Publication Type: Abstract
Abstract: This work reports the first year of the environmental education program in the surrounding communities of the Serra da Canastra National Park, one of the main sanctuaries for the maned-wolf conservation in Brazil. Our objective was to begin a process of engaging the community in the discussion about local environmental questions. We carried out two main actions: the organization of a book about the region, and the implementation of an itinerant movie theater, locally known as “Cine Lobo”. During 5 months, a group of 30 members of the community - such as teachers, students, farmers, tourism entrepreneurs, public employees - worked in the writing of a book about cultural, historical, environmental and economic aspects of the Serra da Canastra region. The “Cine Lobo” consisted in the exhibition of three 15 minutes films about our project, local environment and strategies to minimize conflicts between farmers and the maned wolves. These short movies were presented at schools, farms and small villages and were followed by commercial circuit movies of the community’s interest, and later by a discussion of the themes involved. Authors’ participation and opinions about the book demonstrated that its writing is a powerful tool for community engagement. Likewise, the community participation and the crescent demand for exhibitions of the “Cine Lobo” indicates that the usage of cinematographic language is effective in stimulating the community interest in conservation themes.