RCE Warsaw Metropolitan - 2019

Location

Poland
See map: Google Maps
PL
Intergenerational program of ecological education of protected areas communities “Nature for generations”
CSV
Basic Information
Title of project : 
Intergenerational program of ecological education of protected areas communities “Nature for generations”
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Warsaw Metropolitan
Contributing organization(s) : 
Fundacja Ziemia i Ludzie (Earth and People Foundation)
Uniwersytet Trzeciego Wieku Uniwersytet Otwarty “Pokolenia” (Third Age University “Open University Generations”)
University of Warsaw - University Centre for Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Ewelina Skoczeń
Organizational Affiliation: 
Fundacja Ziemia i Ludzie
E-mail: 
ewelina.skoczen@ziemiailudzie.pl
Name: 
Anna Batorczak
Organizational Affiliation: 
University Centre for Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development
E-mail: 
a.batorczak@uw.edu.pl
Name: 
Barbara Potkanska
Organizational Affiliation: 
Uniwersytet Trzeciego Wieku Uniwersytet Otwarty “Pokolenia”
E-mail: 
barbara.potkanska@ckiopodkowa.pl
Format of project: 
PowerPoint, manuscript
Language of project: 
polish
Date of submission:
Thursday, May 30, 2019
Web link: 
www.naturanapokolenia.pl
Additional resources: 
www.ziemiailudzie.pl
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
Yes
Longlife learning policy
At what level is the policy operating?: 
National
National education policy
At what level is the policy operating?: 
National
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Europe
Country: 
Poland
Address of focal point institution for project: 
Fundacja Ziemia i Ludzie, Napoleona Bonaparte 47B, 04-965 Warszawa
Ecosystem(s):
Agricultural, Coastal, Dryland, Forest, Grassland, Mountain, Wetlands
Target Audience:
Community, Higher, Primary, Secondary, Youth (Informal)
Third Age Universities
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
Currently, about 10 million ha of the country's area (32.5%) is covered by various forms of nature conservation, including the network of Natura 2000 areas which constitutes about 20% of the country's territory. The fact that there are many rare species of fauna and flora in Poland as well as types of natural habitats in our country imposes on Poland a special responsibility for the protection of the European natural heritage, especially in the era of climate change and threats from unsustainable agriculture.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
Among the identified problems are: poor nature protection in environmental resources management and lack of clearly indicated subjective responsibility for the state of nature, as well as the lack of connection between nature protection and space management. Among the reasons for this state of affairs are negligence regarding shaping ecological awareness and education of society at all levels, including insufficient system of social consultations on important decisions regarding nature conservation.
The main challenge is changing the negative attitude of local communities to nature conservation and solving problems such as: lack of social participation in activities for the protection of nature, development of the local economy that collides with nature conservation, preservation of the cultural identity of local communities.
Contents
Status: 
Ongoing
Period: 
April, 2018 to July, 2020
Rationale: 
The basis for the acceptance of areas protected by society should be the conviction about the need for nature protection based on knowledge about protected areas and the purposes of their creation. Generally the level of this knowledge is low. There is still a lack of understanding that natural values are an inseparable part of local heritage and a source of pride for local communities. Knowledge about the impact of climate change and the pressure of agriculture on the biodiversity of protected areas is low. The rich nature and undisturbed landscape are conducive to the health of residents, attract tourists and generate profits. It is high time to involve local communities in nature conservation in neighborhood areas, in other words, in halting the loss of biodiversity and climate change mitigation.

The potential of intergenerational cooperation justifies the creation of a project integrating the two main target groups of the project: seniors from Third Age Universities and youth from local communities.
Thanks to reaching these two age groups, synergistic effects of educational activities addressed to them and indirect access to all age and social groups within the family and through local contacts, and consequently - increase of ecological awareness of the entire local community will be obtained.
Objectives: 
- Increased ecological awareness of residents of protected areas on the need and appropriate methods of nature protection, including sustainable agriculture as well as climate change mitigation,

- The use of the intergenerational potential to exchange experiences and knowledge between youth and seniors for the synergic growth of ecological awareness of both age groups and consolidation of this effect,

- The use of educational and institutional potential of Universities of the Third Age for their use in the network of local ecological centers and cascading ecological education of the local community.
Activities and/or practices employed: 
In 10 location of 10 complexes of protected areas, we have prepared a number of educational activities under the common slogan "Nature for generations". This slogan reflects both the objective of the project, which is the protection of areas of valuable natural and rich biodiversity for future generations. It is also a reference to the main target groups: seniors and children and young people. We will cooperate with 10 Universities of the Third Age and their local partners in 10 locations.

As part of the project, we will conduct:

Inaugural seminar for project partners from 10 protected areas
Intergenerational lectures organized at Universities of the Third Age
Intergenerational problem workshops
Intergenerational field workshops
Stands at local events
Contest of knowledge about forms of nature protection
Photographic and plastic competition
Book publication - the most comprehensive and universal source of knowledge about the issues of protected areas
Local guides with field game
Project website

Project is supported by University of Warsaw, University of Silesia, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan and The Institute of Environmental Protection – National Research Institute
Size of academic audience: 
At last 500 students from Third Age Universities and 300 pupils from local schools
Results: 
- Rising ecological awareness of local communities,
- Intergenerational cooperation,
- Civic education for environmental protection,
- 10 Third Age Universities certification for new local ecological education centers
Lessons learned: 
The widest (though insufficient and often ad hoc) offer of environmental education is addressed to children and adolescents. Adult awareness in the field of sustainable development is at an unsatisfactory level, perhaps due to the fact that it is more difficult to reach this group than to children or schoolchildren.
In the project, we will highlight the underrated, and very strongly represented and with great educational, integrative and social potential - a group of older people.
It is also important to avoid cognitive dissonance with which children and young people can meet in their own homes - the majority of formal and informal education activities are addressed to them, with a noticeable deficit of activities directed to adults.
Key messages: 
Beautiful nature is an inseparable part of the local heritage and a source of pride for local communities. Let us protect nature in the interests of ourselves and our relatives: we want to live in a harmonious landscape and a diverse, pure natural environment rich in species. The Natura for generations project engages local communities in nature conservation in areas of natural value in their immediate vicinity.
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
The project is part of a larger environmental education program for older people “Green Knowledge for UTA" conducting by Earth and People Foundation since 2012 and is part of the objectives of intergenerational education of RCE Warsaw Metropolitan.
Funding: 
European Funds

Pictures:

File Name Caption for picture Photo Credit
Image icon field trip.jpg (3.14 MB) Field trip of seniors and youth E. Skoczeń
Image icon Lecture.jpg (8.48 MB) Lecture for seniors and youth E. Skoczeń
Image icon workshop.jpg (2.67 MB) Workshop for seniors and youth E. Skoczeń
References and reference materials: 
File Prezentacja_Natura.pptx
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere 
Direct
SDG 2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture 
Indirect
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 
Direct
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Direct
SDG 5 - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 
Indirect
SDG 6 - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all 
Indirect
SDG 7 - Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all 
Indirect
SDG 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all 
Direct
SDG 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation 
Indirect
SDG 10 - Reduce inequality within and among countries 
Direct
SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 
Direct
SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 
Direct
SDG 14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development 
Direct
SDG 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss 
Direct
SDG 16 - Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 
Direct
SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development 
Indirect
Theme
Disaster Risk Reduction 
Indirect
Traditional Knowledge  
Direct
Agriculture 
Direct
Arts 
Indirect
Curriculum Development 
Direct
Ecotourism 
Direct
Plants & Animals 
Direct
Waste 
Indirect
Global Action Programme (GAP) on Education for Sustainable Development – Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 1 - Advancing policy 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
Direct
Priority Action Area 3 - Building capacities of educators and trainers 
Direct
Priority Action Area 4 - Empowering and mobilizing youth 
Direct
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
Direct
Update: 
No