Piku Biodiversity Network: Fostering Environmental Stewardship Through Education
The Piku Biodiversity Network recognizes that environmental education is a cornerstone of effective conservation efforts. Our knowledge generation activities not only inform our own work but also serve as a springboard for engaging with local communities. Through environmental education initiatives, we aim to cultivate awareness and sensitivity towards the environment and the challenges it faces.
Environmental education goes beyond simply imparting knowledge. We strive to create a space for knowledge exchange. Members of the Piku Biodiversity Network share the scientific understanding gained through research, while simultaneously learning from the traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) held by local communities. This two-way exchange fosters a deeper understanding of the Kikori River Delta’s ecosystem.
Empowering communities through action:
Environmental education empowers citizens to become active participants in environmental protection. We encourage community members to explore ways to apply the knowledge they gain to make positive changes in their everyday lives. This could involve adopting sustainable practices, advocating for conservation efforts, or simply raising awareness among family and friends.
By fostering a sense of shared responsibility for the environment, we create a more sustainable future. The health of the Kikori River Delta is intricately linked to the well-being of the communities that depend on it. A healthy environment leads to healthy people, and through environmental education, the Piku Biodiversity Network empowers communities to become stewards of their natural world.
The Piku Project
The Piku Biodiversity Network grew from the roots of the Piku Project, a collaborative effort led by Dr. Carla Eisemberg. Dr. Eisemberg, a champion for environmental education in Papua New Guinea since 2007, began the project focusing on the sustainable management and conservation of the Pig-nosed turtle (Piku) in the Kikori River, Gulf Province. Her passion extends beyond research, as evidenced by her delightful children’s book “Piggy’s Adventures on the Kikori River.”
The Piku Project’s focus has broadened over time. While the Pig-nosed turtle remains a crucial species, it now serves as a flagship for environmental education efforts that encompass a wider range of ecological threats. The project tackles issues like invasive species, plastic pollution, and the importance of protected areas. By using the charismatic Pig-nosed turtle and its habitat as a springboard, the Piku Biodiversity Network raises awareness of these challenges and empowers local communities to become stewards of their environment. Furthermore, the project integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, fostering the next generation of environmental problem-solvers in the Kikori region.
The impact of the Piku Project extends beyond its research activities. Dr. Eisemberg’s commitment to environmental education is evident in a series of children’s books published after “Piggy’s Adventures on the Kikori River.” Titles like “Monty and the Lake Kutubu Invasion,” “Little Al in Big Trouble,” and “Bart Wakes Up on the Moon” capture young imaginations while subtly weaving in environmental messages. Additionally, “Piku on Radio” offers a collection of radio scripts for the local station, ensuring environmental education reaches a wider audience within the Kikori community.
The Piku Project’s Children’s Readers
Since 2007, the Piku Project has produced a number of Children’s readers with each book highlighting a community environmental concern that children can learn about and learn some ways they can assist with solving environmental issues and to become environmentally friendly. To date over 20,000 copies of the Piku Project children’s readers have been printed and distributed throughout the across the Gulf of Papua and PNG by the Piku Project and Partners include;
Community Environmental Education and Awareness – Event Days
The Piku Biodiversity Network participates at events celebrating the PNG environment, its biodiversity, highlighting how this biological diversity has contributed to Papua New Guinea’s amazing Cultural Diversity.
School Visits
The Piku Biodiversity Network belives in young people and runs environmental education lessons and activities with schools whenever we can as part of knowledge generation. This gives us an opportunity to communicate science and research activity as well as encourage students in environmental action for biodiversity conservation and environment protection.
Teacher Training
The Piku Biodiversity Network hosts teacher training for materials we make available to our local schools. Our teacher training helps teacher to deliver environmental lessons within materials we provide and assists the teaching in understanding the importance of environment and biodiversity conservation and protection as well as issues impacting the environment.
We consult with local teachers for our children’s books and seek their advice to ensure our materials to local schools are suitable to the local context and their learning outcomes.
Community Capacity strengthening
The Piku Biodiversity Network prioritizes strengthening the capacity of community members. We provide tools and opportunities for young people and adults to learn, develop skills, and gain empowerment. This is evident in programs where community members collaborate with scientists on data collection or participate in student wildlife monitoring programs. The Kikori Turtle Rangers Program exemplifies this, uniting young people for the common cause of turtle protection during nesting season. Every community-oriented activity offers capacity-building opportunities.
