A Pesquisa-Ação em Áreas Protegidas da Baixada Fluminense – Estado do Rio De Janeiro – Brasil

Abstract

In recent years, the Conservation Units (UCs) in Baixada Fluminense, State of Rio de Janeiro, have stood out for their integrative initiatives with the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, showcasing numerous potentials as educational spaces and strengthening the triad of teaching, research, and outreach. The aim of this article is to present how action research is being applied in UCs in Baixada Fluminense through extension programs and projects such as “Shared Guardianship Flona Mário Xavier,” “Participatory and Collaborative Maps: Strategies for Outreach and Scientific Dissemination,” “University in the Community,” and “Cartographies of the Potentialities of Conservation Units.” These projects primarily involve volunteer students who act as environmental monitors and/or protagonists in the proposals, following the principles of action research, which combines knowledge production, educational action, and participant involvement. Action research is utilized through the offer of environmental education to the community (awareness-raising), the visibility promoted for UCs through social media, events, research, and other actions, and the technical-scientific training of university students and UC staff. It is observed that extension actions connect the community to its territory, raising awareness about the importance of conservation through the recognition of these spaces as historical, cultural, and environmental heritage, contributing to environmental management. Continuous training of environmental educators is essential for conservation and effective implementation of environmental education in protected areas, especially vulnerable ones, strengthening the visibility and public use of UCs in a sustainable manner.