Contribuições teórico-metodológicas de uma análise Geoambiental para subsidiar atividades de Educação Ambiental Crítica na APA do "Parque Goiabal" – Ituiutaba-MG

Abstract

Currently, it is noticeable how Environmental Education has been treated in an isolated and occasional manner within the content covered in many classrooms, especially on commemorative dates such as "Environment Day" and/or "Tree Day," among others. Often, these initiatives involve activities or actions that are publicized in the media (websites, newspapers, etc.), including the planting of seedlings with school groups and some visits to areas with remnants of the Cerrado biome. Regarding the teachers in the municipality of Ituiutaba, for some years now, these activities or actions related to Environmental Education—whether on commemorative dates or as part of school projects—no longer have a suitable location for conducting practical classes, fieldwork, or technical visits to Conservation Units in urban areas. This is because the municipal park has been officially closed for daily visits and abandoned by both public and private authorities. Additionally, there is a noticeable lack of specific informational material in the field that addresses geographical knowledge. Currently, it is evident that Goiabal Park has been facing several problems, one of which is the absence of a management plan. As a result, there is no operational plan, and the lack of investment in infrastructure, management staff, and visitor security has made it difficult to obtain public and private financial resources for the site. Another issue that can be mentioned is the pressure exerted by urban territorial expansion on the park area. Due to the absence of a fence that clearly delineates the park’s boundaries, many residents end up encroaching on the park's land, extending their backyards. Additionally, the urban drainage system has been directing stormwater into the park without any investment in infrastructure to control the speed of these waters, such as energy dissipation staircases and sediment stabilization and control techniques. This has contributed to the development of linear erosion. Urban fires during the dry season have further aggravated the park’s degradation. The existing trails in the park lack location/orientation signs, and there are no interpretive panels to illustrate aspects of Biodiversity and Geodiversity in the area, among other diagnosed issues. Despite the park being closed to free daily visitation, some activities are still taking place there. Higher education institutions have been using the area as an open-air laboratory for practical classes, fieldwork, and research. On commemorative dates directly related to Environmental Education, school groups visit the site in partnership with the Municipal Department of the Environment and the Department of Education. However, a lack of educational and informational materials about Goiabal Park has been identified, which could support and assist teachers, educators, and students in understanding the geoenvironmental aspects of the area, such as its existing Biodiversity and Geodiversity. Thus, the guiding question of this investigation is: "What are the potentialities for producing theoretical-conceptual and methodological knowledge, with an emphasis on geographical understanding, that Goiabal Park offers regarding Geodiversity (abiotic aspects) and geoenvironmental factors to support Critical Environmental Education and other teaching activities?" The general objective of the research was to conduct a geoenvironmental analysis with an emphasis on the geodiversity of Goiabal Municipal Park, aiming to demonstrate how these aspects can support actions focused on Environmental Education from a Critical perspective. The methodological procedures used were as follows: a) The inductive research method was applied, involving a literature review on topics related to Environmental Education, the physical-natural aspects of the study area, Geodiversity, Biodiversity, Environmental Interpretation, Trails, Conservation Units, among others. b) A documentary research on the Goiabal Environmental Protection Area (APA Goiabal) was also conducted. c) Thematic mapping of the study area was carried out using ALOS PALSAR satellite images with a 12.5-meter resolution and cartographic bases from IBGE, processed in a GIS environment using the QGIS program. These thematic maps represented relief, 11 hydrography, altitudes, slopes, and other features. d) Fieldwork was essential for mapping the existing trails in the park, where various aspects of local Geodiversity and Biodiversity were identified and analyzed. e) Data collection forms were applied and completed during fieldwork, allowing the researcher to systematically record Geodiversity and Biodiversity aspects, as well as specific characteristics of the trails. f) Orientation and informational signs were designed and installed during fieldwork to highlight the most significant points for geographical knowledge in Environmental Education activities. g) Interpretive panels were developed only in a computational environment, aiming to illustrate aspects of Geodiversity and Biodiversity at specific points to facilitate Environmental Education activities. The research results were based on an analysis of the implementation of Goiabal Park, highlighting the legal aspects of its creation, classification, and area. A diagnosis of the physical-natural aspects of the area was conducted, revealing that the local lithology is based on sandstone from the Adamantina Formation of the Bauru Group. The predominant soils have a sandy texture and a reddish color, similar to Red Latosols, with a smaller proportion of more clayey soils ranging in color from yellow to gray. The local relief was identified as a convex hill with a broad, gently undulating top, concave, convex, and rectilinear slopes, as well as an amphitheater-shaped drainage head. The hydrographic system is characterized by various drainage channels and a main watercourse, Goiabal Stream, which has two reservoirs. Regarding the identified geoenvironmental aspects, it was found that the park’s infrastructure is in a deteriorated state and unfit for use, as kiosks, restrooms, sports courts, and other facilities require renovation. Erosion is evident in several areas of the park, with gullies and ravines being the most impactful formations. Soil loss due to surface runoff and linear incision is causing sedimentation in the Goiabal and São José streams and their reservoirs. Additionally, large incisions in the soil are increasing with each rainfall, as stormwater from the urban drainage system is being directed into the park, intensifying and accelerating the erosion process. Another key result was the identification and characterization of four trails: Cerradão Trail (634 meters), with a focus on the Cerradão flora, slope, and hypsometry. Reservoirs Trail (1,222 meters), covering environmental themes such as Cerradão flora, soil erosion, wildfires, artificial reservoirs, water quality, and existing infrastructure. Ravine Trail (82.4 meters), highlighting themes of erosion, leaf litter, illegal tree extraction, and fauna observation. Gully Trail (45 meters), addressing gully erosion, soil-rock interaction, and groundwater outcropping. Finally, simple orientation signs were created and installed in the park to support educators in conducting Environmental Education activities, helping to explore the geographical knowledge of the area.