23 Feb 2015

Promotin g learning on conservation can help improve knowledge on the environment, says Ms Tachinya Molatole from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP).

Speaking at the Ngamiland environmental education stakeholders workshop recently, Ms Molatole stressed that environmental education was vital as it made people aware of the way their lifestyle affects the environment and the implications it had on their future.

Ms Molatole said, “Some environmental practitioners argue that some of the environmental problems are a result of human ignorance and that education could be a tool to address the problems.”  

She described environmental education as a continuing process in which individuals and the community gain awareness, knowledge and understanding on the environment to enable them act individually and collectively to address environmental problems.

For his part, the District Wildlife coordinator, Mr Amos Ramokate, noted that it was of great importance for people to be educated about natural resources on both renewable and non-renewable and conservation and how that could help them in future.

Mr Ramokate noted that the objectives of the workshop were to appreciate the role and functions of different stakeholders towards environmental conservation. Also to inform the nation on matters concerning environmental education, share ideas and acknowledge on the subject. 

“Stakeholders should share resources that are available to spearhead environmental education,” he said. 

He said the workshop also aimed to strengthen partnership and linkages in order to support environmental education initiatives in school curriculums. One of the speakers, a community liaison officer, Ms Koketso Mookodi highlighted on the importance of educating and developing communities that depend on natural resources that surround them, in order to protect and sustain rare commodities for generations to come.

She also noted the importance of equipping communities with tools that would enable them to become self-reliant in the future and thus carry on the legacy of conservation. 

“This has been achieved through the various programs and initiatives that we have involved ourselves in, especially in education, awareness and skills development,” said Ms Mookodi. At the end of the forum stakeholders came up with ways of improving environmental education which included coming up with the district sub-committee, NGOs and schools they are assisting, and a report structure.  ENDS