At a time when the world is clamoring for sustainable solutions, training professionals capable of regenerating ecosystems is more than urgent – it’s essential. This is the premise of Instituto Terra’s post-technical course in ecosystem restoration, offered by the Center for Ecosystem Restoration Studies (NERE), located at the institution’s headquarters in Aimorés (MG).
A study carried out by Amanda Butura dos Santos, as part of her final year work in Agricultural Sciences at the IFES Itapina Campus, investigated the profile of entrants and the effects of training on the professional careers of former NERE students. The results reinforce the course’s strategic role in training agents of change for the environment and their communities.
Who are the entrants?
According to the study, the majority of students come from technical courses in Agriculture and Livestock and the Environment, with emphasis on public institutions such as the IFES campuses in Itapina and Colatina. This geographical and vocational proximity contributes to the strong presence of young people with a technical profile, already familiar with rural and forestry issues.
In addition, many students come from agricultural schools with alternative teaching methodologies, such as the Agricultural Family Schools. Their choice of NERE is largely due to their desire to deepen their environmental knowledge and apply sustainable practices in the areas where they live.
And after the training?
Of the 92 graduates interviewed, 78% were employed at the time of the survey – almost half in the environmental field. In addition to entering the job market, the course helped many professionals to create their own projects, develop autonomy and awaken a new perspective on the role of ecological restoration.
The reports collected point to a transformative experience: not just because of the technical knowledge, but because of the practical experience, the collective interaction and the immersion in an educational model that unites theory and practice, nature and society.
“It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. An after-school practice that has helped me a lot in my current professional career.”
Graduates, 2023
Education as the seed of the future
The NERE course is a national benchmark in practical training for restoring degraded areas. With a workload of 2,000 hours and direct participation in Instituto Terra activities – such as seedling production, spring recovery, meliponiculture and environmental education – students experience in practice what it means to restore lives, territories and biomes.
It is on this ground, where once there was pasture and today there is forest, that professionals are trained who are aware of their role in transforming the planet.