Children participate in educational blitz against environmental fires

The dry season is approaching and with it we are on the verge of forest fires that are causing such harm to flora, fauna and the entire population. To raise awareness among adults, there is nothing better than children. Therefore, the Secretariat for the Environment and Animal Protection of the Federal District (Sema-DF) carried out the first Educational Blitz to Prevent Forest Fires, this Friday (26), on BR-020, in front of the Itiquira Post, in Planaltina.

20 4th year students from the Nossa Senhora de Fátima Elementary School Center, in Planaltina, participated in the event. The children were excited and, despite some shyness, they gave the message to the 450 drivers who were approached in the action, part of Sema’s Forest Fire Fighting Prevention Plan (PPCIF).

Pedro Jorge de Carvalho Ferreira, 10 years old, said he was very embarrassed for “talking to people I have never seen in my life”. “But it was worth talking about environmental education because messing with fire is no joke. You have to be very careful with plants and animals,” he said. Like the other children, he was also able to take a ride in the fire engine. “It was really cool and I want to participate again”, he highlighted.

Isabela Vieira Marçal, 9 years old, said she liked it because she did “fun things and had experience of what we can be when we grow up”, she said, referring to the Fire Department and the Military and Federal Highway police, who participated in the action . But she didn’t forget the reason for the blitz. “I will keep an eye on everyone to protect the environment,” she assured.

The lessons learned will also be taken into life by 10-year-old Henrique Araújo. “It’s cool because we are taking care of nature. We told them (drivers) that they cannot throw cigarettes out of the car window, nor cans and start a fire in the bush”, reinforced the student.

Drivers approve initiative

It wasn’t just the children who enjoyed the initiative. The adults took a few minutes out of the day to receive the instructions given by the children and approved the action. Ceilândia resident, Célia Janaína Gomes da Silva, 42 years old, believes that environmental education for children is very efficient. After all, they really keep an eye on and monitor the attitudes of adults.

“It’s excellent work. Children take this knowledge to their parents and watch to see if we are doing it. It’s a really good initiative”, he praised.

Engineering student Caio Braga, 19, lives in Asa Sul and also approved the approach. “It’s very important. The fires hurt everyone a lot and this awareness work is very important,” he noted.

An opinion shared by French diplomat Marina Mayavx Adie, 34 years old and resident of Lago Sul. She was with her partner and three children aged 5, 3 and 1 and enjoyed the blitz. “I think raising awareness among children is very good,” she said.

Cerrado Conservation

PPCIF coordinator, Carol Schubar, explains that the objective is to guide children and society about the importance of conserving our Cerrado. She highlighted that most forest fires are caused by people’s behavior. “Therefore, it is important not to set fire to pruning remains and garbage or to open pastures and clear land”, she explained.

According to the coordinator, this was the first blitz of the year and three more will be carried out by the DF. The action has been taking place since 2016 and the choice of Planaltina to start this cycle is due to the fact that the region is home to the largest environmental preservation area in the DF, the Águas Amendmentadas Ecological Station.

Carol Shubar explains that the idea of ​​involving children is because they are very active. “Children are the true multipliers of action. With this, we cover not only the location (where the blitz is carried out), but the entire society. And when it ends, we have the children’s recognition. Many say they will never forget that day. It’s the greatest gratification we have,” she said.

The executive secretary of Sema-DF, Eleutéria Guerra, highlights that children always take information home. “If we teach the values ​​of environmental preservation now, we are also educating future generations,” she says.

The president of the Brasília Environmental Institute (Ibram), Roney Nemer, reinforced the importance of environmental education early on to raise awareness among children from an early age. “These are simple habits that help us preserve the environment and life in the DF”, said Nemer.

The organization of the flow and approach of drivers was the responsibility of the Federal Highway Police (PRF). The Fire Department, the Environmental Military Police Battalion, Caesb, the Brazilian Environmental Institute (Ibama) and the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) also participated in the blitz, totaling around 30 employees.

The next blitzes will be carried out in Lago Oeste, on May 10; at the Botanical Garden, on June 5; and in the Brasília National Forest, on a date to be defined. In total, around 100 children are expected to participate in the actions.