Environmental education in the forest context: the Educational Center Paradisino

Nowadays propose a sustainable forest management requires having developed a special sensitivity to the environment. This sensitivity arises in a context of environmental education and a multidisciplinary perspective. Latest guidelines have reported the need to consider, along with the physical, chemical and biological, human factors, social, economic and production likely to have effects in ecosystems and on living organisms. It has been often underlined the need to use an interdisciplinary perspective in the identification of the environmental topics, in order to promote awareness and responsible attitudes of individuals and communities to the environment and the future of man. The degree courses in Forest Science of Florence have, in addition to an old tradition, an important element of excellence that distinguishes them nationally and internationally. The educational center "Paradisino", nestled in the National Reserve of biogenetic Vallombrosa, is the reference center for the training of students of Florence and an important place of technical and scientific support for the School of Agriculture. In this structure are carried out exercises full immersion for students of degree courses. Since several years the Learning Center of Paradisino is open to host associations, school groups, Italian and foreign, particularly interested in environmental issues. The activities proposed by teachers, graduates are particularly important in the training and education of those who participate to the educational and training proposals. Some depth teaching events are structured as a week of seminars and workshops with the participation of young researchers, internationally renowned experts, technicians. During these moments of sharing through a casual atmosphere it creates an information exchange between professors and students. The presence of Paradisino resumes, maintains and develops a new sensitivity, it is proposed as center of attraction even for non professionals, interested in new environmental issues of sustainability and biodiversity. The impacts of the Centre on the educational process are discussed after interviews and data base analysis.