Promoting Frog Conservation Through Environmental Education and Research Experience: Pilot Project in West Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Most people in Indonesia have very little awareness of the need to conserve amphibians and reptiles. The aim of this project was to promote frog conservation for school children in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia. Five local schools (three primary schools, one junior school and one high school) participated in this program. The main objective of this program was to foster schoolchildren's understanding about the importance of frog conserva~on. This program consists d two phases: (a) a survey to reveal schoolchildrens' perceptions of frogs, and (b) a campaign to increase awareness of the economic and ecological importance of frogs, and the need to conserve them. We developed frog campaign material, such as slide shows and printed notes, to be used during the pilot awareness project. A three-day workshop for nine teachers from five participating schools was also conducted. This workshop introduced teachers to the diversity, natural history, status, and conservation of Indonesian frogs. To increase the interest in research activity involving frogs by more motivated high school students, five students were involved in field work in the river systems of Cilember Forest Reserve, West Java. Keywords: children perception; education outreach; frog conservation; Indonesia