NATIONAL – World World Fund (WWF) together with Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Wildlife Clubs of Uganda have launched the new project Called “GREEN SCHOOLS” in 5 districts that makes up the border area of Rwenzori National Park.
This was officially communicated during the stakeholders meeting involving the Headteachers,Local Community,UWA, District Education Officers,Human Natural Resource officers , district Leaders , implementing partners held at This campaign held in Kinyampunika Primary School in Bukara Sub Coubty, Bunyangabu district this week.
This project will focus on climate and school greening in the areas that are most vulnerable to climate change in 5 districts including Rubirizi,Ntoroko,Bunyangabu,,kabarore and kasese.
It also targets 350 teachers’ and local community around the schools engaging 35 schools around Queen Elizabeth, Rwenzori Mountains, Semulik and Kibale National parks in conservation activities by establishing of schools woodlots.
The green school project will promote biodiversity and climate resilience locally, pupils nutrition and health plus strengthening children and young generation ownership of their local nature and environment.
The action plan will contain various green measures such as establishing tree nurseries in schools by planting and caring for native fruit trees and also establishing a school forest and resilient school vegetables gardens,rainwater collection and waste management.
The project will include the efforts to ensure the establishment and improvement of Hygienic water sanitation facilities that is solar panels, energetic efficient stoves and the action plans adapted to the individual schools” specific needs and opportunities for green efforts.
According to Head of conservation Programs WWF Mr Weredwong Simon who represented Country director, there aim is to target children and youth to become change agents for sustainable resource management and climate change adaptions in Queen Elizabeth and Rwenzori sub-landscape.
Mr Simon says that they are also fucusing on developing a new curriculum for nature and climate education and the importance of thinking together about nature and climate crises and their solutions locally and globally, This curriculum will focus on the region’s biodiversity and ecosystem service in the local areas.
Meanwhile Mr Happy Ali, the WWF communication officer says that greening 35 school’s in Queen Elizabeth national park edge will ensure that 31000 girls and boys aged 7-18 get a green and healthy school environment with access to knowledge and concrete tools as network to create a sustainable and climate resilient change locally.
Madam Alice Natukunda, community conservation warden who was the chief guest representing the chief warden says that as UWA they have been having a challenge of community degrading the park for poaching and looking firewood all the time so this green school project will boost the young generation and students and community interns of trees planting. She urged the youth and children to work with there parents to protect and conserve the environment .
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