A orientação e oportunidade no contato com a natureza na infância e fase adulta

Abstract

The distancing of human beings from nature has been referred to in the literature by the term Extinction of natural experience, as an obstacle to the conservation of biodiversity, given the socio-environmental crisis that has intensified in the last century. The mitigation of distancing can focus on studies on childhood, a phase in which the individual develops sensitivity and relationships with the environment, directing their behavior as an adult. Thus, this study seeks to analyze how childhood experiences influence direct contact with nature in adulthood, how the living environment affects such contact with nature and what factors are related to its approximation and/or distance. This quantitative-qualitative descriptive study was carried out through online interviews with 50 undergraduate students from the Federal University of Piauí. The results show that urbanization intensifies the lack of opportunity for direct contact with nature, in addition to the lack of time (caused by the way of life of Western societies) and distance to places (perception of isolated nature from everyday life and reduced spaces in the city) . The research showed that children encouraged to contact nature in childhood, who visited and carried out activities in the countryside, showed greater proximity to nature as adults. It is possible to mitigate the distance to nature in adulthood, also considering that directing efforts towards orientation is more effective than opportunity. However, it is necessary to promote both more areas of urban-natural interaction (opportunity) and awareness-raising measures through formal and non-formal education, integrated with the media, academia and environmental education (orientation).