Contextualization

The Amazon is a region of immense importance for the ecological balance of the planet. Encompassing about five and a half million km², it covers territories of nine different countries, with the majority (60%) located in Brazil. Its biodiversity, water resources, and climate play a crucial role in the lives of millions of people around the world.

Introduction

Within the Amazon, there is a great diversity of biomes, each with its own unique characteristics. These include the tropical forest, savanna, floodplain forest, among others. Each of these biomes harbors a huge amount of plant and animal species, many of which have not yet been fully studied. Understanding how these biomes interact and contribute to the global ecosystem is of fundamental importance.

A key aspect to understand the Amazon is the relationship between its natural riches and the economy. The region is a source of many valuable products, such as wood, fish, fruits, and Brazil nuts, which are traded around the world. On the other hand, the exploitation of these resources also has its environmental impacts that need to be properly managed.

The study of the exploitation of natural resources cannot be separated from the study of the communities that depend on these resources. In the Amazon, many indigenous peoples, quilombolas, and traditional communities live, who have a deep connection with the land and its resources, and whose way of life is intrinsically linked to the maintenance of the forest.

Atividade Prática

Activity Title: 'Building the Amazon: Biomes, Economy, and Environmental Impacts'

Project Objective:

This project aims to:

• Understand the diversity of Amazonian biomes and their impacts on the global ecosystem.
• Analyze the economic exploitation of the Amazon's natural resources and the resulting environmental impacts.
• Evaluate the agro-extractive practices of local communities and their implications for sustainability.
• Develop research skills, teamwork, time management, and effective communication.

Detailed Project Description:

Students, divided into groups of 3 to 5, must conduct in-depth research on the Amazon, addressing three main topics: Biomes, Economy, and Environmental Impact.

Each group must delve into one of the three topics, conducting rigorous investigation to develop a project that presents their topic in a creative and effective way. This can be done through PowerPoint presentations, videos, posters, infographics, etc.

Required Materials:

• Internet access for research
• Materials for the production of the final creative project (varies depending on the format chosen by the group)

Detailed Step-by-Step for Activity Execution:

1. Research: Each group starts the activity with a research phase, where they must seek detailed information about their respective topic.

2. Planning: After the research phase, groups must plan how they will present their findings. This can be through a video, a slide presentation, a poster, among others.

3. Execution: In this stage, groups must execute their plan, creating their presentation.

4. Review: Finally, students must review their presentation, making necessary adjustments to ensure that the material is as clear and effective as possible.

5. Presentation and Discussion: Each group presents their work to the class. After each presentation, the group answers questions and participates in a discussion on the topic.

6. Final Report: The group must prepare a final written document, following the structure of Introduction, Development, Conclusion, and Bibliography. The document should reflect the work done, clearly presenting the information and results obtained in the research and presentation, as well as a critical analysis of the impacts of these elements on the environment and local communities in the Amazon.

Project Deliverables:

At the end of the project, groups must deliver:

• The finalized Creative Project, whether it is a video, poster, slide presentation, etc.
• The Final Written Report, which should be a thoughtful and detailed reflection of the work done. The report should have the following sections:
  • Introduction: Contextualization of the theme and importance of the Amazon. Presentation of the main objective of the project.
  • Development: Detailed presentation of the research topic. Include the results obtained, the methodology used (research and/or practice), and the discussion of the results.
  • Conclusion: Recapitulation of the main points and the learnings acquired during the project execution.
  • Bibliography: List of all research sources used.

This written document should complement the presentation made by the group, explaining the rationale behind the choices made, interpretations of the data and information obtained, and the analysis of the results.

The estimated time for the execution of this project is two to four hours per student, and the deadline for delivery is one week after the project presentation.