Culture in the Great Metropolitan Park of Havana

Abstract

Scientific and technological advances generate social and environmental consequences that must be managed critically; in this context, the study sets out the general objective of assessing the importance of environmental culture for sustainable development within the Great Metropolitan Park of Havana. The limitations Identified included: educational actions focused on organizational or economic interests rather than ecological ones; scattered and disjointed socio-educational influence among managers; and limited participation by university students and faculty as educational agents within the Park. The research employed a qualitative approach based on participatory action research methods, utilizing methodological triangulation in the final analysis. Key findings revealed that the educational strategy fostered a shift toward environmental stewardship. The park established itself as a setting for learning and community participation. Youth involvement emerged as a driver of change with significant potential for sustainability. The study addresses the need to strengthen civic education and ecological awareness in natural and urban spaces, focusing on the Great Metropolitan Park of Havana and the Almendares River basin—areas of high ecological, cultural, and social value. As an added value, it reaffirms the role of the Cuban university as a mediator between science and society, promoting resilient and sustainable communities.