Linking community communication to conservation of the maned wolf in central Brazil

Abstract

This article describes the environmental education (EE) program developed in the neighboring community of Serra da Canastra National Park based on a research project focused on the maned wolf conservation. The article assesses three tools used to foster the community’s participation in discussing local issues: (1) communal production of a book about the region; (2) deployment of a traveling environmental cinema project through local towns and farms; and (3) training courses for the community on how to use communication tools for EE. Despite their differences and intrinsic limitations, the three strategies applied in this study proved effective in promoting community participation. The maned wolf species benefited indirectly from having its image associated to relevant cultural activities for the community. In addition, the connection generated by the project in the community certainly extended to the species at hand. Interest in the species and project actions grew among the community, which became more active in finding solutions for existing conflicts. The book’s approval by the community and the opinion of the authors showed that preparing a book with local authorship is a powerful tool for community mobilization. Using cinema language also proved effective to spike the community’s interest in discussing issues related to conservation in the rural environment.

Keywords:

• bioregionalism
• community communication
• endangered canids
• environmental education
• maned wolf
• participation tools

Acknowledgments

This project was funded by the National Environment Fund (FNMA), the Itaú Social Excellence Fund (FIES), the Smithsonian Institute, and the National Scientific and Technological Development Council (CNPq). The Maned Wolf project is realized by Pró-canívoros Institute, University of Brasília, University of Minas Gerais and the National Research Center for the Conservation of Natural Predators. We are grateful to all the friends and partners of the Maned Wolf Project for the joint achievements that made this work possible, especially to F. Paulino, F. Rocha, F. Rodrigues, J. Faria, J. Mendes, K. Leal, L. Pedrosa, R. Arrais, R. de Paula, and W. Santos. J. Mistry kindly revised this manuscript.