Abstract

Environmental and non-formal education are fundamental in the context of interconnected global crises, particularly climate change and biodiversity loss. Non-formal spaces such as national parks, botanical gardens, zoos and aquariums offer unique environments that promote values, knowledge and attitudes to foster environmental consciousness. However, research on the perspectives and roles of non-formal educators in these spaces remains limited. This study, framed within the socio-critical paradigm, explores how non-formal educators in Brazil and Chile perceive and enact environmental education. Through interviews, it is revealed that educators' roles in aquariums and zoos aim to evoke emotional responses regarding species extinction and emphasise conservation efforts addressing biodiversity concerns. In botanical gardens, the focus is on promoting knowledge about plants and ecosystems. In national parks, park rangers encourage critical process for conscientisation, highlighting the interdependence between humans and nature. This study highlights the importance of collaboration with other environmental educators from diverse educational contexts to address the complex, overlapping challenges of climate and ecological crises.