Representaciones sociales del ambiente en proyectos de inversión de educación ambiental de la Secretaría Distrital de Ambiente (2008 – 2024) Bogotá D.C.

Abstract

This research analyzed the Social Representations of Environment (SRE) present in the Environmental Education Investment Projects (EEIP) developed by the District Secretariat for the Environment (DSE), specifically within the Office for Participation, Education, and Localities (OPEL), between 2008 and 2024 in Bogotá D.C. Methodologically, the study was conducted within an interpretative paradigm, adopting a qualitative and documentary approach. A qualitative content analysis was carried out to identify the SRE embedded in the EEIP documents, complemented by axial coding, which enabled the establishment of connections among the identified representations. Additionally, an executive summary was prepared to synthesize and disseminate the findings. The study was grounded in the theory of Social Representations of Environment, which provides insight into how groups construct and share ideas, concepts, and perceptions about the environment. This theoretical lens is essential, as the representations directly influence the implementation of EEIPs within the context of environmental education and management. The results revealed a predominance of SRE in which the environment is conceptualized as a community project that prioritizes participatory engagement. Another prominent representation views the environment as a system, emphasizing the interplay between social and environmental relations and institutional interconnections. To a lesser extent, the environment was also represented as the biosphere, focusing on biotic and abiotic components of the planet. These findings underscore the need to incorporate global representations of the environment within these projects. It is recommended that future EEIPs consider the diversity of SRE in their strategies, fostering the inclusion of local perspectives to promote a more holistic approach to environmental education.