a. Survey
i. Semi-structured interviews
We interviewed 70 respondents: 40 from Poland (57%) and 30 from Brazil (43%). Of these, 61% (N=43) were women, 38% were men (N=26) and one respondent was identified as other (Figure 2). Regarding the age of respondents: 46% (N=32) were between 19 and 29 years old; 34% (N=24) were between 30 and 39 years old; 9% (N=7) were between 40 and 49 years old; and seven respondents were above 50 years old. Regarding the level of educational background of interviewees: 51% (N=36) have higher education - meaning bachelor or master’s degree - or are still at the university; 13% (N=9) completed high school; 7% (N=5) completed PhD or are coursing PhD studies; 4% (N=3) completed primary school. Seventeen respondents did not disclose their education level. All respondents were living in urban areas.
In response to the question ‘Which recent pro-environmental campaign do you remember?’, 16% (N=11) were familiar with campaigns about pollution with plastic, especially related to the use of plastic straws; 11% (N=8) of respondents were not able to recall any; 7% (N=5) were about the Amazon rainforest; 7% (N=5) about campaigns for garbage treatment; 4% (N=3) recalled a “Clean Air” campaign; 4 (N = 3) % pointed to “Earth Hour”; and 4% (N=3) “On the side of the nature” campaigns. The remaining 46% (N=32) of answers have been categorized as miscellaneous and are listed in appendix 2. One Polish and seven Brazilian respondents did not remember any campaign.
Regarding organisations responsible for the campaigns, government units, for example the Ministry of Climate and Environment, were pointed by seven respondents, WWF was pointed by five respondents, Greenpeace by four. The rest of the interviewees did not remember the name of the organization or recall what type it was, did not remember any campaign or did not provide an answer. In the response to the question where the campaign was encountered, the respondents could indicate more than one source and therefore the total number of answers is 85.
The most recurrent answers of Polish and Brazilian interviewees were internet (45% for Polish, 39% for Brazilians) and TV (27% of Polish respondents and 22% of Brazilians). Twelve percent of Polish interviewees and 11% of Brazilians encountered campaigns on posters. While six percent of Polish respondents cited newspapers or magazines, none of the Brazilian respondents indicated this source. Likewise, 6% of Polish interviewees cited other sources. News from the member of the family, university, and scientific papers were some among them. For Brazilian interviewees it was 3% of answers, church was one of the examples. Miscellaneous answers are in appendix 3 (N=10; 12%). Differences in responses between Polish and Brazilian interviewees are presented in Figure 3a.
For both, Brazilian and Polish respondents, the most recurring answer was internet, which also included social media. In that, for Polish interviewees, the most common answer was social media in general, Facebook and Instagram (Figure 3b). Brazilian respondents indicated Instagram as the most recurring answer, while there were no answers neither for Facebook, nor YouTube.
Regarding the question: ‘What is soil’, the respondents were asked to describe in their own words the perceptions they had about what the soil is, without being tied to pre-defined concepts. Most of the respondents (N=37, 53%) associated it with the surface where plants grow and develop, 27% (N=19) believe that the soil is the ground we step on; seven respondents (10%) said that soil is life, 7% mentioned several different aspects related to the soil and 3% did not answer (N=2). Figure 4 presents the distribution of the answers between the two nationalities.
All participants responded that the soil is important. The majority (N=45; 64%) reported that the soil was important because of food provision and water regulation. For 27% (N = 19) soil is life and a survival resource for the planet. If the respondent included a mixture of these aspects in the response, the response was categorised as ‘miscellaneous - many aspects’. For example:
“Soil generates life in several aspects, if we don't protect the soil, we won't have its products. There is also what we consume directly and not directly, sometimes it is a raw material used for something, or there is water, which can only be filtered because it has passed through the ground. Soil is much more than what we don't see than what we see.”
In relation to the participants' opinion regarding increasing awareness about soil, one respondent replied that she/he did not think it was important. In response to the question ‘why we should raise awareness about the value of soils’, the most recurring answer was that it is needed for education (37%, N=26) and because of pollution (16%, N=11). Four respondents indicated that awareness campaigns are important for future generations and one respondent claimed that because our lives depend on soil. Selected citations:
“I think it should be done more for people who are connected to the soil, farmers or families who live in rural areas. Also educate people who work in government or work indirectly. It is also important so that public is interested and can demand actions from politicians in case of violation of nature-protection laws.”
“To inform and raise awareness among the population.”
“To make the public aware that soil and caring for its quality is important for the natural environment and for the life of fauna and flora.”
Regarding the question: how to raise awareness about the importance of soil, education was the most recurring answer (N = 21; 30%). This should be done through lectures, workshops, and videos to address the youth. Campaigns were also indicated to increase awareness (N=15; 21%) and 17% (N=12) replied that there should be a mixture of campaigns with education in schools or TV commercials with dissemination in social media.
“Webinars, lectures with scientists / biologists / farmers, scientific articles.”
“(…) school education is very important, but it would also be good to focus on open communication channels such as TV or social media.”
“Influencers should increasingly take a stance on environmental issues, as their voice is of particular importance to the young generation, who must be properly educated to be able to prevent soil destruction from an early age.”
Regarding the question about the app, 76% (N=53) of interviewees found it an interesting or a good idea. For example:
‘it's best to start with the youngest, they will be interested in it, something like Pokémon and there is a reward that can motivate people in the younger age.’
or
‘I think this type of application would be more intended for children and good, because from an early age you have to learn how to care about our environment.’
Among the limitations regarding the application, interviewees questioned for which group of society it would be destined and how to choose the targeted group. Also, interviewees had concerns about how to promote the app and get to the broader public and how to monitor the activities registered in the app. Three respondents stated that a different approach like events, campaigns would be more beneficial than a new mobile application. About the interest in using app, 51% (N=36) of the respondents indicated that they would use such an app, while 30% (N=21) answered ‘no’. Twelve respondents were not sure, as they had concerns whether they would be in targeted group, or because of lack of time, lack of space on mobile phone, or what would be the prize for using the app. One respondent did not answer the question.
ii. Video-recorded unstructured interviews
We interviewed four respondents in Cabo Frio area, four in the PARNASO´s Forest, five in the APA Grumari ‘restinga´ and two in the APA Guapi-Mirim mangrove. Furthermore, we recorded perceptions about soil from the participants of both artistic workshops, conducted in Cabo Frio (N=9) and Petrópolis (N=5). This resulted in 29 unstructured interviews and registered 69 comments considering to soil ecosystem services. Most of the comments (N=34) related to provision services, cultural (N=31) and four indicated regulation services and per classification of [20], Table 1. Notably, in the Cabo Frio, only one interviewee was aware of the existence of sambaqui and described it as an indigenous cemetery.
A total of 11 participants (collaborators of this project and local residents), including three children (3 years old, 4 years old and 9 years old) took part in the artistic workshop conducted in Cabo Frio (Figure 5). Participants painted on canvas with soil and raw materials collected in the area - roots, litter, grass, and flowers, as well as with acrylic coloured paint. The artwork produced expressed the meaning of soils and participants’ relationship with soil. We repeated this activity in Petropolis with five tourists.
Table 1 Categorisation of soil ecosystem services according to the framework of [20].
Soil ecosystem services classification
|
Type of service
|
Number of indications
|
Site
|
Example
|
Provision
|
Water
|
5
|
Petrópolis (Atlantic Forest)
|
Youths and a scientist recognised the importance of soil for water
|
Wood
|
5
|
Petrópolis (Atlantic Forest)
|
Youths and a scientist indicated the importance of soil for forests
|
Physical support
|
2
|
Grumari (Restinga)
|
Restoration employees recognised the importance of soil for seedlings to grow
|
Physical support
|
1
|
Grumari (Restinga)
|
Local worker mentioned that animals depend on soil to survive
|
Physical support / Food / Water / Fibre / Wood
|
6
|
Cabo Frio (Artistic workshop)
|
Scientists associate the soil with life
|
Physical support
|
4
|
Petrópolis (Atlantic Forest)
|
Youths listed animals that live in the park
|
Minerals
|
1
|
Petrópolis (Atlantic Forest)
|
Tourist associated soil as a mineral source (gold)
|
Food
|
2
|
Grumari (Restinga)
|
A surfer and a local worker associated soil with plantation and food provision
|
Food
|
5
|
Petrópolis (Atlantic Forest)
|
Youths and a tourist associated soil with plantation and food
|
Wood
|
1
|
Guapimirim (Mangroove)
|
Local guide mentioned firewood extraction in the 70-60´s to feed bakery ovens in the city
|
Food
|
2
|
Guapimirim (Mangroove)
|
Crab´s hunting is a source of food and income for hundreds of local residents
|
Regulation
|
Water purification
|
2
|
Guapimirim (Mangrove)
|
Tourist guides mentioned that mangroves ‘filter’ water
|
Water purification
|
1
|
Petrópolis (Atlantic Forest)
|
Tourist associated soil with water quality
|
Carbon stock
|
1
|
Petrópolis (Atlantic Forest)
|
Tourist associated soil with air quality
|
Cultural
|
Aesthetic / Recreational / Spiritual
|
4
|
Petropolis (Atlantic Forest)
|
Tourists explained why they search for natural sites to feel relaxed and alleviate from stress
|
3
|
Grumari (Restinga)
|
Local workers mentioned how their work of restoring native vegetation, removing invasive species, and collecting garbage enhances the natural beauty of the place
|
4
|
Petrópolis (Atlantic Forest)
|
Young local residents related how they feel energised and relaxed after visiting the park and its waterfalls, that is the only recreational option in their neighbourhood
|
1
|
Cabo Frio (Sambaqui)
|
“Every time I come here (to the Sambaqui) to collect garbage, the next day the pitangua´s (fruit) tree is loaded! It feel like that the nature is thanking me for taking care of her” - by local resident
|
1
|
Cabo Frio (Artistic workshop)
|
Artist expresses in painting that soil is a “portal and everything in the universe is connected and shares energy through soil”
|
1
|
Petrópolis (Artistic workshop)
|
Tourist associated the soil with human essence
|
1
|
Cabo Frio (Sambaqui)
|
Local resident uses Sambaqui for recreational purposes
|
1
|
Petrópolis (Atlantic Forest)
|
A tourist related soil with faith
|
1
|
Petrópolis (Atlantic Forest)
|
A tourist mentioned that living in the city, the contact with soil and nature is missed
|
1
|
Cabo Frio (Sambaqui)
|
Local resident related the importance of that archaeological site to preserve history and the feeling of connection with ancestors
|
2
|
Grumari (Restinga)
|
Surfer and local worker associate the soil to the connection with nature and with their life itself, in a relationship of interdependence: “If we take care of the soil, we are taking care of ourselves. [...] We are a link in the chain [...] "
|
1
|
Grumari (Restinga)
|
Surfer related the use of the region’s natural trails
|
1
|
Grumari (Restinga)
|
Restoration worker said he loves the contact with soil and planting, this is one way that he can express himself
|
Education and Knowledge
|
1
|
Grumari (Restinga)
|
Restoration worker mentioned he was invited to visit a primary school to teach students about conservation and restoration
|
2
|
Cabo Frio (Artistic workshop)
|
Scientists talk about soil analysis and its elements
|
2
|
Cabo Frio (Artistic workshop)
|
Scientists associates life cycles with soil cycles and other philosophical insights
|
4
|
Cabo Frio (Sambaqui)
|
Scientists explained that Sambaquis are pre-historical cultural deposits encompassing accumulations with a range of functions and origins.
|
b. Video recordings and communication products
We recorded two videos: The first video is a 15´ short documentary called “Soil and society” (supplementary material 1) featuring testimonials of local residents (workers, students and youth), tourists and visiting scientists about their perception of what is soil and their personal relation with soil in four different ecosystems in Rio de Janeiro. The second video is a 13´ short documentary called "Artistic Activity with Soils" based on the two artistic workshops (supplementary material 2). It explains how the artistic workshop with soil paints was conceived and conducted, how the soil and other natural materials were collected and how the paints were prepared. The videos also show the testimonials of the participants about the value of soil. The paintings are also used for exhibitions at universities, botanical garden, schools, and research institutions related to soil education in Rio de Janeiro.