Baseet Wildlife Tour: A Case Study in Climate Education and Public Engagement
Tiger Extinction: A Loss for Wildlife, Forests, and Economy:
The tiger used to be a common sight in the forests of Cambodia, but it is now considered an extinct species in the country. The main causes of tiger extinction in Cambodia are poaching, habitat loss, and conflict with humans. Tigers are poached worldwide for their body parts, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine and other illegal wildlife trade.
The extinction of tigers in Cambodia has had a number of negative effects on wildlife and forests. Tigers are apex predators, meaning they play an important role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem. Without tigers, populations of prey animals, such as deer and wild boar, can increase unchecked, which can lead to overgrazing and damage to forest vegetation, The main resource of fresh water and oxygen. The extinction of tigers has also had a negative impact on the economy and tourism, as many people travel to Cambodia to see wildlife, including tigers.
India and Cambodia Partner to Restore Tigers to Cambodia’s Forests:
In 2022, India and Cambodia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to reintroduce tigers to Cambodia. Under the MoU, India will provide technical assistance and training to Cambodia on tiger reintroduction, and will also provide tigers for reintroduction once Cambodia has the necessary infrastructure and expertise in place.
The agreement between India and Cambodia is a significant example of international cooperation in tiger reintroduction. Restoring tigers to Cambodia is a challenging task, but the Cambodian government and conservation organizations are working to establish protected areas and reduce poaching. More needs to be done to ensure a safe and sustainable future for tigers in Cambodia, but this agreement is a significant step in the right direction.
A challenging task, but it is possible with the support of NGOs:
Wildlife Alliance, a global leader in forest and wildlife protection, delivers hands-on direct protection to 1.3 million hectares of the Cardamom Mountains rainforest, one of the last unfragmented rainforests in Southeast Asia. This protection is essential for the survival of tigers, which need large, intact forests to thrive.
Despite valiant efforts by conservation organizations, the original people who live in the forests still snare tigers and other wildlife. This is because they rely on the forest for their livelihood and often see snaring as a way to supplement their income. To create a sustainable future for tigers, wildlife, and forests, we must engage the public and original people in tiger conservation efforts through climate education and public awareness campaigns.
Climate Education Campaign in the Heart of Forests:
Baseet, an award-winning UAE educational-scientific organization, has engaged over 9 million people across the globe with STEM education and climate engagement campaigns. Wildlife Alliance and Baseet organized Wildlife Tour to engage the people of Cambodia with wildlife conservation and inspire them to stop snaring and bushmeat. Wildlife Alliance Baseet Tour included the following activities:
- Baseet created STEM educational resources about Forest’s role in producing 75% of freshwater, and 28% of Oxygen on Earth, and tigers importance for the ecosystem balance.
- Baseet international team trained Wildlife Alliance team and local educators on how to communicate climate science for the public and engage them with climate action.
- Wildlife Alliance team mobilized the public through digital awareness campaigns, and roaming speakers in the villages.
- A series of Climate festivals were held in a number of Cambodian cities, villages and forests; the installations, including tents, exhibitions, booths, and stages were built besides worship houses to attract more people.
- Forest inhabitants were invited to market their local products at the festivals and generate income.
- Beloved Cambodian mega stars were invited to participate in the tour and entertain the attendees with their music and art.
- Wildlife Tour witnessed big participation from ministers, governors, Military officials, and NGOs.
- Attendees carried out hands-on activities and educational projects in the Baseet Time Machine Exhibition.
- Baseet world-class science communicators inspired the audience through Forest Science Shows.
Forest Science Show:
Baseet world-class science communicators presented a breath-taking Science Show including a variety of magical scientific experiments to inspire the audience, demonstrate forests’ role in protecting our planet, and celebrate the return of tigers into the wildlife in Cambodia.
Baseet Forest Science Show not only emphasizes the importance of forests as lungs of the earth but also as the “tape of earth”, as it demonstrates forests’ incredible role in the water cycle. Forests provide our world with 75% of the freshwater, making them the biggest supplier of freshwater on earth. The show also explains forests’ amazing ability to survive and withstand catastrophes such as fires.
Baseet Time Machine Exhibition:
Baseet Time Machine introduces participants to the Ancient Times where humans lived in harmony with nature for ages. They explore the tools and methods of living our ancestors had invented to survive, and realize how different our world looked like with more forests, greenspaces, and animal species living side by side with humans.
Following, They discover the Industrial Ages where many inventions have been introduced to facilitate human lives, save their time, energy and effort. However, at the same time, pollution increased, climate crisis emerged, forests and greenspaces were wiped out to build factories and houses, and many wild animals went extinct.
Finally, with the Future Age, attendees discover how to utilize new inventions and technologies to protect forests, and save water with smart irrigation systems. They understand the importance of wild animals in the food chain to preserve the balance of our ecosystem and therefore, celebrate the return of tigers to Cambodian forests, and realize we should all cooperate to stop snaring and bushmeat.
Baseet roamed a number of Cambodian cities and forests including; O’Som, Koh Kong, Thma Bang and the capital Phnom Penh. More than 20000 citizens, villagers and children of Cambodia participated in the Wildlife Tour. Attendees were successfully engaged with wildlife conservation, inspired to protect the Cambodian natural resources, and encouraged to change their anti-environmental practices.
About Baseet:
Baseet is an educational-scientific organization that provides STEAM Education, Science Communication, and Public Engagement Services. Baseet aims at accelerating the learning process, encouraging scientific cooperation, spreading science, and supporting educators.
About Wildlife Alliance:
Wildlife Alliance is a team of 300 experts with a mission to keep global temperature increase below 2°C by the year 2030. Wildlife Alliance aims to increase vegetation cover by planting new forests and assisting in the management of protected areas on land and sea and protecting the world’s endangered wildlife species.
