Delve into: What's the rationale behind providing assistance?
In an exciting development, schools across New Zealand are now contributing to the nation's goal of a pest-free environment. Through integrating pest control education into lesson plans and engaging students in citizen science platforms, schools are fostering a knowledgeable, active community committed to pest eradication.
This educational initiative, a collaboration between ZEALANDIA, the world's first fully fenced urban ecosanctuary, and WWF New Zealand, the leading conservation organisation, aims to educate students about the ecological and economic importance of pest control. The series of lesson plans, available on Zealandia's Education Programmes "Activities & Resources" page, includes topics on the impacts of pest plants and animals on the environment and the economy, as well as practical knowledge on pest control methods.
One of the key activities in the series is "Making a tracking tunnel", where students monitor the presence of pest species in a neighboring gully or their school grounds. Another activity, "Mapping the future", encourages students to explore changes that have taken place in their local environment in the last 50-100 years and plan for the next 50 years. The series also helps students become familiar with te reo Māori and English terms mentioned throughout the resource.
Citizen science plays a significant role in this initiative. Schools are encouraged to partner with platforms or community projects that engage the public in monitoring pest species such as rats, stoats, and possums. By participating in these initiatives, students can contribute real data, track pest populations, and support local predator control efforts. These activities not only teach scientific skills but also empower students to be active contributors to national goals like Predator Free 2050.
In addition to these activities, schools can embed pest ecology, impacts, and control strategies into science and environmental education, facilitate participation in citizen science projects, promote awareness about national initiatives like Predator Free 2050 and community-led pest control actions, and support practical learning experiences in trapping and pest management techniques.
For schools in the Wellington region seeking support to run this programme, ZEALANDIA offers a free Outreach programme. Interested schools can contact [email protected] for more information.
Individuals and communities can also get involved by checking out Predator Free New Zealand Trust. For more information about local and global conservation efforts, as well as DOC's work with Predator Free 2050, visit WWF's and DOC's respective websites.
With this integrated approach, students not only learn about New Zealand's efforts towards a pest-free environment but also actively participate in it. By understanding, observing, and contributing to these efforts, students become active agents in the conservation of New Zealand's unique biodiversity.
- This educational initiative, which focuses on pest control, is a blend of science, environmental-science, education-and-self-development, and online-learning.
- By engaging in citizen science platforms and practical learning experiences like trapping and pest management techniques, students can learn and contribute to the nation's goal of a pest-free environment, fostering their growth in both knowledge and self-empowerment.
