Norway

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Our main education activity is Operation Wilderness. The purpose of this project is to stimulate children to enjoy nature and to increase their knowledge of biodiversity and environmental issues in school. The project also aims to increase local capacity building, participation, and interdisciplinary learning.This project started in 1994, which was the European Environmental Year. In the report to The European Council, the government declared the project as one of the most sucessfull in Norway. Since then the project has been running for four years and more than 6.000 students have participated.

The project contributes to "Local Agenda 21" processes through the establishment of an arena for cooperation between schools, local non-governmental organisations, and local authorities in activities aimed at conservation.

The project consists of three parts: one is directed at teachers, there is field work for the students, and finally the writing of a report. The project starts with assemblies for teachers, biologists, and local authorities in different regions around the country. The purpose is to achieve more active and selfconfident teachers in the project and possibilities for discussion between different groups. The meetings offer lectures on biodiversity along with slides and a detailed project description.

The part of the project aimed at the students includes preparations, field studies and a report. Field work includes surveys of ecology, flora and fauna, and looking at links between human impacts on the environment. The objective is not merely scientific, but to stimulate interest and commitment to environmental issues. Material found in the field is brought back to the classroom for further study and for exhibitions. Finally, a class report on the project is sent to WWF Norway.

As a part of the environmental education, WWF Norway also runs an annual phenology project - i.e. a record of the arrival of spring (birds, flowers, butterflies, etc.) in the different part of the country. More than 2000 forms are distributed to schools, kindergardens, and WWF members every year. The goal is to increase and stimulate peoples interest in biological diversity.

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