We are pleased to inform you that in April 2021 Nature Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU), in partnership with the Institute of Ecological and Religious Studies (IERS) with the support of German Federal Foreign Office, launched a unique project “NGOs and Church for Environmental Education in National Parks”.
The project aims to spread ideas about the value of the nature of the Carpathians and the need to protect it as an important component of the nature of the European continent among young people and the local population in general through joint efforts of religious organizations, NGOs, educational institutions and local governments in Transcarpathia.
To achieve this aim, on May 27-29, 2021, we invite all interested to the working meeting to the Bishops Residence of Mukachevo Greek Catholic Eparchy, where we will gather representatives on the one place:
- administrations of national parks participating in the project;
- teachers, educators;
- environmental NGOs, civil society activists;
- environmental scientists, specialists in forestry and tourism;
- parish priests, spiritual leaders;
- activists of local communities and parishes, opinion leaders of local communities.
Based on their experience, knowledge, understanding of the specific situation, and taking into account the goals and needs of local territorial and religious communities, village administrations and national parks, environmental activists, and based on the experience of our German partners, we are going to develop a program for environmental education of children for indirect impact on the inhabitants of protected areas and their involvement in the protection of the nature of the Carpathians.
Important components of our project that we need to consider are:
- Improvement and formation of the local system of ecological education and interaction with children in the territory of national parks, taking into account the German experience of ecological education for the preservation of unique forest ecosystems.
- Involvement of the church (Christian environmental ethics) in the process of formation the environmental behavior of young people and their parents.
- Improving environmental and methodological skills of teachers, park staff, and priests to strengthen the protection of the Carpathian forests.
- Involvement of adults in the protection of ecosystems and Carpathian virgin forests, in particular, through educational activities based on the general authority of teachers and priests.
- Improving public environmental education programs by developing and conducting lessons in Christian environmental ethics in Sunday schools and as electives in public schools.
- Development of the system of practical ecological education of children in educational institutions and Sunday schools; connection with ecological liturgy, catechesis, and diakonia based on Christian ecological ethics.
- Development and strengthening of the interaction of the network of active NGOs, administrations of parks and regional authorities, activists of religious communities, and inhabitants of forest ecosystems of the Carpathian Mountains.
To achieve this, we need to communicate not in the format of lectures and presentations, but in live communication to develop responsible approaches to the work ahead. For the convenience of communication, each day of the working meeting will be divided into two panels during which the headliners of the panel (leading from among the participants) will be able to talk about their needs, vision, and goals and answer questions from other participants and work out common solutions together in disputes and arguments.
AGENDA
We are waiting for you and your suggestions for active work!