Planning education to care for the earth - IUCN Knowledge Network

Planning education to care for the earthSchools are an important target group, as monitoring provides students withreal-life opportunities to learn about environmental management. Monitoringcan be included in science and other curriculum activities.Waterwatch brings many sections of a local community together to addressan environmental issue which concerns everyone. Groups are encouraged toseek sponsorship from the local council, businesses and service clubs tocover the cost of buying monitoring equipment.Funds for community groupsThere is tremendous interest in the programmes and applications bycommunity groups for funds far exceed the resources available. In 1993/94only 400 of 1,500 applications submitted under STB and OBT weresuccessful. The maximum grant to a project is $20,000 a year, although theaverage is around $5,000. Groups are expected to contribute at least onedollar for every two dollars provided by the programmes.The NLP calls for applications in January. Applications must be submittedby the end of March and are then screened at the regional and State levels.The approved grants are announced by the Commonwealth EnvironmentMinister in July. Facilitators remain in touch with groups executing projectsand at the end, a report is submitted, outlining successes and problemsencountered,with a financial statement.Successes and problemsTo stimulate community participation the government has a key role insetting an overall strategy, defining priorities, managing funding, back-upsupport, expertise, information, communication and partnerships with otheragencies and NGOs. Some of the successes and problems for the programmeare discussed.Community involvementNLP has been in operation for only a few years, but it has already developeda conservation ethic in a large cross-section of the Australian public. Thereare some 1,600 Landcare groups across the country - a fourfold growth since1989 - with an estimated 39,000 members. The movement is still growingstrongly. This enthusiasm in a time of economic recession shows that peoplewant programmes in which they can become involved and do somethingpositive for the environment locally.FundingThere are many good projects which are not funded because resources arelimited. There is the risk that if governments do not provide adequate funds,the unlucky groups will become disillusioned, and not bother to seeksupport in the future. The principle that groups contribute a dollar for everytwo they receive, however, means that funds can be stretched further, andhelps to develop a sense of “ownership” of the project.130