Changing Nepali children's attitudes toward conservation through a participatory education program

Area of Science:

• Conservation Education
• Human-Wildlife Interactions
• Ecology

Background:

• Public attitudes significantly influence conservation program success.
• Effective public education enhances conservation support through informed decision-making and pro-environmental behavior.
• Participatory learning can be a powerful tool for conservation education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a participatory conservation education program for secondary school students in Nepal.
• To assess the program's impact on students' knowledge, attitudes, and understanding of wildlife and conservation.
• To highlight the role of species like the rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) in ecological balance and conservation education.

Main Methods:

• A participatory conservation education program was implemented in four secondary schools.
• A control group of two schools did not participate in the program.
• Student knowledge, species preferences, and attitudes toward wildlife were assessed using questionnaires before and after the program.

Main Results:

• Students who participated in the program showed increased knowledge and more positive attitudes toward wildlife, including rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta).
• Participating students demonstrated a better understanding of ecosystem balance, human impact on wildlife, and conservation participation.
• No significant difference in outcomes was observed based on gender.

Conclusions:

• Participatory conservation education programs can effectively improve wildlife knowledge and attitudes among students.
• Such programs are crucial for fostering an understanding of ecological roles and human responsibility in conservation.
• Long-term success requires sustained programs with dedicated funding and institutional support.