Perception of River Value in Education for Sustainable Development (The Vistula River, Poland)

Abstract

The goal of the research was to learn how young people perceive the value of the Vistula River in Poland. A large sample of high school students (1900 participants, 17-18 years old) from 11 cities along the Vistula was selected for this study. The results indicated a large variety of river values realized by students -symbolical-national, urban, natural, cultural, recreational and sentimental -and displayed values that were rarely shown or omitted.The results were used to create recommendations and themes of education for sustainable development, which are focused on rivers and river valleys. Overall, modified directions, assortment and stronger inflections for the education about rivers, their value and sustainable development are recommended for educational programmes. Results can also help to determine sustainable development pathways for cities, investment planning, usage of river banks and projects of various non-governmental organizations including education.

Importance of digital spatial data in environmental education

“…Downloadable spatial data that was made available through geoportals has been applied to projects in environmental education. In the sustainable development education projects (as part of geographic and biological education in school) the use of spatial data derived from various sources "allows to capture (...) human-nature interactions that are the essence of ecological education, but also to compare phenomena and their dynamics, sizes and ranges in different spatial scales" (Angiel et al, 2017), including areas of high educational potential such as the Vistula River Valley (Angiel, Angiel 2015, Angiel, 2010. The data obtained in the Urban Atlas project on the Vistula River valley is used during classes intended for postgraduate teachers at the University of Warsaw in the area of using the GIS techniques in teaching geography.…”

An innovative model for environmental interpretation in freshwater ecosystems: the case of a solar-wind cruise through Lake Sanabria (NW Spain)

“…A paradoxical case is the autochthonous fish species of the Iberian freshwater ecosystems: few people know that these species are endemicand therefore, unique and, moreover, they play an extremely important role in the ecosystem functioning (Macedo-Veiga, 2013;Sousa-Santos et al, 2016). Thus, if there is no greater public awareness, these ecosystems will continue to be unknown and undervalued by the citizens, who see them only as 'water reservoirs' for the satisfaction of the human needs (Angiel & Angiel, 2015). The promotion of education and environmental interpretation activities, whether or not they are part of sustainable tourism projects, can help to alter citizens' perception of freshwater ecosystems (Hvenegaard, 2017;Padrão & Tavares, 2014;Walter, 2013).…”

Integration or Disintegration of the Ecological and Urban Functions of the River in the City? A Polish Perspective

“…The study area was selected on the basis of the following premises: [1] In the perception of the Polish society, the River Vistula is one of the most important symbols of the country, it has an intangible value which impacts its position in the minds of the people (Angiel and Angiel, 2015). According to Bernat (2010), the river is the symbol of national identity.…”

“…The length of the river within the administrative limits of the city is around 20 km, and the river bed inside the city is 355 to 440 m wide. [3] The River Vistula valley is an ecological corridor of international significance.…”

“…[2] Which urban functions are performed by the river in the city? [3] Are ecological and urban functions performed by the river in the city mutually exclusive or complementary?…”