Environmental school project (PRAE) for the recovery of soils in the Technical Education Institution of Salamanca at Samacá -Boyacá

Abstract

Samacá is a town that is located in the state of Boyacá Colombia, Samacá has a big heritage of natural resources as moors and water storage. Due to its topographical location it counts on a great offert in forest resources and biodiversity, which are the main basis of sustenance in the development of the region and the variety of uses in the territory. However the coverage has declined because of the antrophic action over the natural resources with several kind of activities such as intensive deforestation, mining, and the extension of the agricultural frontier, pollution of moors and rivers with solid waste, urbanization. Also it could be observed the carelessness of the inhabitants about the importance of the environment. Thus, coal mining is the most important economical activity in the region, most of the coal mining activities are developed in opencast mining which has caused soil damage, and the accelaration of air pollution due to the hazardous material. Salamanca is one of the most affected by this phenomena, in particular the Technical Educational Institution of Salamanca which it is located between two well traveled rural roads in construction. This school shows a serious air pollution issue, what has caused lung diseases to the teachers and students. In that specific context it is proposed a soil reforestation Project, aimed at first to establish a living fence of trees as alive barrier to reduce the hazarduos material from the construction of the roads and the opencast mining. On the other hand it is proposed to plant native plants of the región so, the school will become an epicenter of the recovery and restoration of the damage soil in that place. The technical institute school of Salamanca through school environmental Project, has been trained about the awareness of the environment, the natural resources, earth, fauna and flora, solid waste management and resforestation techniques such as planting trees and the designing of a garden centre. Besides including environmental education as a priority in order to promote the enviromental awareness to the inhabitants.