Impacts of environmental education on conservation practices

The study area is located in southwestern Uganda at the junction of the plain and mountain forests around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park(BINP). It lies in the Kigezi Highlands of southwestern Uganda overlooking the western rift valley, within the District of Kanungu. In this study, I assessed the local communities’ awareness of environmental issues, their attitudes towards the ongoing environmental education and evaluated the perceived impacts of environmental education towards conservation practices in the communities around BINP. Four parishes were selected because they were adjacent to the park and most targeted by organizations carrying out environmental education A total of 130 respondents were included in the sample using systematic and purposive sampling techniques. These comprised of household heads, officials of Nongovernmental organizations NGOs)and Uganda Wildlife Authority staff. Questionnaires, Direct observation and photography, focus group discussions plus other secondary sources were used to obtain the data.