Conservation Education

Zambia Update:

On 8 August 2024, our partners at the Game Rangers International (GRI) Wildlife Discovery Centre in Lusaka National Park, celebrated their second anniversary, marking two years of unwavering commitment to conservation education and the preservation of Zambia’s diverse wildlife and natural landscapes. This milestone is a testament to the collaborative vision realised through the generous support of DSWF. From its inception, the Wildlife Discovery Centre has rapidly emerged as a beacon of conservation awareness, providing free education to over 2,000 children annually. The Centre also serves as the new home for the renowned Elephant Nursery, previously located in Lilayi. This transformative project, born from the partnership between GRI and DSWF, highlights the importance of education and community engagement in sustaining conservation efforts.

The Wildlife Discovery Centre is founded on three core pillars: to educate, recruit, and engage. The first pillar, 'Educate,' is an ambitious endeavour to engage and educate 250,000 school children in conservation efforts by 2050, thereby embedding a deep respect for nature in future generations. The second pillar, 'Recruit,' focuses on supporting and creating approximately 70 positions that are accessible to local communities, thus providing employment opportunities while fostering a profound connection to conservation. The third pillar, 'Engage,' seeks to enhance tourism to Lusaka National Park and the surrounding areas, thereby bolstering the local economy and promoting environmental stewardship.

India Update

In Assam, India, our partners have been leveraging advanced space-science tools, such as GIS and remote sensing, to monitor forests, wildlife, and flood-prone areas, particularly during the monsoon season in rhino-bearing regions. These tools are vital for effective decision-making in conservation, helping to protect both wildlife and human communities from the impacts of environmental changes.

Our partners recently organised a two-day Conservation and Education Consultation in Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong, Assam. This event aimed to develop a strategic approach to conservation education, engaging a broad spectrum of participants—from children to the elderly—in discussions on sustainable resource management, biodiversity conservation, and the preservation of traditional knowledge and cultural values. The consultation was a platform for sharing insights on model-village development, heritage education, and the importance of intergenerational knowledge transfer in sustaining conservation efforts.

Our partner’s commitment to integrating traditional practices with modern conservation strategies is exemplified by their initiatives in promoting alternative and sustainable livelihoods. These efforts, supported by DSWF, aim to ensure that local communities can thrive economically while contributing to the preservation of biodiversity.

Furthering these educational efforts, our partners also held a 20-day summer nature camp in collaboration with DSWF and the Orang National Park & Tiger Reserve Authority. The camp, attended by 50 students, combined academic instruction with environmental awareness training, aiming to instil a deep understanding of conservation among the next generation. Experts in wildlife and conservation led sessions that highlighted the importance of protecting natural resources and wildlife.

Guinea Update

DSWF and our project partners are deeply committed to environmental education. This school year, over 800 children participated in the Environmental Education Programme. The year ended with a highly anticipated excursion to the forest in April, where each child received a reusable water bottle, reinforcing the importance of reducing plastic waste. Beyond the classroom, the team is actively working in local villages to establish nature clubs, which are more engaging and accessible versions of the DSWF-supported education programme. These clubs are particularly important in reaching children who do not attend school, especially in the rural areas surrounding the national park, where 40% of children are not enrolled in formal education.

Through these initiatives, our partners aim to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of the natural world among the next generation, ensuring that conservation efforts are rooted in the communities that live closest to these precious ecosystems.

Zimbabwe Update:

Education remains a cornerstone of our conservation efforts, and our partner’s Children’s Bush Camp continues to provide exemplary conservation education to young people. So far, this year they have welcomed seven local schools, including a primary school dedicated to serving children with special educational needs. In 2024, the wonderful Mr. Nsimango will have led these bush camps for 20 years, having started in 2004. Both DSWF and our partners are immensely grateful for Mr. Nsimango’s exceptional dedication to conservation education. Since 2004, he has educated over 13,000 children about conservation and the importance of coexisting with nature, transforming the Children’s Bush Camp into a flagship programme.