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Environmental education and awareness programmes
Effective implementation of coastal management
and conservation programmes depends on the full support
of local actors, which depends on a certain level of
education, awareness raising and training in the relevant
areas. Education and awareness raising have been identified
in Agenda 21 as key areas in working towards sustainable
development. Once awareness is raised, the necessary
values and attitudes, skills and behaviour can be developed.
Environmental education
is a learning process that increases people’s
knowledge and awareness about the environment and associated
challenges, develops the necessary skills and expertise
to address the challenges, fosters attitudes, motivations
and commitments to make informed decisions and take
responsible action (UNESCO, Tbilisi Declaration, 1978).
The components of environmental education
are:
- Awareness and sensitivity to the environment and
environmental challenges;
- Knowledge and understanding of the environment and
environmental challenges ;
- Attitudes of concern for the environment and motivation
to improve or maintain environmental quality;
- Skills to identify and help resolve environmental
challenges.
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Example: Education
Programme for Staff, Aurinkomatkat, a Finnish Outbound
Tour Operator
To encourage and promote
sustainable and environmentally sound tourism within
its internal operations, Aurinkomatkat, a Finnish outbound
tour operator has created an education programme for
staff. The topics are the environmental, economic, cultural,
social impacts of tourism, destination-specific issues,
sustainability actions and recommended practices to
combat the commercial sexual exploitation of children.
Benefits
Aurinkomatkat has seen a number of benefits of having
its entire staff continuously trained and informedon
sustainability issues.
Including:
- Staff members are now taking their own initiatives
to improve sustainability performance in the office
and in destinations;
- The training sessions encourage participation and
the sharing of ideas;
- There is increased information
on sustainability for customers;
- Aurinkomatkat has improved its relationship with
partners by showing that it cares;
- There is a feeling of commitment among staff;
- The circulation of the newsletter
enables staff to be informed of the progress
that is being made andwhat difficulties are
faced.
(Tour
Operators Initiative)
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Education and awareness programmes need to be addressed
to both the professional sector and the general public
and should inform them about the direct and indirect
impacts of tourism, the causes with his effects, the
global and local issues, the immediate and long-term
issues and good practices in the area. The private sector
and especially tour operators could provide information
more widely to their clients. - The tourists - about
sustainable tourism issues, encourage them to conserve,
avoid negative impacts on biodiversity and cultural
heritage to respect national legislation of the visited
area as well as traditions of local communities.
Education and awareness-raising also is required at
all levels of government. This should include processes
for increasing mutual understanding between relevant
ministries, including joint and innovative approaches
for dealing with tourism and environmental issues. It
is as quite important to raise awareness within the
academic sector responsible for training and research
on issues regarding sustainable tourism.
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Example: The contribution of Information
Centres to sustainable tourism in protected areas (the
case of Strymonikos Gulf)
The main role of the Centre consists
in contributing to information and public awareness
in matters of coastal zone functions and values. Using
as examples the Strymonikos Gulf and the Gulf of Ierissos,
whose coastal zone diversity is typical for Greece.
It is the first IC in Greece dealing exclusively with
matters associated with the coastal zone.
Strymonikos Info centre
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Example:
Public Awareness Strategy, Danube Delta Biosphere
Reserve (DDBR)
A variety of different groups of people
have an interest in the Danube Delta or influence it
in some way or other. The Public Awareness Strategy
of the DDBR has been designed to support the conservation
and sustainable management of the natural resources
of the Danube Delta while improving socio-economic benefits
for the local population. The financial sustainability
of the DDBR, through the implementation of an integrated
and clearly targeted plan for public awareness activities.
Information and visitors Centres in DDBR
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