European Tropical Forest Research Network

Participatory assessment, monitoring and evaluation of biodiversity (PAMEB)

Internet workshop 7 - 25 January 2002, and policy seminar 21 May 2002
convened by the Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford

Summary of Day 3, 9th January 2002

With the end of today's session we see the start of discussion on Theme 2, 'Incorporating values into biodiversity assessment and monitoring'. John Healey, Jenny Wong and Oliver Phillips initiated discussion with their introduction document posted on the website today.

Winfred Thomas' input to theme 2 concerns the support of long-term monitoring of local biodiversity by changes in educational policy. One possible starting point for long-term monitoring is the local school where pupils can be encouraged to learn about local biodiversity and support its conservation through being involved in assessing it. This involvement could be particularly appropriate for tribal communities, whose children's primary education is the focus of sizeable government funds. Currently, tribal children suffer by being expected to follow a curriculum designed for urban children. By designing curricula to suit each school's environment incorporating assessment methods appropriate for that environment, both urban and tribal children could meaningfully engage inbiodiversity assessment activities in their respective schools and areas.