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Environmental education activities to disseminate the importance of paddy field ecosystems in Laos (overview and deliverables)
The rice paddy ecosystem in Laos is not only a place to produce rice, the staple food of the people, but also a place to supply protein sources such as fish and insects. Residents used to collect and use wild animals and plants from rice paddies and their surroundings on a daily basis, but in recent years the government has restricted slash-and-burn farming, and residents are becoming more dependent on the paddy ecosystem.
In Laos, where rapid economic growth is progressing, the Nagao Natural Environment Foundation has launched the Sustainable Utilization of Rice-field Ecosystem (SURE) Project with the Japanese NPO Network of Asian Rural Communities (NARC, Representative: Hiromu Ikenoue). The duration of the project is from 2007 to 2016. The purpose of this project is to raise awareness of environmental conservation among schoolchildren and local residents who will lead the next generation.
The NARC is working with the Namxouang Aquaculture Development Center of the Department of Livestock and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Laos, and faculty members of the Department of Environmental Science (FES) and a volunteer student group for environmental conservation activities of the FES of the National University of Laos. We carried out environmental education activities aimed at junior high schools (elementary and junior high school students, teachers, etc.) to raise awareness of the importance of paddy field ecosystems. Researchers from Japan Wildlife Research Center also participated as technical advisors from time to time.
While conducting various environmental education activities, the NARC cooperated with staff members of FES above, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Forestry and Faculty of Agriculture in the National University of Laos, and created 1) a booklet on awareness raising and six biology booklets (dragonfly, water bugs, water beetles, frog, fish, aquatic plants), 2) photo collection "People's Life and Nature of Lao PDR", 3) the posters on the importance of paddy field ecosystems, 4) a shoulder bag that is effective for enlightenment activities at schools. Among them, the material 2) Photo collection "People's Life and Nature of Lao PDR" is a photographic calendar in which five photo groups of ordinary people record the lives of people and nature centered on the rice paddy ecosystem of Laos for one year.
The volunteer group students involved in these activities acquired the knowledge and skills to carry out field surveys, mastered the skills to conduct environmental education for elementary and junior high school students and teachers, and created environmental education materials such as booklets and posters. After graduating, many students got a job as a teacher and at an institution related to environmental conservation.
Here, the materials 1) and 2) above are introduced as the main deliverables (all languages used are Laotian).
Material 1)
Material 2)
Nagao Natural Environment Foundation
4-20-9 Midori, Sumida-ku
Tokyo 130-0021 Japan
Phone : +81-3-6659-2070
Fax : +81-3-6659-2272