UNIVERSITY OF SAINT LOUIS TUGUEGARAO

Tuguegarao City

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION, CRIMINOLOGY, ARTS and PSYCHOLOGY

Short Term
A.Y. 2024-2025

NSTP 1013 – NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM

(Civic Welfare Training Service)

Prepared by:

NSTP-1 Course Instructors

Reviewed by:

WILSON P. LANGCAY JR., MST

ANTHONY P, ANGELES, MST
RAY T. OBISPO, Ph.D
NSTP Coordinator

Approved by:

LUISA B. AQUINO, Ed.D.

Vice President for Academics

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 LOUISIAN PRAYER

O God, wellspring of goodness and blessings, we give you thanks and praise as one Louisian community. The
graces You incessantly grant upon us and Your divine providence have sustained our beloved University
throughout the years of mission and excellence.

Having been founded by the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, we pray that You keep us committed
and dedicated to our mission and identity to serve the Church and the society as we become living witnesses to
the Gospel values proclaimed by Jesus. For if we are steadfast in our good and beautiful mission, our works will
bring success not only to ourselves but also to those whom we are bound to love and serve.

Inspired by St. Louis our Patron Saint, who was filled with a noble spirit that stirred him to love You above all
things, may we also live believing that we are born for a greater purpose and mission as we dwell in Your
presence all the days of our life.

Grant all these supplications through the intercession of Mother Mary and through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

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 NSTP 1013 – NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM 1 (CWTS)
MODULE 4: THE ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY:The Push towards Environmental Education

Topics: a. Importance of Environmental Education

b. The Philippines and the Environment
c. The Effect and Impact of Climate Change
d. Environmental Protection: Individual and Nationwide Initiative

Learning Outcomes: At the end of this module, you are expected to:

a. show appreciation of the importance of Environmental Education;

b. increase public awareness and knowledge of environmental issues; and
c. contribute to the preservation of the environment.

LEARNING CONTENT

In recent years, the importance of

environmental education has gained
significant recognition worldwide. As we
face unprecedented environmental
challenges such as climate change,
biodiversity loss, and pollution, it
becomes imperative to equip individuals
and communities with the knowledge,
skills, and attitudes necessary to
address these issues effectively.
Environmental education aims to foster
a deeper understanding of
environmental systems, promote
sustainable practices, and inspire
stewardship of the natural world.

This module on environmental education is designed to provide learners with a comprehensive overview of the
field, highlighting its critical role in fostering sustainable development and environmental stewardship. We will
explore the historical evolution of environmental education, its core principles, and the various pedagogical
approaches used to engage diverse audiences. Through this exploration, learners will gain insights into the
interconnectedness of human and ecological systems, the significance of environmental ethics, and the practical
strategies for promoting sustainability in everyday life.

By engaging with this module, learners will be empowered to become informed and active participants in the
global effort to create a more sustainable and equitable future. Whether you are an educator, student,
policymaker, or concerned citizen, the knowledge and skills gained through this module will enable you to
contribute meaningfully to environmental conservation and sustainability initiatives. Together, we can work
towards a healthier planet for current and future generations.

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Lesson Proper:

WHY IS THE ENVIRONMENT IMPORTANT?

 Interconnectedness/ Interdependence. Our life-

support system's health is maintained by all the species
that make-up the biosphere—from the smallest to the
largest (our biodiversity). The survival of all these
species is interconnected and dependent on each other.
Bacteria and insects break down organic material to
produce soil and nutrients so plants can grow. Plants
provide oxygen and food for animals and many other
benefits. Bees, other insects, and animals pollinate the
plants so they can reproduce and keep the cycle going.
They also maintain the health of plants and spread their
seeds. The actual processes that take place between
species and the environment are extremely complex
and vulnerable. If humanity causes the extinction of one
species—it's really the extinction of many species and
the decline of our life-support system for ourselves and
future generation.

 Source of raw materials. Technically, what man

consumes and uses to survive and live depend highly
its raw materials from the natural environment.

 Aesthetic value. Nature provides a sense of recreation for

family and friends. Going to the park, outing in a beach,
climbing to the mountain provide aesthetic value to human
beings.
 Environmental Rage/ Destruction. These refer to the recent
atrocities experienced by countless humans as a result of
denuded mountains, logging, slash and burn. These are
indeed alarming and posit the thought whether we are secured
from any potential harms/ threats when natural disasters take
place. We may be safe from any military warfare but the rage
of the environment seems so inevitable and we don’t know
whether we are capable of protecting ourselves when the
environment turns its back from humanity.

THE NEED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Environmental education increases public awareness and knowledge

about environmental issues or problems. In doing so, it provides the
public with the necessary skills to make informed decisions and take
responsible action.
It refers to organized efforts to teach about how natural environments
function and, particularly, how human beings can manage their
behavior and ecosystems in order to live sustainably. The term is often
used to imply education within the school system, from primary to

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tertiary level. However, it is sometimes used more broadly to include all efforts to educate the public and other
audiences, including print materials, websites, media campaigns, etc.

Environmental education is a learning process that increases people’s knowledge and awareness about the
environment and associated challenges, develops the necessary skills and expertise to address the challenges,
and fosters attitudes, motivations, and commitments to make informed decisions and take responsible action
(UNESCO, Tbilisi Declaration, 1978).

Environmental education enhances critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective decision-making skills, and
teaches individuals to weigh various sides of an environmental issue to make informed and responsible
decisions. Environmental education does not advocate a particular viewpoint or course of action.

THE COMPONENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

1. Awareness. To help social groups and individuals acquire an awareness of and sensitivity to the total
environment and its allied problems.
2. Knowledge. To help social groups and individuals gain a variety of experience in and acquire basic
understanding of, the environment and its associated problems.
3. Attitudes. To help social groups and individuals acquire a set of values and feelings of concern for the
environment and the motivation for actively participating in environmental improvement and protection.
4. Skills. To help social groups and individuals acquire the skills for identifying and solving environmental
problems.
5. Participation. To provide social groups and individuals with an opportunity to be actively involved at all
levels in working towards the solution of environmental problems.

BASIC CONCEPTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

1. The ecosystem is the basic unit of the ecospheres in which living things interact with the physical
components and are interdependent with one another.
2. Most of our energy originates from the sun and flows through an ecosystem some being lost at each step
till all available energy is gone. Hence the need for the conservation of energy. Materials are continuously
cycled and recycled within and among ecosystems. As a result, in the natural cyclic system nothing is
wasted. When people introduce artificial systems such as industrial processes, wastes are produced
pollution occurs and moves from one natural cycle to another.
3. An ecosystem has a carrying capacity, that is, the ability to support a given number of each species in it.
If the components of the system are interfered with, then population stability will not be maintained.
4. People are part and parcel of the environment yet they have the greatest capability of altering the
ecosystems by activities that reduce its ability to support life. The technology that they have devised to
help them exploit nature can either be used to deteriorate or enhance the ecosystems.
5. The survival of mankind as a species depends on harmonizing their activities with the ecosystem
processes. This can be achieved by developing a moral and ethical responsibility towards the
environment.

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 ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

According to Frontiers 2018/19: Emerging Issues of

Environmental Concern (UN Environment 2019), there is an
alarming concern with respect to balancing the need for
advancement and environmental preservation.

In today’s era of globalization, we are faced with a lot of societal

upheavals including dilemmas pertaining to the environment.
Rogayan (2019) reiterated that the earth is now suffering from
innumerable afflictions at present caused by egregious human
activities that relentlessly denuding the environment. The
challenge for everybody is to take the wheel of action and move
towards a common cause in preserving life on earth.

The Education for Sustainable Development of the United

Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) reiterates that education is an indispensable tool
towards sustainable development. Environmental education is a
process aimed at developing a world population that is aware of
and concerned about the total environment and its associated
problems and which has the knowledge, attitudes, commitments
and skills to work individually and collectively towards the
solution of current problems and prevention of new ones (Jain
& Raghunathan as cited in Puri & Joshi, 2017).

Different countries in the world continue to develop active

environmentalism among the students and among the people in
general. India, for one, has become one of the fastest
progressing countries in the world, in addressing its
environmental issues and improving its environmental quality.
The environmental problems have become issues of great
concern to many parties. However, many people in Ethiopia
seem to have low level of knowledge about environmental
problems (Hailu, 2016). In Turkey, the level of high school
students’ environmental awareness is high as revealed by one
study (Anilan, 2014). The level of environmental awareness and
practices on recycling of solid wastes in one university campus
in Malaysia was likewise gauged.

In the Philippines, the Department of Education (DepEd), the

Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), in
coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR), the Department of Science and Technology
(DOST) and other relevant agencies, in consultation with
experts on the environment and the academe, lead the implementation of public education and awareness
programs on environmental protection and conservation through collaborative interagency and multi-sectoral
effort at all levels (RA 9512, 2008).

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Furthermore, one of the objectives of the Science education in the Philippines is to develop students who are
environmentally-conscious and ecological-friendly. The month of June of each year is declared as the Philippine
Environment Month by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 237 signed in 1998 by then President Corazon C.
Aquino. During the celebration, various important events are being celebrated such as the World Environment
Day on June 5, Philippine Eagle Week on June 4-10 and Philippine Arbor Day on June 25 (Department of
Environment and Natural Resources, 2016). People’s awareness has been recognized as a powerful tool in
environmental sphere. Information through education has an important impact to alter behavior.

PHILIPPINES AND THE ENVIRONMENT

As cited in the Philippine Climate Change Commission Report, major institutions have provided their projections
about the country’s environmental condition; here are some.

1. Major Rainfall changes in patterns and distribution

2. Threats to natural ecosystem
3. Dying corals
4. More intense droughts
5. Higher sea level rise
6. Water scarcity

CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change is a change in the statistical distribution of

weather over periods of time that range from decades to millions
of years. It can be a change in the average weather or a change
in the distribution of weather events around an average (for
example, greater or fewer extreme weather events). Climate
change may be limited to a specific region, or may occur across
the whole Earth.

WHAT MAKES THE CLIMATE CHANGE?

The Earth‘s climate is influenced by many factors, mainly

by the amount of energy coming from the sun, but also by
factors such as the amount of greenhouse gases and
aerosols in the atmosphere, and the properties of the
Earth‘s surface, which determine how much of this solar
energy is retained or reflected back to space.

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HUMAN CONTRIBUTION TO CLIMATE CHANGE

All of us in our daily lives contribute our bit to this change in the climate. Give these points a good, serious
thought:

o Electricity is the main source of power in urban areas. All our gadgets run on electricity generated mainly
from thermal power plants. These thermal power plants are run on fossil fuels (mostly coal) and are
responsible for the emission of huge amounts of greenhouse gases and other pollutants.
o Cars, buses, and trucks are the principal ways by which goods and people are transported in most of our
cities. These are run mainly on petrol or diesel, both fossil fuels.
o We generate large quantities of waste in the form of plastics that remain in the environment for many
years and cause damage.
o We use a huge quantity of paper in our work at schools and in offices.
o Timber is used in large quantities for construction of houses, which means that large areas of forest have
to be cut down. A growing population has meant more and more mouths to feed. Because the land area
available for agriculture is limited (and in fact, is actually shrinking as a result of ecological degradation!),
high-yielding varieties of crop are being grown to increase the agricultural output from a given area of
land. However, such high-yielding varieties of crops require large quantities of fertilizers; and more
fertilizer means more emissions of nitrous oxide, both from the field into which it is put and the fertilizer
industry that makes it. Pollution also results from the run-off of fertilizer into water bodies.

WHAT IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE HAVE ALREADY BEEN OBSERVED?

Regional climate change is already affecting many natural systems. For instance, it is increasingly being
observed that snow and ice are melting and frozen ground is thawing, hydrological and biological systems are
changing and in some cases being disrupted, migrations are starting earlier, and species' geographic ranges are
shifting towards the poles.

Despite remaining gaps in knowledge, it is likely that these effects are linked to human influence on climate. At
the regional level, however, responses to natural variability are difficult to separate from the effects of climate
change. Some previously unanticipated impacts of regional climate change are just starting to become apparent.
For instance, melting glaciers can threaten mountain settlements and water resources, and damage associated
with coastal flooding are increasing.

HOW DO PEOPLE ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE?

 Humans need to adapt to the impacts of climate change, for instance through technological
solutions such as coastal defenses and changes in consumption habits.
 Vulnerability of human populations to climate change and its consequences can be affected
by other factors, such as pollution, conflicts, or epidemics such as AIDS. An emphasis on
sustainable development can help human societies reduce their vulnerability to climate
change.
 Mitigation measures that aim to reduce greenhouse gases emissions can help avoid, reduce
or delay impacts, and should be implemented in order to ensure that adaptation capacity is
not exceeded.

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SEVEN ENVIRONMENTAL PRINCIPLES

1. Everything is connected to everything else. (Ang lahat ng bagay ay magkakaugnay.) Human interaction
with nature oftentimes alters the ecosystems. The waste we improperly dispose of brings about the deterioration
of land and water quality. This may in turn reduce their capacity to provide life for other organisms. Deforestation
causes soil erosion and the earth deposited on the water bodies covers the coral reefs resulting to fishery loss.
Suspended particulates from vehicular and stationary sources may cause lung problems among city residents.
War causes destruction of wildlife and habitats. There is a cause and effect chain, even when it is neither always
visible nor observable.

2. All forms of life are important. (Ang lahat na may buhay ay mahalaga.) All living organisms were created
for a purpose in relation to humans, other species on earth and global ecosystem in general. Thus, when a
species becomes extinct, it is like removing a piece of a jigsaw puzzle from the web of life. The variety of life
forms, manifested by the different levels of biological diversity – community, species, and genes – contributes to
the stability of the environment. Food webs, food chains and ecological relationships link plants and animals
together in the web of life. Even bacteria, insects, snakes, and rats have ecological functions even though
humans perceive them as parasites or pests. The composition of biological diversity naturally changes slowly
but the rate of transition has become faster due to factors such as habitat destruction. Deforestation may diminish
forest species such as birds that are vulnerable to modification of their home. Pollution of waters reduces the
quantity of fishes, shells, algae and other aquatic life. Over harvesting of natural products likewise contributes to
the unsustainable use of food and material resources. To maintain ecological balance, therefore, the
conservation of genes, species and ecosystems becomes essential to keep life together. Biodiversity
conservation strategies commence with the protection of both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Land uses,
such as protected areas, ensure that the natural state of these habitats continue to exist in designated areas.
Community-based approaches in conservation maximize citizens’ participation in protected areas. Integrity of
natural ecosystems can likewise be guarded through the preservation of indigenous species.

3. Everything must go somewhere. (Ang lahat ng bagay ay may patutunguhan.) By-products of consumption
go back to the environment. Everything that we throw away – pieces of paper, left-over food, peelings of fruits,
plastic wrappers, used containers – have to go somewhere. Even plants and animals have their own wastes –
feces, urine, dead leaves, and branches. It is the law of nature that the by-products of metabolism return to the
soil, acted upon first by worms, bacteria, and fungi, and then converted into minerals, to be again absorbed by
plants and eaten by animals. In short, they enter into a material cycle that is an integral part of the ecosystem.
But what happens if what we throw is an artificial product such as plastic? Then natural bacteria can not
recognize them and may not be capable of breaking them apart. These non-biodegradable products must enter
another material cycle – the one that goes to the factory to be manufactured into a new product. Thus, the
retrieval, collection and recycling of these materials become necessary so that they do not pollute land and water
habitats.

4. Ours is a finite earth. (Ang kalikasan ay may hangganan.) Everything that we need is provided by nature in
abundance – food, water, energy, minerals, and air. However, some resources that we depend upon nowadays
are extracted excessively but are slow to replace. These non-renewable resources experience limits of supply.
For instance, fossil fuels produced over thousands of years may be exhausted in a hundred years. Some energy
sources like water, and wood may be replaced easier but have become inaccessible due to pollution and
excessive extraction. Diminishing forest cover have resulted from logging, ineffective reforestation, and
continued land conversion. However, food scarcity and poverty may have resulted from failed distribution
systems rather than inability of the land and water bodies to yield food. It can be argued that increasing population
decreases the amount of resources available to each person. Carrying capacity, or the ability of the ecosystem
to support a number of people, may be influenced by limit of resources due to an increasing population.
Competition increases as the carrying capacity is reached. Per capita consumption must also be considered

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because people in Northern countries generally consume more food, energy and resources than people in the
developing Southern countries. Carrying capacity may be addressed two ways: increase resources and reduce
population growth. Agricultural productivity for instance may be increased with better availability of water and
farm inputs. Pollution reduces the absorbing capacity of air and water. Pollution likewise reduces the availability
of land and water to produce food for human consumption. A river classified a Class IV means that it becomes
fit only for only for navigation and can no longer sustain life forms. Likewise, oil spills from accidents or war
destroy bays and rivers. Waterways that have become cesspool of domestic wastes cannot contain fishes and
shells or if they do might transmit toxins and harmful bacteria to consumers.

5. Nature knows best. (Ang kalikasan ang mas nakakaalam.) Nature manifests certain processes that enable
it to maintain balance and remain in a state of equilibrium. The nutrient cycling of nitrogen, carbon, sulfur and
phosphorous in the air, water and land indicates that minerals are utilized within the confines of the earth. The
flow of energy from the sun enables light to be converted into sugar in plants through photosynthesis, and later
for consumer organisms to obtain energy from plant starch. Food chains and food webs allow transfer of energy
from producers and consumers and provide the means for all living organisms to acquire nutrition. Population
control also occurs naturally through predator – prey relationships. The equilibrium in the ecosystem is
maintained, thus if humans intervene, unforeseen negative impacts known as ecological backlash, may arise.
Floods are often times backlashes of excessive felling of trees. The importation of golden kuhol, that became a
pest, reminds us that biological organisms may not acclimatize in a new environment or may cause harm to
indigenous species.

6. Nature is beautiful and we are stewards of God’s creation. (Ang kalikasan ay maganda at tayo ang
tagapangasiwa ng lahat na nilikha ng Diyos.) Different religions from Islam to Buddhism to Judeo-Christian to
indigenous people’s animism express the belief of caring for the earth, including all creatures. Thus it is the goal
of environmental education and biodiversity conservation education to motivate target audiences towards
developing an eco-spirituality that moves them into a more meaningful relationship with nature and a greater
participation in the biophysical economic processes that make this world a better place to live in.

7. Everything changes. (Ang lahat ay nagbabago.) Changes in the biophysical world occur naturally. As they
say, there is nothing more permanent in this world than change. Consider the following examples.
Metamorphosis of caterpillars to butterflies illustrates morphological changes that occur in living forms. The
increase of vegetation on earth augmented the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere through time. Seasons are
cyclic changes that contribute to the diversity of flowers, fruits, vegetables and other crops during the year.
Random changes manifested by natural catastrophe such as typhoons destroy forests, coral reefs and
mangroves. Volcanic eruptions annihilate surface flora and submerge rivers. Human-induced alteration such as
climate change may cause more massive repercussions. Land use change – from forests to agricultural land to
human settlements – change the composition of vegetation and animals. Human-induced changes can be
managed so that the negative impacts are minimized and positive changes accentuated. Environmental impact
assessment (EIA) provides a tool for the projection, planning and management of change brought about by
industrialization and human settlement expansion. Effluents can be managed through policy and pollution control
techniques by both industry and government to achieve clean air and water Sustainable development presents
a paradigm of change for the 21st Century. Sustainable development promotes ecological integrity, equitable
sharing of resources and people empowerment as pillars of growth. Biodiversity conservation contributes to
ecological integrity, through both in-situ and ex-situ techniques. Biodiversity conservation becomes successful
only if coupled with poverty alleviation, improving equity of access to resources, and instituting social change.
Environmental education facilitates social transformation by modifying attitudes and behavior of people towards
an ecological ethic.

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 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: INDIVIDUAL INITIATIVE

A. House & Garden

 Grow your own food.
 Redecorate with Eco-products.
 Buy energy-efficient appliances.
 Reduce your electricity use.
B. Water Conservation
 Take short showers and share
bathwater.
 Pollute less.
 Turn off taps properly.
 Fix dripping taps.
 Use appliances efficiently.
C. Transportation
 Use a bike.
 Walk short distances rather
than drive.
 Use public transportation or
carpool for long trips.
 Consolidate your trips
 Research biodiesel.
 Research energy efficient, electric, hybrid and diesel engines when buying a new car, motorbike, or
scooter.
D. Community
 Knowledge is power.
 E-mail relevant articles to your friends and family to get them up to speed about global warming.
 Write to your local council to ask for environmentally minded services such as recycling collection.
 Educate yourself, you family, your friends, and everyone you meet.

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 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: NATIONWIDE INITIATIVE (GOOD PRACTICES)

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