BIODIVERSITY ISSUES AND

THE LEARNING PROCESSES

PRESENTED AT THE CEPA FAIR WORKSHOP COP 13

CANCUN- MEXICO

BY MARTHA R. NGALOWERA

TANZANIA

Introduction

Article 13 of the Convention on Biodiversity requires contracting parties to:

1. Promote and encourage understanding of; i. the importance

ii. measures required for, the conservation of biodiversity,

2. Disseminate biodiversity issues through media, 3. Include Biodiversity issues in educational

programmes;

Introduction...Continue

Cooperate with other States and international organizations in developing educational and public awareness programmes, with respect to conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

The National Environmental Policy

National Environmental Policy require immediate attention on:

Loss of biodiversity as one of the major environmental problems facing the country.

It also advocates public awareness, education and training on environmental issues in which

Biodiversity issues is among.

The National Education and Training

Policy

Emphasizes on mainstreaming environmental education in the teaching and learning process.

The environmental issues have been integrated in some syllabi such as pollution, climate

change, waste management and sustainable utilization of resources.

4.0 Identified Gap

“The CBD goal was not achieved because biodiversity issues such as; its importance

and conservation has not been well integrated in the learning processes”

The AICHI TARGET I

We are called to achieve this;“At the 2020 at least people are aware of the values of

biodiversity and the steps they can take to conserve it sustainably”

Learning Resource Guide For

“Biodiversity Conservation ”

To promoting the understanding of the biodiversity and measures to conserve it requires tools that will enable mainstreaming biodiversity in the Teaching and learning processes.

“A Learning Resource Guide was developed 2013 to be a tool to integrate biodiversity in school”

GENERAL OBJECTIVES OF THE

LEARNING RESOURCE

To facilitate the implementation of environmental policy which calls for public participation in the conservation of environmental where biodiversity is in.

To facilitates implementation of Education and Training policy that requires Biodiversity issues to incorporated in the curriculum and teaching and learning process.

IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY

• Biodiversity is essential for human social, economic and cultural life.

• Biodiversity loss is one of the most serious environmental problems facing Tanzania today.

• FE/Teachers’ role to inculcate positive behaviour towards conservation.

• Need for educating the society about the threats to Tanzania’s biodiversity.

THE USE OF THE BOOK

• Teachers’ guide for developing lessons on biodiversity conservation.

• Programme developers to design long or short course training for in-service teachers.

• Subjects and topics through which biodiversity conservation can be taught.

• Methodologies that teachers and learners can utilize in the learning process.

• Guiding questions, Quizzes and assignments.

WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY?

THE Meaning of Biodiversity

• Bio’ means life

• Diversity means variety

• Biodiversity

Refers to the variety of forms of life on the Earth.

Three levels of biodiversity

Species diversity.

Variety of types of plants, animals, and micro-organisms e.g. Rainforests

Genetic diversity.

Variety of genes within a species of plant or animal. Having gene diversity makes a species more resilient to diseases, climate change and other risks.

Ecosystems diversity.

Variety of natural systems which provide the homes or habitats for all organisms e.g grasslands, forests, mountain, streams, rocky shores

United Nations Convention on

Biological Diversity

• According to United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UN-CBD),

• Diversity of ecosystems, species and genes, and the ecological processes that support them.

• Variety of life on Earth and the natural patterns it forms.

• Biodiversity is the whole variety of living organism on which society depends.

TEACHING BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

Biodiversity conservation has been taught in

secondary schools subjects (Geography, History, Civics, Mathematics & Science, Languages).

Different approaches/methodologies has been adopted to enhance students’ understanding and encourage good practices in the conservation of biodiversity within their local environment.

Biodiversity in Geography

• Teachers can engage students in relevant

topics;

Soil science,

Water resources management

Agriculture,

Tourism

Forestry etc.

Geography contd….

• Biodiversity in Soil

• Soil biodiversity.

• The soil food web

• Soil organisms improve the entry and storage of water, resistance to erosion, plant nutrition, and break down of organic matter.

• Loss of soil biodiversity can be caused by the removal of plants or vegetation cover on the soil and soil erosion.

Geography contd….

• Biodiversity in Water Resources

• Biodiversity in water bodies such as ocean, lakes, rivers, swamps, wetlands and ponds.

• Habitats for aquatic plants and animals such and millions of micro organisms.

• Tanzanian examples

Geography contd….

• Biodiversity in Forestry Resources

• Forest and woodlands biodiversity comprise a diverse of plants and animals - biodiversity zones.

• Human activities are threatening the forest biodiversity and ecosystems .

• The role of forest biodiversity and its role in the economies of Tanzania.

• The forest conservation for future biodiversity sustainability.

Geography contd….

• Biodiversity in Tourism

• Contribution of biodiversity in the development of Tourism.

• Biodiversity hot spots; national parks and game reserves, volcanic mountains, valleys, lakes and wetlands.

• In enjoying the products of biodiversity, the tourism industry affects wildlife, plants and habitats.

• Damaging these natural resources is detrimental to the biodiversity.

Biodiversity in History

• Examples of History topics

• African societies

• Culture

• Social organisations etc

• In History, we look back through time to see how the interactions of different people/societies and their environment have shaped societies

• Role of environment (biodiversity) in changing cultural, social and economic aspects of societies in the past and present.

Biodiversity in Mathematics

• Basic concepts in mathematics; addition, subtraction, multiplication etc are crucial in understanding the ways in which we consume the environmental resources.

• Mathematical concepts are important in determining environmental risks such as depletion or extinction of species, overpopulation, global warming, pollution and loss of biodiversity.

• Mathematical concepts help to determine the best means to conserve biodiversity and sustainable use of environmental resources.

1 Nile perch feeds on 5 tilapia per day. How long will it take for 5 Nile perch to feed on 240,000 tilapia?

The introduction of new species in an ecosystem may lead to extinction of the indigenous species. Example the introduction of the Nile Perch Sangara) in Lake Victoria led to extinction of other fish species in the lake. The teacher may use mathematical concepts to describe the danger of extinction of some species in the ecosystem

Biodiversity in Biology

• Biodiversity in Biology is more relevant because Biology is the study of living organisms.

• An example where biodiversity can be taught in Biology is interaction and interdependence of living organism in the food chain.

• Biodiversity ‘is a succession of organisms in an ecological community with a continuation of food energy from one organism to another as each consumes a lower member and in turn is preyed upon by a higher member’.

• This is important for maintaining the balance in the ecosystem. If you remove one item in the chain you disturb the whole chain.

Biodiversity in Physics

• In physics students are taught how energy is produced and used.

• In Tanzania Hydroelectric power generation depends on water sources in river ecosystems.

• Conservation of Biodiversity in Uduzungwa mauntains, Rungwe mountains, and Ihefu wetlands will provide more water for electricity generation.

• The use of power and energy leads to land, water and air pollution and also global warming and climate change.

• The outcomes of those actions on the earth are destructions of ecosystems and loss of biodiversity.

Biodiversity in Chemistry

• Chemistry is the study of the various chemical elements and the compounds they form and the reactions they undergo.

• Biodiversity is one of the major sources of chemicals. Chemicals can be extracted from forest ecosystems, water ecosystems, and micro-organisms.

• Conservation of biodiversity will guarantee of production chemicals needed in those areas.

• Teaching biodiversity in Chemistry subject can be done in various topics such as soil chemistry and nitrogen cycle.

Biodiversity in Languages

• Grammar, composition, spelling and literature studies are important in the learning process.

• They help learners see how language may reflect and shape values and attitudes;

• Language is used to construct things like gender and environment.

• Language subjects can play a great role in teaching biodiversity through various topics.

Methodologies

• Several methodologies can be used;

• Hands on activities

• Role play

• Field study

• Story telling

• Case studies

• School/ class biodiversity hot spot

What next can be done?

1. Is biodiversity widely taught in schools?

2. Are there enough relevant resource materials on biodiversity in schools?

3. How the resource material can be improved to suit teachers needs in teaching biodiversity?

4. What could be the appropriate methodologies for teaching biodiversity through different subjects?

TANK YOU