Historia ambiental del río Fucha en Bogotá: contribución a la formación de ciudadanía ambiental. Caso Escuela Normal Superior Distrital María Montessori

Abstract

The Fucha River in Bogotá has been consolidated as a denied and discarded space since the 20th century. In relation to this, it is recognized that education can promote changes in the human-nature relationship. For this reason, this project sought to contribute to the formation of environmental citizenship at the Escuela Normal Superior Distrital María Montessori. To achieve this objective, various methodologies were used such as Environmental History, Investigación como Estrategia Pedagógica (IEP), and Systematization of Experiences. The environmental history covered the geological history of the river and Bogotá; the relationship of the muisca communities with water; the use of the river as a productive means in the colony; the disputes generated by its ownership; its use as a recreational space; the consolidation of the river as a dumpsite along with the expansion of the city; and finally, the recovery processes carried out in its environment. This history allowed students to identify the different relationships of the river with the groups that inhabited the territory, enhancing in the classroom the understanding of the current context from the past. The IEP allowed for a deeper understanding of the environmental history of the river and the environmental impacts of human action on it, which led to questioning one's own actions and proposing solutions to reduce its impact. These tools strengthened citizen skills around the environmental history of the river, so that students were able to recognize its value as a water body. In general, the process fostered critical reflection by students on environmental issues, however, it is necessary to continue promoting spaces for reflection on the subject, integrating families and the community near the river.