Assignment 1 2025
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Due Date: 23 April 2025
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, QUESTION 1
1.1
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural
Resources) defines environmental education as:
“The process of recognising values and clarifying concepts in order to develop
skills and attitudes necessary to understand and appreciate the
interrelatedness among man, his culture and his biophysical surroundings.
Environmental education also entails practice in decision-making and self-
formulation of a code of behaviour about issues concerning environmental
quality.”
This definition emphasises not only the acquisition of knowledge but also the
development of positive attitudes, values and practical decision-making skills
to address environmental issues.
1.2
The evolution from nature studies to environmental education occurred
through several significant stages. Initially, in the late 19th and early 20th
centuries, there was a strong focus on nature studies, where learners were
encouraged to explore, appreciate, and experience the natural environment
through outdoor education. This was followed by conservation education,
which emerged in response to increasing concerns about biodiversity loss and
the degradation of ecosystems. Conservation education centred on protecting
flora and fauna, especially through the establishment of wildlife reserves and
parks.
However, as industrialisation progressed and negative human impacts on the
environment intensified, a broader awareness developed that environmental
problems were deeply interconnected with social, political, and economic
systems. This led to the emergence of environmental education in the mid-
20th century as a response to global environmental crises. Environmental
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