reflections on nepal capacity 21 initiative - Department of Applied ...

4. Environment and Natural Resources ManagementSome eco-clubs became engaged even in building toilets, drinking water schemes, cleaningcampaigns, vegetable farming (kitchen garden) or running a multipurpose nursery, etc.In Okhaldhunga, the Maheswor Secondary School Eco-club in Bhaduary VDC plantedcinnamomum cardamomum, locally known as alaichi, in the school compound to generateincome. The eco-club activities have beenTable 7: Eco-clubs and Membersan efficient awareness creating tool onsustainable development with a wideDistrict Eco-club Eco-clubsMembersoutreach in the communities. Eco-clubs463 Dang 4 were a successful part of the programme andHumla 44 4the best aspect was that SCDP did not needKailali 2,080 5to provide huge support. The role it playedMyagdi 192 13was mainly of a facilitator. Table 7 showsOkhaldhunga 450 3Surkhet 5,095 9 the number of eco-clubs established in theTOTAL 8324 38 Programme implementing districts and thenumber of their members.In addition, the capacities of both senior students and teachers who taught environmentsciences in the schools were developed. For example, in Myagdi and Bardia, environmentalmanagement training was organised for the teachers. The resource person in Bardia wasthe Chief Warden of the Royal Bardia National Park. School-to-school visits were organisedfor students. SCDP brought resource persons from Annapurna Conservation Area Project(ACAP) to conduct a Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop on conservation education. ACAPand SCDP jointly organised exchange visits to learn from each other.404.5 Wetland ConservationSCDP provided some support towards conserving important lakes and wetland areas in theProgramme districts. The Ghodaghodi lake in Kailali, the Jakhera lake in Dang and theJajura Daha in Surkhet are important wetland areas that provide habitat for many birdspecies, both resident and migratory, and other aquatic flora and fauna. The areassurrounding these lakes and wetlands are densely populated, and the pressure that theresidents are putting on the lakes is leading to rapid siltation and eutrophication of thelakes. SCDP encouraged the communities not to encroach the land, as it would bedetrimental for their very survival in the long run.Ghodaghodi lake has highpotential for sustainabletourism, Kailali