Ecaffes
Environmental Concern Advisor Forum of the
Foundation for Endangered Species
The Forum is for educational institutes such as schools, colleges, scouts and other groups who wish to learn and interact with topics related to the environment. Its purpose is to make links and then provide a platform to share information, experiences and knowledge about wildlife and conservation.
Andy Mydellton is the Environmental Concern Advisor for the Schools' Group of the UK Commission for the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Membership is open to all UNESCO groups as well as for similar minded organizations, including those who cannot or who prefer not to join the UNESCO Schools Group. However, we do advise all groups to formally join the UNESCO Schools Group whenever possible, as UNESCO membership will increase the benefits of ECAFFES.
The forum is centred on the 4th study theme of UNESCO's School's Group entitled 'Environmental Concern' -
"This theme allows students to link international issues affecting the global environment to individual, local or national realities. Within this framework, they can be encouraged to confront problems of local concern, which may lead them to develop strategies for the same or similar problems at both national and international levels. Activities in this area include studies on pollution, energy, forest conservation, marine and atmospheric research, soil erosion and conservation of natural resources, desertification, the "greenhouse effect", sustainable development, recycling "Agenda 21", etc. and ultimately on how science contributes to the future of humanity. Subsequent to reflection in the classroom, community-oriented projects are often conducted to improve immediate local needs."
International Conferences where the notion or activities of ECAFFES has been discussed include the European Parliament (2008 and 2009), the United Nation's Palace at Geneva (2008 and 2009), the UNDESD UK launch (2005) in London and the Earth Charter International Conference at Amsterdam (2005). ECAFFES is part of the Foundation's continuing involvement with the United Nation's Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (UNDESD). Furthermore, because the Foundation's activities are part of the 'Bali Roadmap' ECAFFES may well outlast UNDESD and continue in other international plans yet to be put into place.
WHAT THE FORUM DOES
- It offers UK links
- It also offers international links
- It links schools to schools, or completely different organizations to each other
- It informally offers most benefits of UNESCO Schools' involvement
- It is available to all sorts of non-school groups and organizations that cannot be part of the UNESCO Schools Group.
- It can advise on WAFS and can even help set up the project
- The Wildlife Zone Newsletter and web-page can help with information
- Other Wildlife Zone projects are also educationally useful and inter-active such as Photographic Exhibitions, radio programmes etc
- A 'blog-page' is soon to be available for sharing comments and expressing views and experiences
- The Conserving Wildlife magazine is available online for all members
- FES give presentations, assemblies and formal class lessons
- A library of books, DVDs, CDs, records, tape recordings, videos etc
- The FES Award for raising awarene
- Membership is FREE!
AFFILIATES
All UNESCO Schools Group members become part of ECAFFES, as well as other institutes, including those who have had direct involvement with FES;-
Denham Village Infants School, UK
Tilehouse Nursery Schoool, UK
Vidhya Sadan Community School, Kathmandu
Joseph's High School, Kathmandu
Holy Garden School, Balaju, Kathmandu
Other organizations that support the forum include:-
The Nepalese-Anglo Conservation and Wildlife Educational Association of Nepal (NACWEASSON).
The Yeti Guest Home (Thamel, Kathmandu)
A Ray of Hope
Moreover if you know of any organization or group that would make use of this forum, then by all means contact us accordingly.
THE WILDLIFE GARDENING AND ANIMAL FEEDING STATION PROGRAMME (WAFS)
The Wildlife Gardening and Animal Feeding Station Programme (WAFS) is the pioneering project that can be used in a number of different ways by almost all organizations and individuals, including householders. A fuller account of how to make and use a site can be seen in the published articles. WAFS have been made adaptable for garden use although the principles and features are similar.
Holy Garden School of Kathmandu also control the Foundation's privately owned Nature Reserve in Nepal. The principal, Kiran Pradhan also uses Kavrestali for educational purposes very much along the lines of ECAFFES. Schools regularly go on natural history visits to the nature reserve on days out, in order to see wildlife in action. The Foundation wishes to develop Kavrestali in a number of ways, one of them is by facilitating the principles of WAFS
WAFS
- FES were the organization that made WAFS a UNESCO pilot project
- · FES is the organization that has formally put WAFS into Nepal for the first (and perhaps only) time ever
- Kavrestali Nature Reserve is a major asset that can be developed in a number of ways in years to come.
- WAFS needs a specially designated area set aside for wildlife
- Specific planting can be made for specific effect
- WAFS can be used as a formal educational tool in the classroom
- WAFS can be used informally by schools as 'extra mural studies'
- WAFS can be used as an educational plaything; it depends on each specific situation.
- Children can become champions, prefects, angels or guardians of feeding, ornithology, monitoring, reporting and so on. Children expressing themselves is a feature of WAFS.
THE WAFS PROTOTYPE PROJECT
The prototype WAFS was the small piece of land at the back of the FES registered office. The area is about 7 metres square and is a typical small patch of urban garden. Work was undertaken to change a normal horticultural garden into a WAFS area, so that it could be monitored. Afterwards 3 articles were published that explain how small areas can be used in different ways.
The site is full of wildlife and a full account is too long to be fully included. Like other WAFS, this list has grown over the years as sites become established. However, the brief tables explain the range of possibilities that could be found or used in other WAFS.
- A replanted hedge
- A newly created still water pond
- An established moving water pond
- Established flower beds with heather, wild strawberries etc
- Climbing plants such as honeysuckle, ivy etc that covers walls
- Nettles inside and outside the garden perimeter
- Herbs and spices in pots and tubs surrounding the premises.
Man made items put into the site to increase biodiversity include;-
- Compost bin
- Bird table
- Animal feeding points
- Bird boxes
- Bat boxes
- Ladybird and Lacewing box
- Frog and Toad house
- Mini-beast habitats
- Garden and house walls
The nearby environment and immediate surrounding areas used to maximize biodiversity includes;-
- The millstream that is part of and borders the site
- Established trees
- The nearby River Colne
- Buildings such as the workshop and studio
- A small patch of unused land adjacent to the garden fence
The wildlife that was witnessed in the first two years was many and variable, as will be with most other WAFS areas. This depended on what plants were originally established, what animals were already visiting the area, what food was put out (often recycled) and what animal homes were brought in for new residents. A new WAFS should begin with its own 'environmental audit', however informal and incomplete. Then one can make the most out of every existing feature. These changes should blend in to the encompassing areas surrounding the site to maximize the residents of, and the visitors to, the garden. In this way, the site can be inexpensive to set up and develop. Moreover, depending on each particular location, the garden could be low-maintenance and a more ecological area than most horticultural areas. With care and attention, it could also be made to seem beautiful to the eye, although in truth, most wildlife gardens usually seem to be untidy and unkempt. Health and Safety is one issue to bear in mind, especially for children and in particular, in schools. In the FES studio there has been a wasps' nest, which has been considered acceptable for this site. There also are the two ponds and the millstream, together with bee-attracting flowers and stinging nettles. Other WAFS cannot replicate this, but by changing these features, facilitators allow their own sites to focus on other items that will benefit them in different ways. An example of how to categorize some of the gardens' animals in different ways is by making some adaptable lists.
| RESIDENTS | REGULAR VISITORS | RARE VISITORS |
| BIRDS | ||
| Robin | Moorhen | Sparrowhawk |
| Wren | Heron | Greater Spotted Woodpecker |
| MAMMALS | ||
| Pipestrelle Bats | Hedgehogs | Fox |
| Field Mouse | Brown Rat | Common Shrew |
| AMPHIBIANS | ||
| Common Newts | --------- | Common Toads |
| Common Frog | --------- | ---------- |
| INVERTEBRATES | ||
| Ladybirds | Butterflies | Dragonflies |
| Spiders | Damselflies | Fratilleries |
These general lists can be adapted for:-
- Diurnal and nocturnal creatures
- Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter Seasons
- Groups such as 'butterflies' or particular species such as 'Red Admiral' .
Furthermore, if any site wishes to specialize, whether it is ornithology or pond-dipping, one could create a much greater and extensive list on animals. One can see how unique each site becomes as the WAFS area becomes established and develops further over time. The rare animal visitor can be very interesting, but beauty can be more 'ordinairy', such as this Goldfinch. However, what is common in the UK may well seem glamorous and exotic in Nepal, and vice-versa!