Tagulao Karen Araño, Bernardo Allan B I, Kei Loi Hoi, Calheiros Cristina Sousa Coutinho
Institute of Science and Environment, University of St. Joseph, Rua de Londres 106, Macao SAR 999078, China.
Department of Psychology, De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila 1004, Philippines.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Mar 8;19(6):3147. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19063147.
Mangrove forests are one of the most ecologically valuable ecosystems in the world and provide a wide variety of ecosystem services to coastal communities, including cities. Macao, a highly urbanized coastal city located on the southern coast of China west of the Pearl River, is home to several species of mangroves with many associated flora and fauna. Mangrove forests in Macao are vulnerable to threats due to pressure from rapid and massive urban developments in the area, which led to mangrove loss in the past decades. To address this issue, the local authorities established special Ecological Zones for the management of the local mangroves. To reinforce local conservation efforts, educating the local population about the value of mangroves, especially school students, is of utmost importance. To evaluate the impact of environmental education activities on the environmental orientation, knowledge, and values of students toward mangrove conservation in Macao, a quasi-experimental study was undertaken. The effectiveness of a mangroves exhibition and field visit were evaluated using the New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) Scale-Macao version in a group of local school students who participated in the activities. Overall, the results provided consistently positive evaluations of the impact of the environmental education program. The strongest improvements were found in the students' pro-environmental orientations, knowledge about mangroves, and value for environmental protection.
红树林是世界上生态价值最高的生态系统之一，为包括城市在内的沿海社区提供了各种各样的生态系统服务。澳门是中国珠江以西南部海岸的一个高度城市化的沿海城市，拥有几种红树林物种以及许多相关的动植物。由于该地区快速且大规模的城市发展带来的压力，澳门的红树林容易受到威胁，这导致在过去几十年红树林面积减少。为了解决这个问题，当地政府设立了特殊的生态区来管理当地的红树林。为了加强当地的保护工作，让当地居民，尤其是学生了解红树林的价值至关重要。为了评估环境教育活动对澳门学生在环境取向、对红树林保护的知识和价值观方面的影响，开展了一项准实验研究。使用新环境范式（NEP）量表 - 澳门版对一组参加了红树林展览和实地考察活动的当地学生进行评估。总体而言，结果对环境教育项目的影响给出了一致的积极评价。在学生的亲环境取向、对红树林的知识以及对环境保护的重视程度方面发现了最显著的改善。
