The aim of environmental education is to restore the connection between people and nature, and it is an honour for me to contribute to this as coordinator of the WI Peru Environmental Education Project. I firmly believe that there is good in everyone, and the Madre de Dios community is no exception. Nature conservation is a labourious and complex task, and environmental education, together with ongoing dialogue with local people, is one of the most powerful tools for success.
Start young
In August 2024, the environmental education project was launched, targeting two groups at once: local young people and the communities surrounding the protected area. The Laberinto district, for example, which borders the Secret Forest, relies mainly on mining for its livelihood. We hope to open up new prospects for members of the community and, together with its younger generation, build a more sustainable future.
In collaboration with the Javier Heraud School in nearby Puerto Rosario, Ana-Paula’s team has already carried out three projects designed to bring nature on their doorstep to life for young people. Among other things, the pupils also visited our research station in the Secret Forest, in the immediate vicinity of which a ‘green classroom’ is currently under construction. In future, school classes are to be welcomed there on a regular basis.
Environmental education in schools and universities
- Project 1: “Eureka”:
The WI Peru team was invited to assess projects by primary and secondary school pupils at the national science fair “Eureka”. Discussions surrounding the event also brought to light the school’s financial difficulties. This predicament gave rise to the idea of offering training to teaching staff as and when required, designed not only to hone their existing skills but also to develop additional ones, such as academic writing or conducting their own research. - Project 2: “!Vámonos al Monte!”: Night
walks, birdwatching, introductory courses in ornithology and herpetofauna – the visit by pupils directly to our research station was one of the highlights of November 2024. The aim was not only to dispel existing misconceptions and myths about the rainforest and its inhabitants, but also to foster a positive connection with local biodiversity. - Project 3: Green School
The headteacher of the Javier Heraud School asked the WI Peru team to help him and his pupils restore the school’s formerly green areas to their former glory. Originally, he had only asked for seeds, but our agroforestry and botany specialists, Simón and Gaby, were keen to share their expertise with the children on choosing the right plants, the ideal soil conditions and the best tools to use.
A visit to the Secret Forest
Building support
In an area where gold mining plays such a significant role and provides many families with their daily bread, it is not a given that people will engage with issues of sustainability and nature conservation.
This makes it all the more important to raise awareness of environmental issues, impart knowledge about ecological interrelationships and encourage a willingness to actively champion sustainability and nature conservation. For us to succeed in this in the long term, the support and understanding of the communities in the surrounding areas are essential. Through its initial projects, the WI Peru team is raising its profile and addressing people’s needs.
Projects with the communities
- Mazuko:
In nearby Mazuko, a stall at the annual town festival enabled the WI Peru team to raise awareness of rainforest conservation and to encourage a sustainable way of life through educational materials and fun activities. - Puerto Maldonado:
With a bat festival on Halloween, the WI Peru team set out to show that bats certainly do not deserve their bad reputation. Ana-Paula and her team dispelled common myths about bats and told visitors more about their crucial ecological role in the Amazon region: amongst other things, they help disperse plant seeds, which are extremely important for local biodiversity. - University of San Antonio de Abad del Cusco:
With a conference on the topic of “Sustainable Environmental Management in the Southern Amazon”, the university naturally struck right at the heart of our mission. It was therefore all the more rewarding that the WI Peru team was able to deliver four presentations at this very conference, focusing on flora and fauna, as well as our agroforestry project and the link between civil society and a social commitment to nature conservation.
Highlights from our community initiatives
This means that “WIPerú Educa” can already be counted as a success for the past year. Step by step, we are raising awareness – including locally – of just how important biodiversity and the rainforest ecosystem are for our future.
You can find out what’s next for our environmental education programme in 2025 in the next post.
Text: Sarah Sassenhagen