Day 21

One hour of environmental education for a schoolchild in Nicaragua

Experience nature conservation up close while hiking Experience nature conservation up close while hiking

Environmental education for school children in Nicaragua

Nicaragua, the land of lakes and volcanoes, is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world. The well-known writer and poet Ernesto Cardenal also reports on this natural beauty. But he also warns of the consequences of poverty, population growth and abuse of power. And of the destruction of forests, soil and water. The Nicaraguan organization "La Cuculmeca" has been working against this development for many years. And is consciously focusing on the younger generation. Aracely, one of the excursion leaders, says of herself: "Looking at the trees and life in the forest calms me down. At the same time, it gives me energy for my work. You only protect what you value."

need

Environmental education for children and young people in Nicaragua to encourage them to protect their environment sustainably.

activity

The organization La Cuculmeca conducts environmental excursions with students from Jinotega and trains volunteer nature guides.

Measurable performance

Number of students who can go on a hike.

Result

The children have gained an understanding of the importance of nature and its connections and are active advocates for environmental protection measures in their environment.

Systemically relevant impact

The project leads to a rethinking towards sustainable consumption and environmental protection among the young, sensitized population of the city of Jinotega.

background

Nicaragua is already one of the most ecologically endangered regions in the world. Climate change and the extreme events associated with it are affecting the country's development opportunities. Over the last 30 years, average temperatures on the Pacific coast and in the north of Nicaragua have risen by 0.2 to 0.9 degrees, while at the same time precipitation in these regions has decreased by 6-10%.

In recent years, the weather phenomenon "El Niño", which leads to severe droughts in the country, has become increasingly pronounced. But poverty, profit-seeking and a lack of environmental awareness have also led to Nicaragua having one of the highest deforestation rates in the world. Between 1990 and 2015, the forest area decreased by around a third (FAO, 2015).

The good deed

You can only love and protect what you know. The good deed starts with children and young people to create awareness of environmental protection and sustainable development. The good deed trains voluntary nature guides and creates hiking trails that can be explored together with students. During the nature hikes, the students learn more about their environment in a playful way, are taught to imitate bird calls, count flowers and trees, or examine water sources. This is intended to raise a new generation of future environmentalists.