Biodiversity-Strategy-January-2023

36 Connecting people to nature is key to the delivery of the Council’s Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, along with wider biodiversity targets nationally and internationally. Learning about local wildlife and gaining skills in conservation empowers people to work together, and getting a wide range of people involved will foster a fundamental understanding of why action is required to benefit current and future generations. “Education is essential for the sustainable and equitable use of biodiversity and its conservation. It is also crucial for mainstreaming biodiversity…Lack of awareness of biodiversity and its importance is common, with biodiversity sometimes perceived as a resource to be exploited, for example through unsustainable logging or poaching of wild animals. Communication on biodiversity is a crucial issue that must be addressed to achieve the objectives of the SDGs and the CBD .” 7 (UNESCO, 2021) Biodiversity Education at Schools The Council already delivers biodiversity education to local schools through the Biodiversity Team, Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark staff and the Marble Arch Caves Team. The service offered to schools by the Council Biodiversity Team is seasonal and the number of sessions delivered annually is dependent on staff availability. However, in a normal year, Council delivers workshops on pollinators, autumn and hibernation, and winter wildlife to over 60 schools and 1000+ pupils. The Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark and Marble Arch Caves staff provide a range of formal education opportunities and initiatives for school children and young people throughout the year, focusing on a range of environmental issues, including biodiversity and geodiversity. 7 UNESCO (2021) UNESCO’s Commitment to Biodiversity: Education and Awareness. https://en.unesco.org/themes/biodiversity/ education. Accessed 12/10/2021 Delivering a pollinator workshop at a local primary school. 9.5 Theme 5: Education and Outreach