Trilha das abelhas no Parque do Sabiá (Uberlândia - MG): conhecer para preservar

Abstract

Stingless bees are important components of biodiversity because they perform pollination, an essential ecosystem service in natural environments as well as in urban areas. However, due to the prevailing economic model and the resulting environmental crisis, these insects have been affected by the consequences of environmental degradation. Therefore, the development and use of non-conventional educational approaches are necessary in order to foster societal dialogue about the importance of these insects and environmental conservation. Environmental education, combined with education in non-formal spaces, can contribute to changes in individual attitudes by encouraging dialogue among different stakeholders, aiming to transform the socio-environmental reality. From this perspective, the objective of this study was the creation of the Bee Trail, composed of a map showing the location and information about nests of stingless bees in Parque do Sabiá, in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The map acts as a didactic resource, allowing visitors to identify bee species and learn about them while walking through the park during leisure or sports activities. Potential nesting substrates used by the bees were inspected along the park’s walking trail. The nests found were identified and their geographic coordinates were inserted into an application, resulting in a virtual map that will be made available to visitors through QR codes placed on educational signs installed throughout the park. Each mapped nest was identified with its scientific and common name as well as its nesting substrate. In addition, the activity “Expedition: Getting to Know the Bees” was developed, a question-and-answer game that can be used before, during, or after visitors walk along the Bee Trail, aiming to provide knowledge about stingless bees. A total of 23 stingless bee nests were mapped: 5 nests of Tetragonisca angustula (Jataí), 3 nests of Scaptotrigona postica (Canudo), 3 nests of Scaptotrigona depilis (Mandaguari), 9 nests of Nannotrigona testaceicornis (Iraí), 2 nests of Trigona spinipes (Arapuá), and 1 nest belonging to the genus Scaptotrigona sp. The nesting substrates used by the bees included trees, walls, concrete poles, and wooden poles. This work may serve as a viable tool for generating impact and self-reflection among visitors. The use of the Bee Trail can promote an understanding of the ecological importance of bees and encourage reflection on environmental issues and the need for ecosystem conservation. The Bee Trail can be applied in several ways within educational contexts and uses awareness to create a genuine connection between humans and nature.