For Immediate Release 8 October 2009

Kasongan (08/10)–In a public consultation meeting, several institutions for instance Education Office, The Environment Agency, teachers (including the headmasters in Katingan), and other practicioners were gathered to have further discussion regarding local content of environmental education. The event held in the hall of Regional Development Planning Agency of Katingan was opened by Katingan Regent, Duwel Rawing who also gave a keynote speech.
Aiming at promoting vission and mission of the local government to deliver environmental values through education sector, WWF-Indonesia in Central Kalimantan has been working with Katingan Education Office and Katingan Environment Agency to conduct series of activities to compose environment local content for Elemntary Students in Katingan Regency. The meeting attended by teachers from both elementary and high schools was the grand activity conducted by Compiler Team. The team will present compiling stages, the content and guidance of local content implementation. Two days before before the presentation (06-07 October 2009) a training had been conducted for Compiler Team of Katingan's Local Content Curriculum.

Rosenda Chandra Kasih, Site Coordinator of WWF-Indonesia in Central Kalimantan said,""As local government partners who have great concern regarding environment, we initiated and took part in an effort for reducing environment through conservation. One of the activities is promoting environmental education at the beginner level or children."" Environmental education plays a great role to improve awareness and capacity building for local community so they will be able to protect and develop good environment and prevent environmental problems.
 
It is expected that in the future, WWF-Indonesia and Katingan Local Government will be able to go at assistance stage for eco-friendly pilot schools or Green Schools. ""Before we go at that process, a public consultation and socialization activities for introducing local content book that has been compiled by teachers in Katingan need to be conducted. A comprehensive book discussion by presenting teachers and practicioners and Book Compiler Team,"" Rocenda Chandra Kasih continued.
For more information, contact:
Drs. Hariadi T. Samat, Head of Katingan Education Office
Rosenda Chandra Kasih, Site Coordinator, WWF-Indonesia, Central Kalimantan
email rkasih@wwf.or.id, cellphone: 0811529533
Rini Andriani, Environmental Education, WWF-Indonesia
email randriani@wwf.or.id, cellphone: 0812 9187775
Note to Editors:
About Environmental Education
EE is a life-time process of encouraging people to seek, ask questions, do research concerning environmental issues and find solutions for interrelated social and environmental issues. (NAAEE– North American Association for Environmental Education).
Environmental Education aims to help develop people's skill. Therefore, they can actively take part to achieve the mission.
Since 1995, EE unit has become one of WWF work program. As a part of WWF-Indonesia communication activities, EE is considered as one of primary activities in communication division since EE increases people awareness and knowledge regarding environmental issues. In the end, people expected to prepare theirselves to develop skill for decision making and take part in the action of “saving the earth.""

The initial of EE activities is to improve awareness through electronic and printed media, continue with shaping people’s behaviour that sides with environmental sustainability through formal and informal education conducted at schools or community groups.
About WWF
For more than 45 years, WWF has been protecting the future of nature. The largest multinational conservation organization in the world, WWF works in 100 countries and is supported by 1.2 million members in the United States and close to 5 million globally. WWF's unique way of working combines global reach with a foundation in science, involves action at every level, from local to global, and ensures the delivery of innovative solutions that meet the needs of both people and nature.

Go to http://www.panda.org/ to learn more; wwf-indonesia website http://www.wwf.id/ WWF-Indonesia supporters website http://www.supporterwwf.org/.
WWF-Indonesia and Heart of Borneo: http://www.wwf.or.id/HeartofBorneo  atau http://www.wwf.or.id/JantungKalimantan
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