Mangrove Conservation in Macao SAR, China: The Role of Environmental Education among School Students

Resource type
Authors/contributors
Title
Mangrove Conservation in Macao SAR, China: The Role of Environmental Education among School Students
Abstract
Mangrove forests are one of the most ecologically valuable ecosystems in the world and provide a wide variety of ecosystem services to coastal communities, including cities. Macao, a highly urbanized coastal city located on the southern coast of China west of the Pearl River, is home to several species of mangroves with many associated flora and fauna. Mangrove forests in Macao are vulnerable to threats due to pressure from rapid and massive urban developments in the area, which led to mangrove loss in the past decades. To address this issue, the local authorities established special Ecological Zones for the management of the local mangroves. To reinforce local conservation efforts, educating the local population about the value of mangroves, especially school students, is of utmost importance. To evaluate the impact of environmental education activities on the environmental orientation, knowledge, and values of students toward mangrove conservation in Macao, a quasi-experimental study was undertaken. The effectiveness of a mangroves exhibition and field visit were evaluated using the New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) Scale—Macao version in a group of local school students who participated in the activities. Overall, the results provided consistently positive evaluations of the impact of the environmental education program. The strongest improvements were found in the students’ pro-environmental orientations, knowledge about mangroves, and value for environmental protection.
Publication
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume
19
Issue
6
Pages
3147
Date
2022/1
Language
en
DOI
10.3390/ijerph19063147
ISSN
1660-4601
Short Title
Mangrove Conservation in Macao SAR, China
Accessed
3/14/23, 7:48 PM
Library Catalog
Extra
0 citations (Crossref) [2023-03-15] Number: 6 Publisher: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Citation
Tagulao, K. A., Bernardo, A. B. I., Kei, L. H., & Calheiros, C. S. C. (2022). Mangrove Conservation in Macao SAR, China: The Role of Environmental Education among School Students. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(6), 3147. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063147