Penang Seagrass Project, Malaysia
Region
Asia
Country
Malaysia
Flyway
East Asian - Australasian flyway
Initiative
WLI Asia-Oceania
About
Penang Seagrass Project - Nature Classroom
Funding support: Year 2015-2016: Eco-Peace Leadership Center, South Korea Year 2017 onwards: Self funded
Number of staff: 2
Number of visitors per year: Approximately 360 visitors including parents, children, teachers and students, volunteers and researchers.
Overall aims of the centre
To promote knowledge and environmental awareness on the coastal ecosystems of Penang State, Malaysia. To encourage public involvement in the development of nature education among local communities.
Description of the centre
Penang Seagrass Project is a nature education initiative established by Nature Classroom which aim to increase public awareness for the conservation of Penang’s coastal ecosystems. To fulfil the purposes, we are working with various parties such as government agencies, educational institutions and NGOs through collaborations in volunteer trainings, site surveys, research and documentation etc. Every month we are conducting about 2 field trips with 15 participants respectively.
Work Areas
Main CEPA work areas
Recruitment of volunteers from educational institutions, exhibitions & awareness campaigns, field trips, parent-and-kid activities, scientific surveys, documentation & publication.
Top three successes
Sustainable field trips which positively enhance the nature education in local communities from the first hand experiences. It also enables us to be sustainable by charging the participants some fees.
Volunteer programme which successfully promotes the environmental volunteerism among the general public especially students and the younger generation.
Exhibitions & campaigns and the effective sharing of information for the creation of public consciousness and involvement.
Top three challenges
Financial constraints limit the development of our work.
Insufficient man power(e.g. full time staff) to help the working progress.
Lack of interest and confidence from teachers and schools to support long term recruitment and training of volunteers.