By our Correspondence, Tanga
Tanzania’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism has intensified efforts to promote wildlife conservation and safety awareness among young people, rolling out education programs in schools in Handeni District, Tanga Region.
A team of experts from the Wildlife Department, working alongside the Ministry’s Communications department, conducted outreach sessions at Mzeri Primary School and Misima Secondary School, focusing on human-wildlife conflict and environmental conservation.
Speaking during the sessions, team leader Nassor Wawa said targeting young learners is key to building a long-term conservation culture.
“Providing education at an early age helps instill lasting values of environmental protection and ensures the knowledge is sustained within communities,” he said.
Wawa added that informed students can play a crucial role in spreading awareness beyond the classroom, helping educate parents and the wider community on how to safely coexist with dangerous and destructive wildlife.
Students and teachers who participated in the program welcomed the initiative, saying it had enhanced their understanding of how to respond to encounters with wild animals and the importance of protecting natural ecosystems.
They also called on the government to sustain and expand such initiatives, particularly in communities located near national parks, where human-wildlife interactions are more frequent.
The program forms part of ongoing efforts by the government to equip communities especially young people with practical knowledge and skills to mitigate wildlife-related risks while promoting conservation.
