IUCN Pakistan - Conservation Strategies

Training event on environmental education

Abdul Wajid Khan

Quetta, May 20-21: An orientation training event on Environmental Education (EE) was organized by IUCN-BPO for the member CBOs of its partner network Ziarat Juniper Environmental Council (ZJEC). This training was also attended by the volunteers of other CBOs from the area. Environmental Education & Civil Society unit from IUCNP Balochistan Programme Office (BPO) coordinated this event. Abdul Rahim Changezi from University of Balochistan (also a LEAD-PAK fellow) was the resource person for this training.

The main features of the training revolved around the core areas of Balochistan Conservation Strategy (BCS) with a special emphasis on Juniper Ecosystem

Participatory approach was adopted to enhance participants understanding about EE. The concept of environment was elaborated in the context of its link with sustainable development. Global, national and local environmental issues were elaborated through group discussions and activities. Participants took a great interest in the activities regarding Biodiversity, ecosystems and Web of life. Role of CBOs network in protecting Juniper forest of the area was discussed in detail.

As an output of the event, participants developed action plans covering three pronged/aspects

1) Sensitizing the local Ulemas on environmental/conservation issues and holding consultations in madrassaa's

2) Enhancing the capacity of CBOs' members on environmental/conservation issues and arranging seminars/workshops

3) Developing capacity for Eco-tourism in Ziarat through training of the local people in tourism etc. These action plans will be followed up by IUCNP BPO to achieve some practical results. At the end of the training, through a resolution, the member CBOs of ZJEC demanded to declare the juniper forest a World Heritage.