Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN)

Introduction

Introduction

The role of Environmental Education in schools is to impart fundamental knowledge about the natural environment, and to build practical skills on how to study it, among students at all levels. Ultimately, the goal of all of our EE programs is to promote positive and lasting action that will enhance and ensure the conservation Bhutan’s exceptionally rich natural heritage.

Working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education, RSPN's Environmental Education Program has developed an extensive network of Nature Clubs, covering more than 23% of the schools and colleges in the Kingdom. In addition to being a focal unit for environmental awareness among school and college students, the Nature Clubs have engaged local communities in a number of practical conservation activities, including studying and promoting solutions to local environmental issues.

In 2009, RSPN realized its goal of integrating and formalizing nature clubs within the school co-curricular programmes when the Ministry of Education announced all the schools in the country establish nature club and carry out conservation activity. RSPN also handed over 102 established nature clubs to the Ministry. It is now expected that the schools will conduct conservation activities on their own, however, it is still vital that agencies to provide materials and build the capacity of the teachers.

Goals and Objectives

Goals and Objectives

Goal 

The goal of EE is to impart environmental education among the youth and raise awareness among citizens for promoting positive attitudes and sustainable actions in conserving Bhutan’s rich environmental heritage

Objectives:

• Supplement formal learning on environment and support to develop curriculum and modules for environmental education
• Raise environmental awareness among the youth and the citizen of Bhutan
• Develop positive attitude by the citizens towards environment
• Bring behavioural change among the citizen towards environment
• Enhance school greening

Issues to be Addressed

Issues to be Addressed

Owing to the low level of environmental awareness and education among the youth and the citizen have resulted in number of issues like improper waste management, low level civic sense for environmental action, natural resources management, and many more. RSPN’s active involvement at the grassroots and working closely with Ministry of Education in the establishment of school based nature clubs and assisting in the development of environment education curriculum and modules would bring positive changes.

Outcomes

Outcomes

• With support from Ministry of Education, RSPN could institutionalized nature club in all schools in Bhutan
• Developed nature club activity and management handbooks
• Developed Environmental Studies module for College of Education
• Trained over 500 school teachers in managing nature club
• Initiated conservation education for communities and monks
• Produced Buddhism and Environment handbook
• Produced Waste Management Manual
• Produced Climate Change and Health handbook

Project Partners

Project Partners

• Ministry of Education
• Schools
• Communities
• Monastic Institutions

Activities

Activities

• Build the capacity of teachers to efficiently manage nature club to bring positive changes in the local environment
• Produce environment education materials for schools and communities
• Continue assisting Ministry of Education and Royal University of Bhutan to develop Environmental Science and Environmental Studies program curricula.
• Working on emerging environmental issues and reach out to people

Introduction

Introduction

Bhutan has a tremendous amount of inland freshwater resources including glaciers, rivers, streams, and lakes across the country. There are numerous rivers that origins from the glacier across the Himalayas and become the source of livelihoods and for industrial growth of the country. The significance of Bhutan’s water resources cannot be overemphasized as multiple sectors are dependent on it for social and economic development. The fundamental right of individuals to clean water for basic sanitation and survival cannot be overstated in the process of developing water management plans for any entity.

Generally, Bhutan is considered to have abundant water per capita, but there is unequal temporal and spatial distribution across the country. On the one hand, seasonal fluctuations in precipitation is reported to be on the rise; on the other, most settlements cannot access water from its numerous rivers and streams considering Bhutan’s difficult terrain and topography and partly because of lack of technological facilities and services. Therefore, localized water shortages for both drinking and irrigation are common phenomena for much of Bhutan’s 69% rural and agrarian population.

Goals and Objectives

Goals and Objectives

The overall goal of the community-based watershed management program is to make the management of water resources sustainable by promoting appropriate community-based water management models.
Objectives:

• To develop and implement appropriate community-based water source protection programs.
• To enhance effective water utilization using appropriate water conservation strategies.
• To raise stakeholder awareness on the significance of watershed, its variables and their interrelationships.

Issues to be Addressed

Issues to be Addressed

Although Bhutan is considered to have abundant water per capita, but there is unequal temporal and spatial distribution across the country. On the one hand, seasonal fluctuations in precipitation is reported to be on the rise; on the other, most settlements cannot access water from its numerous rivers and streams considering Bhutan’s difficult terrain and topography and partly because of lack of technological facilities and services. Therefore, localized water shortages for both drinking and irrigation are common phenomena for much of Bhutan’s 69% rural and agrarian population.

 

Deteriorating watersheds and water quality were some of the emerging issues popping up across the country. Therefore a community-based watershed management expects to build the capacity and awareness of the local communities and involve them meaningfully to restore and manage their local water sources.

Outcome

Outcome

• While community members are the primary beneficiaries and stakeholder, an efficient partnerships among various sectors and agencies was developed.
• Communities become aware of the importance of watershed management and acquired knowledge and skills in watershed management processes.
• Appropriate local action to the issues were designed and implemented
• Expected to maintain water resource for the sustainable livelihoods

Project Partners

Project Partners

• Watershed Division of Ministry of Agriculture
• Ministry of Education
• Schools
• Communities
• Bhutan Water Partnership

Activities

Activities

• Watershed inventory and mapping
• Community awareness programs
• Community based action research process
• Community based action planning and implementation
• Monitoring and evaluation

Objectives

Objectives

• Supplement formal learning on environment and support to develop curriculum and modules for environmental education
  Raise environmental awareness among the younger generation
  Develop positive attitude by the citizens towards environment
  Bring behavioural change among the youth towards environment
  Enhance school greening

Activities

• To involve school nature clubs to carry out action grant project to benefit the school and the communities around.
• To support Royal University of Bhutan to develop curriculum related
• To support Ministry of Education to develop EE curriculum
• Continue to build the capacity of the teachers
• For public and students awareness, celebrate global environmental days