The Importance of the Econúcleo for the Preservation of Lagoa do Araçá in Recife, Brazil

Objective: This article analyzes the contribution of the Econúcleo da Lagoa do Araçá, located in Recife-PE, as an instrument for promoting environmental education and sustainability in urban contexts. The study aims to highlight how its educational actions strengthen community engagement, ecological awareness, and alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Theoretical Framework: The study is grounded in the National Environmental Education Policy (Law No. 9.795/1999), the Municipal Environmental Education Policy of Recife (Law No. 18.083/2014), and the SDGs, particularly goals 4, 6, 11, 12, and 15. The analysis draws on authors such as Dias (2011), Guenther (2018), Coutinho (2021), and Lopez-Villalobos (2022), who discuss environmental education as a critical, participatory, and transformative practice that integrates local knowledge with public policies aimed at urban sustainability. Method: This is a qualitative, applied research based on a systematic literature review, following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and the PICO model. Searches were conducted in the Scopus, Web of Science, and SciELO databases using descriptors related to environmental education, community engagement, and sustainable development. The analysis followed strict inclusion and exclusion criteria to ensure the representativeness and relevance of the selected studies. Results and Discussion: The activities carried out by the Econúcleo — including workshops, clean-up efforts, lectures, symbolic plantings, storytelling, and cultural events — contribute to building critical socio-environmental awareness. These practices foster a sense of belonging, strengthen ecological citizenship, and link community action to public policies. Research Implications: The experience of the Econúcleo provides a replicable model for participatory public policies in urban areas. Originality/Value: The originality lies in analyzing a public facility located in a socially vulnerable area, which successfully integrates education, the environment, and socio-environmental justice in an innovative and inclusive way.