Examination of Environmental Education Initiatives in Prek Toal and Anlong Taor Villages in Cambodia

By Angela Hessenius, University of San DiegoSchool for Field Studies, Center for Mekong Studies, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Results

Discussion & Conclusions

Research Aims and Objectives

Methods Data collection took place in Prek Toal and Anlong Taor villages in the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve of Cambodia (see map to right) between April 18th-April 27th 2016.

In total, 41 semi-structured interviews were conducted with a broad range of stakeholders, see Figure below:

1. Identify stakeholders involved in development and implementation of environmental education projects and initiatives in Prek Toal and Anlong Taor2. Determine what mechanisms and activities different stakeholders employ in their EE initiatives and what concepts and topics they choose to cover3. Examine community reception of past and current EE initiatives by exploring environmental awareness and knowledge among the local community4. Analyze and compare EE initiatives shared by respondents

Osmose 2015

Acknowledgements Thank you to the following people and institutions who helped make this research possible: Principal Investigator: Dr. Georgina Lloyd Rivera, Translator: Samrith Vichet, Ministry of Environment, and all the people who were interviewed.

Osmose Floating Classroom in Prek Toal, Hessenius 2016

Opportunities • Many children have

received EE from Osmose and in the public school

• Community-based and bottom-up EE approaches can have positive outcomes in engaging and educating the community

• Models that link EE with economic development have yielded positive conservation outcomes

Challenges• There is currently a lack of EE for

adults• Limitations on access to EE • Lack of dissemination of

information on positive results of conservation initiatives

• Tendency for stakeholders not to engage in EE because other stakeholders are currently

• Poverty and dependence on natural resources restrict people’s choices and force them to commit illegal actions for survival

Opportunities and Challenges for EE in Prek Toal and Anlong Taor

Common Themes of Awareness and Perceptions Among Community Members