Aspectos ecológicos, socioambientais e Educação Ambiental aplicados na conservação de Kinosternon scorpioides em comunidades da Baixada Maranhense

Abstract

In Baixada Maranhense, Kinosternon scorpioides serves as a food resource and source of income for some families. His future is threatened by fires, deforestation and indiscriminate collection, is required perform effective actions in the pursuit of control of these problems. Stand out the Environmental Education, coupled with environmental awareness and management and management actions as possible solutions. The objective of this research was to apply conservation strategies for Kinosternon scorpioides in communities of municipalities São Bento and Pinheiro - Baixada Maranhense, through ecological data, environmental and environmental education practices. The methodology applied was based on the collection of environmental and ecological data on K. scorpioides through questionnaires with fishermen and educators; actions of environmental education: speeches, workshops, events and field activities; and mapping the areas of occurrence of Kinosternon scorpioides to propose conservation guidelines and management of turtles, focus on jurará. Based on empirical knowledge of educators and the fishermen, it is concluded that the natural stocks of Kinosternon scorpioides, are decreasing. The fishing / poaching of these reptiles is seen as one of the main reasons for this decline. The Environmental Education’s strategies, was positive in raising awareness among students, educators and fishermen on the conservation of the environment and mainly Kinosternon scorpioides. This tortoise is widely distributed in the fields of São Bento and Pinheiro, and anthropogenic pressures on species point to the need of creating a Kinosternon scorpioides Management Plan in APA of Maranhense Baixada.