Students' perception of plant and animal species - a case study from rural Argentina.

NATES, J.; CAMPOS, C.; LINDEMANN-MATTHIES, P.

Applied Environmental Education and Comunication

Taylor and Francis Group, LLC

Lugar: Charlottesville; Año: 2010 vol. 9 p. 131 - 141

1533-0389

Exotic species seriously affect local biodiversity in Argentina. This paper investigates how students in San Juan province perceive native and exotic species. With the help of a written questionnaire, 865 students (9-17 years old) were asked to name the plant and animal they liked most, disliked most, and perceived as most useful, to name local species and describe their uses in the region. Students´ preferences and perceptions were strongly directed towards exotic domestic species. Consequently, workshops were developed in which students were introduced by local ecologists to the diversity of native wild species and their importance for the ecosystem.