NIE: How children can conserve environment in their communities

Protecting the environment is everyone’s responsibility, including children.  We need to reflect on the things we do that damage our environment and how we should conserve it for ourselves and future generations to come.

Focus on preserving our natural resources like lakes, forests, rivers and more.

Remember, the environment offers us clean air, fresh water, and fertile soil which we need to live healthy lives.  It is also a safe home for us and the animals.

Once the environment is destroyed, those things are all destroyed forever. We then suffer with climate change, diseases and starvation.

Steven David Mugabi, commissioner for environmental affairs at the Ministry of Water and Environment says God gave us dominion over nature. Unfortunately, we have instead abused it and created problems.

But much as man has power over nature, Mugabi says, we should always remember that nature can fight back and cause destruction.

In fact, he says, nature doesn’t need us. It can exist without us but we can’t live without nature. This is why we must conserve the environment.

Mugabi encourages children to step up and protect Mother Nature in their different communities.

Become a conservation ambassador

You can mobilize your schoolmates to start an environment club if you don’t have it. For example, Celine Nabbale Kalabo a pupil of Aspen junior school started a gardening club at her school.

Kalabo enjoys living in a green environment. Even at her home, she grows different plants and offers free gardening lessons to her schoolmates. That way, the nine-year-old is contributing to environmental conservation.

Apart from that, you can recycle and reduce waste. Recycle means to use old things differently. For example, instead of throwing away old containers, you can use them to grow flowers and vegetables. 

You can also organize or participate in a community cleanup. At that event, ensure that you talk about the dangers of degrading the environment.

Other ways of promoting the environment

Dr Babirega Akankwasah, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) executive director says environmental conservation should start in our homes and schools and children too should be involved.

Avoid doing things that put unnecessary pressure on the land such as throwing plastic bottles and buveera everywhere. Dump rubbish in the right places. In the same way, farmers should avoid spraying crops with dangerous chemicals.

Also, everyone should fight deforestation by planting trees. Swamps too, should be protected. 

In addition to that, ensure you have composite pits at home and at school. Dump there things like leaves and peels for organic manure. Also, instead of using charcoal, learn to make briquettes as this will help save forests.