2009-12-23 04:02:03 -

Does environmental education have to be confined in classrooms, museums, national parks, forest recreation areas and nature protection parks? It doesn’t need to, considering the fact that environmental education has not taken deep root in public’s mind. Now, the “Environmental Protection Elementary School Project” organized by the EPA offers a good chance to learn how to protect our environment. It provides related environmental education courses which the public can apply in their daily lives.

Yeh Jiunn-Horng, Director-General of the EPA Comprehensive Planning Department, said the government has been promoting community transformation program since 1992. After years of efforts, the program has raised public awareness for environmental protection, and this awareness has turned into a very special force. To further promote the

program, the EPA launched “Environmental Protection Elementary School Project” which focuses on “promoting transformation of community” and “encouraging environment education”. The EPA selects 24 communities that are good at environmental protection and helps them transform into places for visiting, outdoor-teaching and environmental education.

Yeh said these 24 community-turned-schools have attracted 7,000 people per month, and visitors have brought their learning experiences back to their own communities and schools to expand the environmental protection effects. What’s even better is that these communities can solidify inhabitants’ consensus and awareness, and create economical benefits.

To encourage community transformation, idle spaces utilization and environment education, local enthusiasts are needed to provide cultural, historical and industrial assistance. For example, Lao Yuan community in Longtan, TaoYuan has launched a household cleaning project; Lin Mei community in Jiaushi, YiLan has produced various “golden dates” hot-selling products; HuaShan community in Gu-keng, YunLin, is working on building coffee fame which boasts the quality of Made In Taiwan product; Fongshujiao community in Taichung has been working on turning oil wastes into hand-made soaps. Many communities have developed their own specialties where they are protecting the environment as well as generating revenues for community development funds.

Yeh said communities which have taken part in environment transformation and won awards can apply to join the “Environmental Protection Elementary School Project”. Because the goal of the project is to help communities to acquire environmental protection experiences, communities that wish to participate in this project must have venues or facilities where education can be provided and successful experiences passed on.

This new annual project is soon to begin accepting applications.

Communities interested in the above can enquire with local environmental offices or the EPA Comprehensive Planning Office.

Yeh said the EPA will continually promote the “Environmental Protection Elementary School Project” and he hopes different types of communities will take part, such as urban communities, rural communities and so on.

In the future, the EPA will pick several communities successful in environmental education to be the model. This is the direction the project is going to take.

Yeh also indicate that the Environmental Education Act has been sent to the Legislative Yuan to be reviewed. This Act comprises incorporating the educational facility and information, utilizing idle spaces and buildings to build environmental education facilities, and providing information and resources for environmental professional services.

Though the Act is yet to be passed, the “Environmental Protection Elementary School Project” has gradually achieved its ideals. It is expected that through integration of the public and private sectors, the citizens can participate in environmental protection courses and then apply what they learn in daily lives.

For further information contact:Environmental Protection

Elementary SchoolHong -Ann, WenOffice: +886-2-2505-1180 ext.
797 hongann@mail.cna.com.tw : mailto:hongann@mail.cna.com.tw