The Enviro-Spellathon was launched yesterday by Sheikh Montaser bin Khalid Al Qasimi, Board Chairman of the Environmental Protection and Industrial Development Authority.
The programme instills environmental behaviour, encouraging conservation amongst sch-oolchildren. It is the biggest environmental awareness campaign to be implemented in schools here.
Majid Al Mansouri, Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency Secretary General, told a press conference: "Looking back on the past year, we can all be proud of the overwhelming success of the Enviro-Spellathon since its inception in 2001 and implementation in early 2002.
"By attracting 300 schools in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region with around 45,000 students participating, the programme has proved to be a unique educational opportunity to improve students' academic abilities. It is also a wonderful chance for them to learn about the UAE environment."
Following the programme's huge success last year and encouraging feedback, the agency has added two more levels this year: one on waste and another on water. There are four other levels covering bio-diversity in the UAE, launched during the first Enviro-Spellathon.
"This year, the programme will cover 125,000 schoolchildren in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah."
Al Mansouri praised Dubai Municipality, the Environmental and Protected Areas Authority in Sharjah, and the EPIDA in Ras Al Khaimah for helping implement the project in their emirates.
Captain Ibrahim Ahmed Al Tunaiji, EPIDA Executive Director, said: "Creating awareness among future generations about the biological diversity of their land will inspire them to find out more and encourage them to protect nature.
"We are confident that the programme will make children aware of nature conservation through simple steps while motivating them via fun tests to absorb information. Teachers, children and parents will experience the joy of reading and learning through the programme."
The Enviro-Spellathon was conceived by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in Hong Kong and first implemented in 1986 in Pakistan, where it was a tremendous success.
Developed for the UAE by ERWDA in 2001, the programme teaches children about the country's wildlife and nature, encouraging them to read and improve their knowledge about the environment.
Dr Frederic Launay, WWF Director, said: "When the WWF chose the UAE to establish its permanent presence in the Middle East, it brought with it its global mission to stop and eventually reverse the degradation of our planet's natural environment and build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.
"In line with our international conservation priorities, we are focusing on the protection of key species and ecosystems in the country while operating through governmental and non-governmental organisations.
"Enviro-Spellathon initiates the introduction of environmental literature in schools across the country. It constitutes an excellent medium that helps raise environmental awareness among students from an early age, and grows with the child, the student's comprehension increasing with each level."
He said the programme works at six levels, targetting students between six and 12. The themes of six booklets developed for the programme vary with the level and incorporate waste, water and wildlife.
Every child receives a booklet which contains lists of words or passages with attractive images of animals and plants and environmental information.Stu-dents are given two weeks to study the contents after which the coordinating teacher of each school takes a test. Certificates and gifts are given to the participants.
Abdullah Hamad, Deputy Director of the Ras Al Khaimah Educational Zone for Educational Affairs, said one of the key requirements to build environmental awareness is to make each student look at things, including his own environment, critically.
Gulf News 2003
