Citizen Science and Environmental Education: training courses and encouragement in a National Park

Abstract

Community-based research and monitoring are noteworthy for the importance of results related to natural resource management and conservation, and represent effective interactions between environmental managers, researchers and the lay public. In the face of this need, the term Citizen Science, which describes partnerships between scientists and lay volunteers, with the possibility of effective participation in the collection and / or analysis of scientific data. Based on this perspective, the Citizen-Consciousness program, a partnership between university, NGO and ICMBIO, with the support of CNPq and Fapesp, was designed to contribute to the training of people, especially residents of the surrounding national parks act as citizen-scientist and encourage volunteering. Three courses were held, which sought to stimulate scientific training, engagement in social and environmental activities and the improvement of natural spaces.