NGOs are very important agents of change as far as environmental education is concerned. NGOs also provide a very valuable channel for feedback. No government can achieve concrete results if its policies and programmes are not supported by voluntary agencies.
Role of NGOs in Imparting Environmental Education
The main ways in which voluntary agencies can be helpful in this respect are:
- To aid and advice the Government
- To act as the yes and ears of the Government; and
- To educate the people at large and to create general awareness in favor of conservation.
For Example:
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i) NGOs can constitute a valuable source of information and could be responsible for collection, collation and presentation of such information on an on-going basis to Government agencies.
ii) NGOs can form action groups to help Government Agencies at Central, state, district and village levels in the implementation of Action Plan.
iii) NGOs can act as pressure groups to force action where the political and administrative systems ate inactive or ineffective.
iv) NGOs can advise the Government on the weakness of existing legislation or administration and recommend measures for strengthening or improving these systems or their performance.
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v) NGOs can undertake the education of the general public towards wildlife conservation and play a major role by providing a range of educational and motivational aids as well as participate directly in public education.
vi) Research is another area in which the NGOs can contribute usefully. The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) has been plying an important role in this respect, specially in the field of bird ecology.