing capacity limits, strict regulations, and sustainable tourism practices are essential to prevent the degradation of natural habitats and animal stress. Tourism education plays a vital role in promoting responsible behaviors among visitors. Orientation programs and the presence of experienced guides help ensure that wildlife interactions are safe and informative. Additionally, collaborating with academic institutions to monitor and research the impact of tourism on feline populations and their habitats is critical for making informed decisions. The involvement of local communities is another critical aspect. Initiatives that ensure communities directly benefit from tourism strengthen local support for conservation efforts and create sustainable income streams. Habitat restoration projects and anti-poaching units, funded by tourism revenue, can promote ecological recovery and reduce threats to wildlife. Diversification of tourism activities is also recommended to distribute pressure on wildlife habitats and extend the stay of tourists. In addition to feline watching, cultural visits, ecological trails and other activities can promote conservation and environmental education. Jaguar and cougar sighting tourism presents a valuable opportunity to promote conservation and economic development. Adopting sustainable tourism practices, education, and community engagement are essential to ensure that this form of tourism continues to thrive, benefiting both wildlife and local communities.

Feline watching tourism in South America: Conservation, sustainability and impacts in the Pantanal and Patagonia

Tourism for the observation of large cats, such as the jaguar in the Brazilian Pantanal and the puma in Chilean Patagonia, has emerged as a powerful tool to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable economic development. This article explores the opportunities and challenges associated with this form of tourism, highlighting best practices and strategies for maximizing benefits and mitigating negative impacts. The analysis reveals that big cat tourism can provide significant economic benefits to local communities, creating livelihoods and raising living standards. However, it is crucial to maintain a balance between economic benefits and ecological sustainability. Implementing capacity limits, strict regulations, and sustainable tourism practices are essential to prevent the degradation of natural habitats and animal stress. Tourism education plays a vital role in promoting responsible behaviors among visitors. Orientation programs and the presence of experienced guides help ensure that wildlife interactions are safe and informative. Additionally, collaborating with academic institutions to monitor and research the impact of tourism on feline populations and their habitats is critical for making informed decisions. The involvement of local communities is another critical aspect. Initiatives that ensure communities directly benefit from tourism strengthen local support for conservation efforts and create sustainable income streams. Habitat restoration projects and anti-poaching units, funded by tourism revenue, can promote ecological recovery and reduce threats to wildlife. Diversification of tourism activities is also recommended to distribute pressure on wildlife habitats and extend the stay of tourists. In addition to feline watching, cultural visits, ecological trails and other activities can promote conservation and environmental education. Jaguar and cougar sighting tourism presents a valuable opportunity to promote conservation and economic development. Adopting sustainable tourism practices, education, and community engagement are essential to ensure that this form of tourism continues to thrive, benefiting both wildlife and local communities.

Comparação das leis de educação ambiental do Brasil e da Bolívia

The present work shows the main laws of Bolivia and Brazil that include environmental education in their texts and establishes a comparison between them. In the methodology of micro comparison of law, it was sought how to perform the textual classification for the analysis of laws of a specific theme and it was made use of the organization of keywords in word clouds. The results obtained were that the laws of both Brazil and Bolivia have differences in the approach to the theme of environmental education, with the National Policy of Environmental Education of Brazil being the most explanatory and complete text in its guidelines for the theme, while the Bolivian laws value the concept of Living Well in harmony with the different peoples of the country and the law that most fosters the dissemination of environmental education is law 1333 of Environment.

The Metaverse in Green Building Concept Learning, Creative Design Performance, and Learning Engagement

Due to the rapid advancement of technology, environmental sustainability education has gained significant attention. This study aimed to explore the effect of the metaverse on green building concept learning, creative design performance, and learning engagement. This research was conducted with 61 students from a public high school, employing a quasi-experimental design with nonequivalent groups. The experimental teaching theme was green building education, where the experimental group used online metaverse with Minecraft-assisted teaching, while the comparison group used internet images for assistance. Our research results were as follows: 1. The metaverse had a large effect size on the example dimension of concept learning but no significant effect on the linkages, hierarchical structures, or cross-linking terms. 2. The metaverse significantly enhanced creative design performance, including value, usability, novelty, and elaboration. 3. The metaverse had a significant effect on learning engagement, particularly in learning attitudes.

Conflicted epistemologies in secondary school environmental education: implications for sustainable climate action in Uganda

ABSTRACT Transformative secondary school environmental education is likely to impact climate action by producing environmentally responsive citizens. We present a case study of environmental education in northern Uganda, and how learners’ intended actions are moderated by their exposure to both formal and non-formal indigenous environmental knowledges. Guided by the Critical Place Inquiry theory, we undertook a pragmatism paradigm where a mixed methods approach was used to collect quantitative and qualitative data from 1,282 secondary school learners and 12 teachers in 30 rural and urban schools. Individual interviews, focus group discussions, document reviews, questionnaires, and arts-based scenarios were used to collect data. Findings revealed that learners’ school-acquired environmental knowledge is not transforming them into environmentally responsive citizens because formal and non-formal knowledges are conflicted across pedagogy, curricular, and textbooks. We propose a harmonisation of the two epistemologies so that learners can relate school knowledge with their every-day environmental realities for climate-smart citizenry.

Foraging Educators as Vectors of Environmental Knowledge in Europe

Widely accessible education on edible wild plants is increasingly in demand as more people search for ways to explore wild culinary uses. Despite this growing trend of nature exploration, few scholars have investigated the contribution of this new mode of engagement to human–nature connection and pro-environmental attitudes. Therefore, this research aims to explore the societal role of such foraging educators. Through convenience and snowball sampling, we recruited 31 foraging educators across Europe. Through semi-structured interviews, we inquired about their sources of knowledge, modalities of transmission and their roles as educators. The interviews revealed individuals who convey ethnobotanical knowledge to improve human–nature connection through experiences within nature. The educators gained their knowledge through written sources, vertical and horizontal sharing. Finally, foraging educators consider themselves social bridges of ecological knowledge, bringing scientific ethnobotanical information to a varied audience in an experiential way. Foraging stimulates the sharing of ecological knowledge, and it could be seen as a broader agroecological practice, enhancing the benefits of nature's contribution to people. There is great potential for emerging environmental education platforms and, correspondingly, for rethinking the food system.

Ethnozoological Review on the Trade, Human Alimentation, and Cultural Use of Skinks (Reptilia, Scincidae)

Animals and their derivatives have been used for a wide range of purposes, including human consumption, clothing, tools, medicinal and magical-religious purposes, for most of human history, and as pets more recently. We reviewed the scientific literature and, using 134 references, provided an overview of how 400 species of skinks (23% of skink diversity) are used in the context of ethnozoology, especially as related to international and domestic trade and any cultural significance. Except for 10 species, all records of skinks involve domestic or international trade. Body weight, various activity pattern traits, and various microhabitats were found to be positive predictors of documented human use. In contrast, species found in less accessible microhabitats, such as semi-aquatic species, showed reduced odds of an ethnozoological role. A more comprehensive examination of trading patterns, cultural significance, or any other human use of skinks currently appears to be impossible, simply due to a lack of necessary information. In addition, data related to functional traits of skinks or a general understanding about the factors that influence skink usage or cultural significance are scarce or absent. We conclude that our understanding of factors that may influence human use of lizards in general and skinks in particular needs to be improved to create more effective species conservation and environmental education outcomes.

Urban Renewal and Transformation of Residents’ Pro-Environmental Behaviors: Evidence from the Renovation of Old Residential Areas in Chengdu, China

Based on research data from the renovation of old residential areas in Chengdu, China, this study provides empirical evidence regarding the causal relationship between urban renewal and the transformation of residents’ pro-environmental behaviors. The research results show a significant enhancement in residents’ engagement in pro-environmental behaviors due to the renovation of old residential areas. Robustness tests based on replacement samples and two-stage difference–difference model also confirm the reliability of the conclusions. The preliminary mechanism test indicates that the mechanism of the impact of renovation of old residential areas on the transformation of residents’ pro-environmental behaviors can be attributed to two main factors. Firstly, improving environmental infrastructure, such as upgrading waste segregation facilities and installing intelligent resource recycling devices, provides residents with better conditions for engaging in pro-environmental behaviors. Secondly, an increase in residents’ environmental awareness has led to more voluntary participation in pro-environmental behaviors. This study proposes that decision makers acknowledge that urban renewal serves as both a means of improving urban infrastructure and as a hands-on environmental education for the entire population. Taking urban renewal as an opportunity to enhance citizens’ awareness of environmental protection will effectively promote the transformation of pro-environmental behaviors and support sustainable social development.

The green library advocacy: Need to engage the international communities in a climate change action

This paper seeks to explore the pivotal role of libraries in global initiatives to combat climate change and emphasize the significance of international cooperation in advocating for sustainable practices. Through an extensive exploration of existing literature and real-world case studies obtained from various sources of information, this paper scrutinizes various endeavors undertaken by libraries worldwide to promote environmental advocacy and tackle climate-related challenges. It assesses the obstacles and prospects encountered by libraries in engaging communities and fostering sustainability. The study underscores the indispensable role of libraries as centers for environmental education, awareness-raising, and proactive measures. Libraries serve as vital platforms for disseminating information, conducting workshops, and advocating for policies conducive to environmental preservation. Collaborative ventures like the Climate Action Libraries Network (CALN) and the Global Library Consortium for Climate Action (GLCCA) showcase the potency of collective efforts in addressing climate change issues. Additionally, the paper highlights significant hurdles, such as resource constraints and institutional barriers, while proposing future strategies for advancing green library advocacy. This paper enriches the scholarly discourse by accentuating the transformative potential of libraries in championing sustainability and nurturing resilient communities. It underscores the imperative of international collaboration in nurturing green library initiatives and underscores avenues for libraries to augment their influence in confronting climate change globally.

Fostering ecosystem understanding: The synergistic impact of inquiry-based instruction and information literacy

In the field of environmental education, it is crucial to obtain a profound understanding of students' learning about ecosystem concepts, particularly with regard to the intricate processes of material cycling. Material cycling involves the movement and transformation of elements and compounds within ecosystems and serves as a cornerstone for effective instructional techniques aimed at improving learning outcomes. This study examines the synergistic potential of merging inquiry-based instruction with information literacy within the context of the “mini ecosystem” theme to increase seventh-grade students' comprehension of ecosystem concepts, material cycling, modeling design, and visual literacy. Utilizing a quasiexperimental design, the student cohort was divided into an experimental group that was exposed to inquiry-based instruction and information literacy and a control group that utilized integrated audiovisual media. Assessment tools included standardized tests, open-ended inquiries, design drawings, and evaluations of visual literacy.This study sheds light on students' comprehension of concepts related to ecosystems and material cycling and highlights the effectiveness of integrating inquiry-based instruction and information literacy. Notably, the experimental group surpassed the control group in several aspects, including understanding and higher-order thinking of ecosystem concepts, overall model design with material selection, and overall visual literacy, including aesthetic techniques and creative imagination. However, no significant differences were found in conceptual design or material cycling of model design or in theme composition in visual literacy. In both groups, students with higher pretest scores did not exhibit improvement in the understanding of ecosystem concepts. Despite the identified limitations, the results underscore the potential benefits of each individual component (i.e., inquiry-based instruction and information literacy) as well as their combined synergistic effect in bolstering students' grasp of ecosystem concepts. The study concludes by discussing its limitations and providing suggestions for future research.

Implementation of Environmental Education Based on Madura Local Wisdom to Increase Student Scientific Literacy

Environmental Education is a lecture process that provides insight to students regarding the understanding and awareness of the environment as a means of sustainable development. Environmental education lectures can be used as a means to improve students' science literacy skills. Science literacy skills can increase in learning associated with local wisdom. Local wisdom has an important relationship with education, this is important for the development of education, so the educational process must be conducive to connecting learning with the environment. Therefore, local wisdom needs to be associated with learning, one of which is with environmental education lectures. The purpose of this research is to improve students' science literacy skills applied to Environmental Education lectures based on Madura local wisdom. This research is a quantitative descriptive research. Data collection techniques include observation, interviews, documentation and tests. Then, the data obtained was analyzed using quantitative descriptive data analysis. The results showed that science literacy in the science process domain for indicators identified scientific problems by 7.6%, explained scientific phenomena by 7.4%, and used scientific evidence by 66%. The achievement of science literacy in the science content domain was 78% (good category). Science literacy in the realm of students' attitudes towards science as a whole reached 76.3% (good category). The average result of students' overall science literacy achievement was 72% (sufficient category). Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that research on the Implementation of Environmental Education Lectures Based on Madura Local Wisdom to Improve Student Scientific Literacy can improve students' science literacy skills and teach environmental conservation and local wisdom on Madura Island

Advancing Sustainable Ecosystem Development

Ecosystem management integrates natural and human systems, but understanding early stages remains a challenge. Remote sensing aids in monitoring endangered ecosystems. Ecological growth theories and models offer insights, while energy-related tendencies contribute to succession understanding. Collaboration drives sustainable development, alongside social-ecological system understanding. Adaptive management navigates ecosystem transformation, while resource management ensures sustainable use. Engaging communities, leveraging innovative technologies, and effective governance are crucial for long-term sustainability. Conserving biodiversity is essential for ecosystem health, requiring focused actions like habitat restoration and preservation. Addressing climate change impacts strengthens ecosystem resilience and secures sustainable futures. Promoting environmental education and awareness cultivates community involvement and supports conservation efforts. Incorporating economic incentives and valuing ecosystem services encourages sustainable resource management. Effective policy integration across agriculture, forestry and urban planning sectors is crucial for comprehensive and sustainable ecosystem management.

Fauna sinantrópica e silvestre no ciclo da leptospirose e impactos legais e forenses na “Saúde Única”

The term “synanthropic” qualifies animals that have adapted to living alongside humans, often involuntarily. Synanthropy is characterized by the potential transmission of diseases to humans. The One Health approach increasingly emphasizes the importance of veterinary medicine in animal and environmental healthcare, with a focus on human health. This review aims to identify, understand and discuss the impacts of synanthropic and wild fauna on animal, public and environmental health, as well as legal and forensic aspects within the framework of One Health. The challenges encompassing One Health challenge both veterinary medicine and the law. Veterinary expertise is a resource that can assist in legal matters relating to the environmental management of synanthropic and wild fauna. Humans exposed to synanthropic and wild animals are considered a risk factor for disease transmission. The presence of rodents in urban and rural areas generates economic and health problems as they transmit diseases directly or indirectly. The rodents involved in the transmission of leptospirosis are Rattus rattus, Rattus norvergicus and Mus musculus. Leptospirosis is a neglected disease transmitted both by rodents and wild animals. The understanding of this issue must communicate actions to public authorities to develop health and environmental education policies regarding this fauna in order to reduce, control or eliminate the risks of disease transmission. This review bases its information on the Pubmed platform, Google Scholar, articles and textbooks. Despite existing legislation, leptospirosis is still considered a neglected disease, and synanthropic and wild fauna represent a significant challenge to the One Health concept due to the lack of basic sanitation and poor urban infrastructure that facilitates the presence of this fauna, which cause health and economic problems for the population.

Inquiry-based Ethnoecological Conservation Approach to Improve Students' Critical Thinking Skills

This study explores the effectiveness of an inquiry-based ethnoecological conservation approach in enhancing critical thinking skills among students. Amidst growing concerns over environmental degradation, the integration of ethnoecological knowledge within educational frameworks emerges as a potent tool for fostering environmental stewardship and critical thinking. This research adopts a mixed methods design, engaging 45 secondary school students in a two-month pedagogical intervention that blends inquiry-based learning with ethnoecological insights. The intervention's impact on critical thinking was assessed using pretest-posttest analysis, supplemented by qualitative insights from student interviews. Quantitative results demonstrate a significant improvement in students' critical thinking skills post-intervention, with statistical analysis revealing a notable increase in mean scores and a reduction in score variability. This indicates not only an enhancement in critical thinking abilities but also a homogenization of skills across the participant group, underscoring the universal efficacy of the approach. Qualitative findings further enrich these results, with students reporting a deeper understanding of environmental issues, a stronger connection to cultural heritage, and a heightened sense of responsibility towards conservation efforts. The study highlights the transformative potential of integrating indigenous knowledge systems into environmental education, advocating for a pedagogical shift towards more inclusive, culturally relevant learning frameworks. By engaging students in a contextually rich exploration of ecological and cultural interconnections, the inquiry-based ethnoecological approach proves effective in cultivating critical thinking, thereby equipping students with the cognitive tools necessary to navigate and address complex environmental challenges. This research contributes to the evolving discourse on environmental education, offering valuable insights into the role of ethnoecology and inquiry-based learning in developing critical thinking skills and fostering a generation of informed and engaged environmental stewards.

Measuring attitudes towards historic gardens: development and validation of the Garden Heritage Scale

Historic gardens and parks are special parts of cultural heritage. On the one hand, such areas can be seen as historic monuments. On the other hand, they can play a crucial role for environmental protection. However, previous environmental education research did not pay much attention to historic greenery. One reason may be the lack of suitable measurement tools. The purpose of the current study was to develop and validate the Garden Heritage Scale (GHS). This novel psychometric instrument may be used for measuring attitudes towards historic gardens. It shows sufficient internal validity, confirmed by two factor analyses with different samples (n = 233;183). Convergent and discriminant validity proved to be adequate as well as retest-reliability and internal consistency. Since the scale showed sufficient quality, it can be recommended for further research.

A Track Study of Sustainability Focus in East Timor

This paper discusses the role of international cooperation and aid in supporting sustainable development initiatives in Timor-Leste, focusing on the involvement of non-governmental organizations and governmental organizations. It explores the impact of international support in addressing challenges related to environmental conservation, healthcare, education, poverty alleviation, and capacity building. The limitations of external aid and future recommendations for promoting self-sufficiency and local capacity building are also highlighted.

Gambaran Pengelolaan Sampah di Pondok Pesantren Darul Muhtadin Kota Jambi

Waste is the solid residue of daily human activities or natural processes. Waste management is a form of environmental education that can raise awareness of the importance of protecting the environment and carrying out good waste management. The purpose of this study was to determine the description of waste management at the Darul Muhtadin Islamic Boarding School in Jambi City. The scope of this study is waste management at the Darul Muhtadin Islamic Boarding School in Jambi City, which includes the amount of waste generation, waste sorting, waste packaging, waste collection, waste transportation, and waste storage. This research is quantitative, and the research design used in this study is descriptive by means of direct observation and interviews. The results of the research at the Darul Muhtadin Islamic Boarding School in Jambi City show that 50% of the time there is a trash can at the location of the source of waste, 100% of waste sorting is not carried out in waste management, 100% of waste containers do not meet health requirements in waste management, 50% of waste collection does not meet health requirements in waste management, 75% of waste transportation does not meet health requirements in waste management at the boarding school, and 25% of waste containment places in their location and buildings do not meet the requirements, namely less than 30 meters in waste management at the boarding school.

Fostering pro-environmental behavior of university students through goal framing theory: the mediating role of environmental knowledge

Purpose This study aims to examine the associations between the three goals (hedonic, gain and normative) and university students’ proenvironmental behavior. After that, the authors investigate how environmental knowledge acts as a mediator between three goals (hedonic, gain and normative) and proenvironmental behavior. Design/methodology/approach The study used the quantitative approach adopting the goal framing theory (GFT) as the theoretical framework, for analyzing behavior of university students toward environment including both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The data was gathered through the distribution of a structured questionnaire to private universities in Chattogram and structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Findings Hedonic and gain goals have positive effects on students’ proenvironmental behavior while the normative goal has insignificant association. In addition, all the three goals are significantly linked with students’ environmental knowledge. Besides, environmental knowledge significantly mediates the association between three goals and proenvironmental behavior. Practical implications The findings can provide valuable insights for integrating sustainability and environmental education into the formulation and planning of curricular and extra-curricular activities, with an emphasis on students’ intrinsic motivation. Originality/value The mediating role of environmental knowledge between three goals and proenvironmental behavior is the unique contribution of this study.

Citizens' cultural values and urban green spaces in Colombia: An experimental analysis

Urban green spaces (UGS), such as urban forests, green corridors, and parks, are vital for societal well-being and environmental health. Despite extensive research on the economic value of parks, our understanding of how cultural values affect the appreciation of urban green spaces within parks remains limited. To address this, we conducted a Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) focusing on revitalizing a key urban park in Colombia and developed four cultural indexes. Our investigation revealed that the majority of these indexes had a significant impact on households' preferences for increased access to such areas. Specifically, households' utility increases significantly when they have more urban green spaces available, and when their indexes for environmental collectivity, long-term orientation, and femininity increase simultaneously. However, the uncertainty index showed no significant effect on household utility. Based on these findings, we recommend specific policy actions. Supporting environmental collectivity through volunteer programs and community projects aimed at conserving urban green spaces is crucial. It is essential to promote environmental education and raise awareness of pro-environmental measures for future generations. Additionally, it is important to promote gender equality through awareness-raising, education, and policies that ensure equitable participation in decision-making.

The impacts of environmental education on homeschoolers’ attitudes toward nature

ABSTRACT Previous research indicates that learners appear to connect with nature and have heightened environmental perceptions after participating in environmental education programs (EEPs). Positive changes in attitudes toward nature are important because they can precede environmentally responsible behaviors, such as individuals’ leadership on environmental issues. Much of the existing EEP research has been conducted in school settings. This exploratory study aimed to contribute to the existing literature by examining changes in homeschoolers’ attitudes toward nature after participating in an EEP. Data was collected through a pre- and post-test quantitative instrument and two qualitative mechanisms and analyzed using independent-samples t-tests and paired-samples t-tests, and content analysis, respectively. Results showed greater connection to nature and positive changes in environmental perceptions for the homeschool participant sample. However, statistically significant changes were limited, and quantitative measures showed little change in homeschoolers’ eco-affinity or behavioral intentions. Recommendations for continued research with the homeschooled community are discussed.