Trailblazer: the Brazilian Cerrado as a resource for Botany teaching

Abstract

Abstract Using interpretative trails as a Botany teaching resource for high school students was investigated in tandem with a floristic survey for the Chapada Imperial Ecological Reserve. A plant list was compiled using traditional collecting methods focusing on noteworthy plants to capture the students’ attention. A significant diversity of plant species of the sampled area was revealed, comprising a list of 223 vascular plant species. This knowledge of the local flora was used as a basis for quantitative and qualitative analyses of the students’ plant knowledge and perception, prior to and following the development of activities using nature trails. A significant learning improvement and increased interest in the subject when compared with traditional classroom teaching methods was recorded. A trail developed specifically to inform students about the diversity of the Cerrado biome has proved fundamental in promoting a deeper and more empathetic understanding of plant and environmental sciences, building awareness towards one of Brazil’s most endangered ecosystems.