| December 20th, 2024 | News

On November 21 and 22, 2024, training sessions for biology and geography teachers were held in the Ton, Ak-Suu, and Jeti-Oguz districts in Issyk-Kul Oblast, as well as Naryn District in Naryn Oblast (Kyrgyzstan). The trainings explored new ways to teach students about rangeland conservation and biodiversity, organized by CAMP Alatoo.

The primary focus of the training was how to teach school-age children about conservation of migratory mammals through sustainable rangeland management. In order to help both teachers and students see how this important topic applies in a more familiar way, CAMP Alatoo used an interactive approach.

Teachers were invited to participate in a game called “Pasture Management,” developed by specialists from CAMP Alatoo and designed to simulate decisions herders have to make each season. As teachers learned more about the role of rangelands in maintaining healthy ecosystems, the impact of human activities and a changing climate, and methods for determining grazing pressure, they were also having fun! This is similar to the snow leopard game used in the transboundary workshop held earlier this year.

During the game, participants assumed the roles of herders who manage seasonal pastures, livestock, and a small initial capital. In this scenario, they had to find ways to both improve their farms and preserve nature. This allows participants to engage in real-world decision-making processes and to see the consequences of their decisions in a low-stakes environment.

Throughout the game, players can choose to develop alternative sources of income to livestock, such as dairy production, beekeeping, or medicinal herb gathering. But rangelands are shared spaces, and players can’t forget about collective efforts either. They can be rewarded for channeling resources towards improving rangeland infrastructure, organising veterinary services, and training shepherds.

The game helped participants see how overgrazing leads to rangeland degradation and lower income by speeding up time, while also highlighting how finding more sustainable solutions works not only for local communities but also for biodiversity conservation. Now that teachers have played and understand the science behind rangeland management, they walk students through the game in their classrooms.

The interactive methods were not limited to the game, however. Facilitators from CAMP Alatoo also walked teachers through brainstorming exercises and further discussions to help teachers to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of rangelands as a vital natural resource.

The training marked an important step in increasing the environmental literacy of teachers and integrating the principles of sustainable rangeland management into the educational curriculum in Kyrgyzstan.

2026 will mark the UN designated International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP), but CAMP Alatoo works tirelessly every year to preserve these unique natural and cultural landscapes! Find them on Facebook (CampAlatoo) and Instragram (@campalatoo) and follow for more updates.