The Municipality of Murça hosted a Participatory Forum focused on environmental education and awareness. The initiative is part of the complementary projects “Junto à Terra – 8.º Ano” and “Junto à Terra – Semear + Cedo”, implemented in the municipalities of the Vale do Tua.
The Vice-President of the Municipality, José Santos, accompanied the proceedings and highlighted the importance of promoting, among new generations, the knowledge and appreciation of the territory and its natural resources.
The projects aim to bring young people closer to the territory, promoting the knowledge, appreciation, and protection of biodiversity through training sessions, guided field trips, communication workshops, and biodiversity monitoring actions. Students learn to identify local species, understand ecosystems, and reflect on human impacts on the environment, developing environmental citizenship skills.
The project “Junto à Terra – Semear + Cedo” is aimed at 4th-grade students, focusing on technical knowledge and strengthening skills for their school path. Meanwhile, “Junto à Terra – 8.º Ano”, for 3rd-cycle students, deepens academic skills related to sustainability and biodiversity, also including a competition among the five municipalities of the Vale do Tua.
The Forum in Murça also served as a moment for reflection and joint construction on the future of environmental education in the region, seeding the idea for a new project aimed at secondary education. The goal is to create a closer relationship between young people and the territory, encouraging active participation in the preservation of natural heritage and the construction of a sustainable future for the Vale do Tua.
