The article characterizes the experiences, problems, and prospects for the development of forest education on social media, which in Poland has been carried out by the Państwowe Gospodarstwo Leśne Lasy Państwowe (National Forest Holding ‘State Forests’) over the past several years. The activity of foresters (employees of the State Forests with a University Degree) on social media allows contact with the public, i.e. the transmission of knowledge about forests to a wide audience, a rapid response to difficult discussions, often attacking foresters about forest management taking place in public spaces. In addition, social media has great potential for communication between scientists and the public, and even for scientific collaboration (so-called citizen science; scientific research conducted, in whole or in part, by amateur scientists). As a result of training in this attractive area of social media, the passion and experience of foresters is increasing the audience on social media for State Forests every year, all of which translates into the need for evaluating and monitoring the data from passive educational methods. Keywords: social media, forest education, informal education, environmental education, social communication, conflicts, citizen science, foresters
The development of social network sites not only facilitates the acquisition and deepening of knowledge but also provides the possibility of easily contacting foresters, specialists in natural sciences and nature enthusiasts. In addition, for some years already, Internet users have been able to make use of websites operated by institutions and participate in nature-related social network groups. The purpose of our survey was to evaluate the possibility of using the main fanpage of the State Forests and virtual nature groups in Poland and Great Britain to propagate knowledge about nature and forestry. The aim was to verify the recipient groups and explore the benefits derived by users from informal forest education as well as to determine how they assess the work of foresters or the reliability of the provided content posted on the portals. The research found that the majority of respondents use portals to gain knowledge and communicate with specialists whilst social networks are a motivating factor encouraging people to take advantage of recreation in forest areas by collecting mushrooms and herbs. Our results clearly point out the advantages and disadvantages of the State Forests’ fanpage and other nature-related social groups. The importance of social networks in education and communicating with the public is steadily increasing. Therefore, social networking websites should be refined and accommodate the constantly-changing needs of society as well as allow members of virtual groups to converse with foresters. The State Forests should support nature-related groups in attracting real enthusiasts. Organisational and substantive support for these groups would allow an increase in ecological awareness and knowledge about forest management directly from the practitioners.
Celem badań członków Studenckiego Koła Naukowego Leśników Politechniki Białostockiej była aktualizacja informacji o drzewach uznanych za pomniki przyrody na terenie Suwalskiego Parku Krajobrazowego. Zakres prac obejmował również określenie ich stanu ochrony oraz ukazanie możliwości wykorzystania tych okazów jako atrakcji turystycznych. Wyniki badań wykazały, że drzewa ustanowione jako pomniki przyrody są w niektórych przypadkach trudne do odnalezienia w terenie. Popularność pomnikowych drzew jako obiektów turystycznych jest zróżnicowana. Drzewa jako elementy naturalnego krajobrazu wśród bogactwa zasobów przyrodniczych mogą stać się podstawą rozwoju turystyki edukacyjnej. Wydaje się jednak, że mogą one stanowić uzupełnienie rozbudowanego produktu turystycznego na tego typu obszarach.
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