What we can do now for the protection of sea creatures

Papua New Guinea is located on the coral triangle which is very rich in marine biodiversity in the world. In the beautiful sea, a wide variety of living things coexist. In the recent years, however, the rich ecosystem has been threatened by climate change, unplanned fishing and environmental destruction. Particularly the inflow into sea of plastic garbage is a problem. 

In the Children’s Forest Program, we are teaching children to make the habit of proper waste disposal through separating garbage and also carrying out cleaning up on the beach. We are going to tackle PR activities so that the children would be able to thank for the blessings of the sea and to live in becoming conscious of the connection in the future. 

Creating opportunities to move learning into action

DADUL Elementary School is located in East New Britain Province. There are 140students in the school. Teachers were worried about how to teach to students about environment conservation, and they asked OISCA what they should do for environmental conservation.

As for the first activity, OISCA’s coordinator and trainees played an environmental drama. The drama was a fun and students have understood the importance of environment.

Content in tree planting activity, they planted castanospermum which could be good building materials and several species of fruit bearing trees.

A teacher who participated the activity said: ”It is easy to say “Let’s save the earth.” but difficult to do. I appreciate that OISCA staff for teaching us the importance of environment, and giving a chance to practice it.”

School forest is inherited by students

St Joseph Napapar Primary School is located in East New Britain Province.

Around the school, deforestation, flood and landslide occurred due to expanding plantation. In regard to the problems, teachers thought what they should do for solving the problems and inspected CFP activity of other schools. Ultimately teachers consulted with OISCA staffs and they have started CFP activities.

Since 2012, they have continued to manage the trees which seniors planted.

They planted fruit bearing trees such as mangosteen and soursop in 2017.

By growing fruit bearing species, they would be able to eat as snack and can sell fruits to earn income for school.

They will continue the management of the tree planting site and will be tackling waste separation.

Fostering awareness for working for FURUSATO

   The school is located in the rural area which is recognized by the government as part of the conservation area. For this reason, illegal logging is strictly controlled and the conservation of forests is strongly promoted. School children are also very interested in protecting trees, and it is recognized by the government as a school actively involved in environmental activities. In 2016, they planted teak and germelina, and held an environmental workshop to tell the children about what sort of impact tree planting would give to global environment and also thought together on what they would be able to do for the environment.

   Mr. Clement Kulavi, the school principal, commented on the outcome of the activities: “we are really happy to note that through the practical environmental education which is not available at school, the children can learn about and care for the environment. The local community people are also pointing out that the awareness and behavior of the children changed as they are working hard to take care of trees.”

  In the future, they would like to put effort on fostering awareness and environmental conservation so as to bring up children who would be able to act for the protection of their own FURUSATO. 

Just joined CFP !

   This school participated in CFP in 2016 with the hope of protecting children from natural disasters by planting trees around the school. The sense of crisis for an increasing number of disasters in recent years fueled to join the activity.

   In the first activity, they planted hardwood species to be used as timber and fruit bearing trees. By growing fruit bearing species, they can sell fruits to earn income for school. 

OISCA staff and trainees are, aside from tree planting, devising ways to inform the children on the importance of environmental conservation by presenting dramas on the environment. The school teachers are also appreciative of the CFP program through which they can learn the significance and method of environmental conservation. Moreover, the local community people have a good understanding of the program and are very cooperative. In the future, the school plans to teach skills and knowledge in environment-friendly organic agriculture so as to be able to produce healthy vegetables.

Birar Primary School is located in the Kokopo District, Papua New Guinea. The local media often discussed about global warming and environmental disasters around the world. Kokopo experienced soil erosion and flooding first-hand thus frightening the local people. They concluded that in order to avoid future disasters, they must understand how to protect the environment. In 2011, Birar Primary School chose the Children’s Forest Program activities to promote awareness for children and adult. The community deeply appreciates Children’s Forest Program for supporting their environmental concerns.

Birar Primary School

CFP school since 2011

200 students

Kokopo District, East New Britain Province

St. Leos Yawakaka Primary School is located in the town of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea which is nearly 6 kilometers from a volcano area. In 1994, the volcano erupted and cracked the top of the mountain hill which caused water to flow out and flood a nearby boy’s high school. The damage resulted in a desert-like environment, destroying classrooms and other buildings. In 2007, OISCA’s Children’s Forest Program got involved to green the area by planting trees thus creating shade for the students to relax in. 155 students and 40 adults, including OISCA trainees, adapted a new mindset for the children in which they understood resilience by re-greening an devastated area through planting saplings.

St. Leos Yawakaka Primary School

CFP school since 2007

155 students

Rabaul Town, East New Britain Province

Mope Primary School is located in Kokopo District, Papua New Guinea. The local people were fascinated by the Children’s Forest Programs activities in other school areas and negotiated to have their own activities to promote environmental and conservation awareness. In 2011, 150 students and 70 adults, including OISCA staff and trainees, engaged in tree planting activities to emphasize the importance of trees.

Mope Elementary School

CFP school since 2011

150 students

Rabaul Town, East New Britain Province

Vunalovo Primary School is located in the Gazelle District of East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea. In the language of Kuanua, “vuna” means place and “lovo” means the tree roots, therefore “Vunalovo” means the place where the roots are found. The Vunalovo Primary School is surrounded by coconut trees and cocoa trees so in 2011, Vunalovo Primary School joined OISCA’s Children’s Forest Program to teach the children of the importance of the other various trees in their environment. 250 students and 50 adults, including OISCA trainees, engaged in planting tree saplings as a way to develop their environmental understanding. The Children’s Forest Program intends to support and improve the environmental education in the Vunalovo classrooms.

Vunalovo Primary School

CFP school since 2004

250 students

Rabaul Town, East New Britain Province

Vunairima Primary School is near the coastal area of Gazele District. The school has his own natural forest and under spring water, just beside the school area. Vunairima PS with OISCA has a very good relation ship sharing ideas about the World Environment Day activities. As our awareness to the children and teachers. they realized the importace of trees how they play the role to human and living things' lives on the earth. THe head teacher consideration is to be part of CFP activities is the only way to protect their underground spring water by planting more trees at the top of the spring water source, and the same time do some reforestration where the natural forest is. CFP activity is conserving the spring water.

Vunairima Primary School

CFP school since 2011

200 students

Gazelle, East New Britain Province

Rieit Elementary School is located at the foot of Mt. Sinivit (2,438m), the highest mountain in East Britain Province. This region were covered with dense forested before. But in the 1970s, the land in the area was sold to the people who came from the towns or the main island, and most of the land was converted to cacao plantations. And now, many villagers lament the disappearance of the forest. Today, it is impossible to observe big birds called Hornbills, once normally seen. The storong wish for the birds return motivated teachers and children to join OISCA’s CFP.

“What we can do to bring back the birds ?”

“They would return if we plant trees and create a forest.”

“Is that true ?”

“Yes, it’s true.”

This conversation carried out between the children and the CFP coordinators whenever they plant trees.

Nowadays, The new gold mine has been developed gold in the areas close to the school, and the deforestation has been continued. We promote Children’s Forest Program to involve more children and local residents and protect the forest with them.

(Rieit Elementary school)

Program starting year: 2010 Number of student: 100