Nature clubs, comprising students studying in different schools of Khyber Pakhtunkwa, are creating awareness among youngsters about importance of wildlife conservation in maintenance of strong eco-system in society.
“There are about 200 nature clubs formed by Wildlife Department in different schools of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the objective of creating awareness among students about importance of wild species and its conservation,” said Niaz Ahmad, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) KP Wildlife Extension.
Talking to the media, Niaz said the programme was spread over the whole province and plan was under consideration to increase membership by involving more schools. ‘Presently we have student members in thousands of numbers as each school has members in dozens of numbers. The idea behind forming Nature Clubs was to inculcate the message of environmental protection and wildlife conservation among children at school level, Niaz explained.
He said members of the clubs were educated through delivering lectures in schools where students were apprised by officials of Wildlife Department about different wild species by displaying pictures and informed them about dangers to their existence.
Apart from holding lectures, essay, slogans and pictures competitions are also arranged in schools about wildlife conservation. The winners of the competitions were encouraged by awarding them prizes, Niaz went on saying.