Environmental training workshop for monks and nuns

Learning how to manage their local environment

About twenty three monks and five nuns from 21 monastic schools and institutions from across the country took part in a week long environmental training organized by Education & Advocacy Program of RSPN.

The purpose of the training was to:

• orient the monks and nuns on the concept of environmental education
• provide hands on training on environment related activities
• build capacities of monks and nuns to manage environmental activities in the monastic schools and institutions

The training program was specifically prepared for monks and nuns to make them
 understand the concepts of environmental education and as well as to provide them with knowledge and skills which they would utilize to carry out environmental activities in their places.

Through video shows and poster displays, the participants were made aware of the broad global environmental issues and its consequences on human lives and livelihoods. The national and local environmental issues and its effects on the Bhutanese lives and livelihoods were also discussed.  

Much of the time was spent in the field with practical exercises. From landscape development to flower garden preparation and the right methods of planting trees were some of the activities that monks and nuns spent time on. “No wonder that the trees we planted never survives as we did it differently, but now I know the right techniques of planting trees and I hope that trees we plant will survive” lopon Gembo Dorji commented. “I have lots of interest in flower garden and I am sure that with the knowledge that I got from this training, I can improve the outlook of my Shedra” ani Tshering Pelmo said. Water as one of the major concerns raised by the participants, water harvesting, water source protections and SODIS techniques to address drinking water problems were conducted.

The participant’s representative expressed their sincere gratitude to RSPN for such an eye opening program. He pointed out that without such program, their understanding about the environmental conservation would be very limited and as such their contribution would be very minimum. Now that they are equipped with knowledge and skills, they committed that they will do their best to contribute in the conservation of our environment in general and their respective monastic institutions in particular.

Reported by Ugyen Lhendup, RSPN