Informal environmental awareness as entry point for formal environmental education programmes: A case of East Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania
| dc.contributor.author | Mahonge C.P.I | |
| dc.contributor.author | Nsenga J.V. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Mattee A. Z. | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-07-20T11:06:04Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-07-20T11:06:04Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2010 | |
| dc.description | ICE Journal (2010), pp. 50-61 | |
| dc.description.abstract | In all communities where formal arrangements exist, informal arrangements which directly or indirectly support, oppose or are neutral to such formal arrangements are inevitable. Informal arrangements can be institutionalised to formal arrangements or can enrich, transform or revolutionize the existing formal arrangements. In environmental education field, formal environmental education programmes implemented at the community level can be influenced by informal conditions. One of such conditions is people’s awareness on the natural resources that manifest in their practices in the use of these resources. Formal environmental education arrangements imposed without prior comprehension of the existing environmental awareness undermine existing and useful interactions or exacerbate existing counteractions between human and environmental resources. This study aimed at determining farmers’ awareness on degradation of water sources and streams in private farm plots (micro-water resources) in East Uluguru Mountains in Tanzania so as to provide insight to planning formal environmental education programmes. Farmers owning farm plots where micro-water —sources are located were interviewed. Transect walk — as also conducted to implement the interviews. Findings indicated that farmers were aware of the degrading micro-water resources but could not link the degradation with their anthropogenic practices. Following insights on farmers’ awareness and knowledge on field realities, a formal environmental education was given to the farmers. This study recommended that a thorough understanding of interactions among socio-economic, market, ecological and cognitive factors is imperative for sustainability of micro-water resources (private farms) and therefore further research is recommended in this direction. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/20.500.14820/7803 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Journal of Continuing Education and Extension (JCEE) | |
| dc.subject | Farmers awareness | |
| dc.subject | Degradation | |
| dc.subject | Micro-water resources | |
| dc.subject | Farming practices | |
| dc.subject | Conservation | |
| dc.title | Informal environmental awareness as entry point for formal environmental education programmes: A case of East Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania | |
| dc.type | Article |