About 8,000 students in identified schools in Leyte will be reached by the Forest Echoes Project of Tinker House that aims to enhance environmental awareness and appreciation among young students and cultivate enduring pro-environment attitudes that can last into their adulthood. (Photo: PIA Leyte)
TACLOBAN CITY (PIA) – Edutainment developer and maker Tinker House recently launched its latest innovation in Leyte, the Forest Echoes Project, a collaborative initiative aimed at enhancing environmental awareness and appreciation among young students.
With support from the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources, Department Science and Technology, Department of Education and the provincial government of Leyte, this latest edutainment activity developed by Tinker House provides activities to selected public schools in Leyte.
This aims to instill environmental awareness and appreciation among 8,000 students through its 24+ hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) activities.
The project created six conservation-themed Tinker Stations, each with hands-on learning activities for primary school students, including Peat Lab, Coastal Keep, Mangrove Manor, Reef Shack, Forest Dome and Habitat Hall. All these highlight the essential parts of the ecosystem.
The Peat Lab shows the importance of peatlands for carbon storage, water filtration, and climate regulation. The Mangrove Manor shows how mangroves are crucial to coastal protection, marine life support, and as nurseries for aquatic species.
Meanwhile the Forest Dome, or commonly known as the rainforests, are relevant for global ecological balance and climate regulation.
The coastal keep, on the other hand, plays a critical role in preventing erosion, supporting wildlife, and promoting sustainable coastal management. The Reef Shack, or commonly known as coral reef, shows its vitality for marine biodiversity, shoreline protection, and fisheries, which provide overall support to tourism and livelihoods.
Lastly, the Habitat Hall conserves the forest biodiversity that is also required to maintain ecosystem services, support wildlife, and ensure planetary health.
Former Palo Mayor Frances Ann Petilla, who currently heads Leyte’s Eastern Visayas Science Centrum, commends Tinker House’s initiative of developing education alternatives that will instill better environmental stewardship among young people.
“They should start by knowing the importance of taking care of the environment so that the knowledge will grow on them,” Petilla said.
Meanwhile, DENR-8 chief of Conservation and Development Division Marissa Solite, expressed support to the project on a more general scope saying sustainable land use practices is one way to reduce environmental impacts.
“We must know how to manage our environment within the context of the greater ecosystems, and in the process promote ecotourism that generates revenue for local communities, while encouraging responsible behaviors,” Solite said.
The Forest Echoes Project has high hopes it will empower children and communities to take an active role in environmental sustainability. (JKPA/PIA Leyte)
