Esther Oluwatosin Fawole
This project is aimed at initiating school-based wildlife conservation clubs in Ibadan, Nigeria, as an effort to promote awareness, attitude and behavioural education among the younger generation through monthly conservation education sessions with the long-term objective to reduce the effect of bushmeat consumption and wanton killing and destruction of the wildlife ecosystem. Through this project, the school children will be able to understand why it is important to conserve the wildlife biodiversity with the aid of activities such as Zoos and Wildlife parks visits, films show on wildlife documentaries and wildlife exhibitions.
Wildlife has been faced with a whole lot of challenges in the recent years as a result of human interference either consciously or unconsciously. Wildlife conservation clubs in schools have shown to really help build up the interest of students in wildlife conservation, both the flora and fauna through wildlife conservation education and exhibitions. Wildlife has economic, cultural and social benefits therefore it is essential to sustain these benefits for the present and future generations. The major reason I am undertaking this project is to engage school children, who are the younger generation and to carry them along in the quest for the conservation of wildlife biodiversity. Involving the students in the wildlife conservation awareness will act as a long-lasting solution to reduce the poaching and illegal trade of wildlife animals. Another major reason for undertaking this project is to use this project as a “catch them young” strategy for the creation of awareness and advocacy for wildlife conservation.