Solving the problems: public awareness
The wonder of wetlands
Many threats to wetlands originate elsewhere. Pollution sources, for example, or rainforest destruction affecting essential watersheds, may be situated many kilometres away.
That is why it is important to tackle problems at their root. Only by being shown new techniques will farmers change the way in which they use and dispose of fertilizers. Only by teaching careful, effective conservation and propagation programmes will we
preserve the world's forests. And only by making the public aware of the
problems and the reasoning behind environmental decisions will progress be made.
Many WWF initiatives are practical demonstrations of what can be done. They encourage people living in or near wetlands to adopt working methods that bring great environmental benefits, such as avoiding erosion, siltation, and pollution. WWF has also help
ed set up wetland management authorities that deal with important social matters such as schooling, health care, and transport - of particular concern in remote areas.
Public awareness plays an enormous part in wetland conservation. The more we
know about a subject, the better we understand it and the more familiar we
become with the issues and arguments. In the wetland regions themselves,
public awareness leads to people influencing decisions on how
their neighbourhoods are managed. In
tourist areas, for example, or where licensed hunting is allowed, rewards
can be substantial - even more so when they are ploughed back into
community projects.
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