The impact of solid waste on mangroves: report of an extension project of PET Biologia-UFMA

Abstract

The mangroves on the São Luís Island/MA border the coast and freshwater courses. These areas are greatly reduced due to growing unplanned urbanization. An example of disorderly urbanization and lack of planning is the São Francisco neighborhood, São Luís of Maranhão. This establishes the need to know a little more about mangroves, especially those that directly interfere in the daily lives of residents. To this end, we report here the experience of developing the extension project “The impact of solid waste on mangroves” prepared by members of the Tutorial Education Program (PET) Biology at the Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís campus, in collaboration with teachers and 2nd year students training in health sciences at the Centro Educa Mais Desembargador Sarney school, located in the São Francisco neighborhood, São Luís, Maranhão. To achieve this, the actions were taken in three steps: 1) Approach with central themes “mangroves” and “solid waste” to be applied by the petianos; 2) Research and production of written material monitored by the petianos; 3) Publication of what was produced in a special volume of the PET Bio-UFMA Bulletin. The extension project “The impact of solid waste on the mangrove” was of great importance in strengthening PET in the Biological Sciences course, reinforcing the importance of science within the community and bringing high school students closer to activities carried out at universities.