Forest burns and wildfires in Palmas County – Tocantins State: environmental education as instrument for Civil Protection and Defense (CPD) and school community

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to assess the interface between Civil Protection and Defense (CPD) and school environmental education to prevent forest burns and wildfires in Palmas County, Tocantins State. The investigation was based on bibliographic, documental and qualitative research carried out through interviews. Data about fire outbreaks provided by BDQUEIMADAS, of National Institute of Spatial Research (INPE), in the herein assessed county, between 2019 and 2021 were selected; schools were selected for interviews to be carried out with their direction board members. Civil Protection and Defense managers were also interviewed. The analyzed documents are related to action plans focused on fighting forest wildfire; they were provided by municipal and state Civil Protection and Defense bureaus. Tocantins Discipline Matrix, also known as DCT, and other instruments connected to it, due to initiatives aimed at Environmental Education in schools in Palmas County, Tocantins State, were analyzed. Based on the results, forest burns and wildfire events are a problem that has negative impact on Palmas’ population and, consequently, on its school community. However, there are actions that have been developed in schools to help reducing the risks of these events and minimizing their impact.