Education for Sustainable Development

AGE P P

Asia Good ESD Practice Project

Handbook for
ESD in Asia
Local Citizens Fostering Sustainable Societies

http://www.agepp.net/

Funded by the Toyota Environmental Activities Grant Program

Japan Council on the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD-J)

global economy

waste
problem

escalating oil
pricesBiodiversity
multicultural
coexistence
cultural conflict

ClimateChangerich-poor
dividehumanrightsviolation

abuse ofthe earth’s
resources

Food
CrisisPrefaceresource conflict
racial discriminationpoverty

Development
equal opportunity
for men and women
and
Peace
welfare problemAs the earth progressively warms, ice in the North and South Poles melts, sea levels
rise several meters and coastal cities like Tokyo are submerged.

Drought and torrential downpour increase delivering a serious blow to agriculturecausing food scarcity.
The divide between rich and poor broadens and society destabilizes as individualschase after their own profit.
Economic activities that aim to expand earnings proliferate, nature is destroyed andthe world’s resources are depleted in all regions.
These things are already starting to happen.

Comprehensive andMulti-disciplinary
Education
Embracing
All Issues

ＥＳＤ
Education for Sustainable Development

In mega cities there is a certain “quality of life.” Glittering high-rise buildings line
the streets; one can get whatever their heart desires and eat delicious foods.
However, it seems that the systems supporting this quality of life are beginningto destroy our own future. Problems present themselves one after another: global
warming, food crises, cultural conflict, waste problems, resource conflict, and humanrights violation.
How can we create a “sustainable society” in which we share the happiness with thepeople of the world and pass on our current quality of life from generation to generationand not just dispose of it on our own?
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is a movement to advance a new typeof learning to create a bright future.
The United Nations is reaching out to countries worldwide to participate in a 10 year
plan for ESD starting in 2005.
This handbook was created as a part of the “Asia Good ESD Practice Project(AGEPP),” a Toyota Environmental Activities Grant Program recipient, to introduce
activities throughout Asia through the perspectives of ESD.
We have compiled 12 ESD cases in China, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines,
and the Republic of Korea from 6 different perspectives: “Children,” “Water andPeople,” “City and Village,” “Trials of Ethnic Minorities,” “Farming for Selfsustenance,” and “Small Economy”.
Over the course of three years, AGEPP has accumulated over 30 reports. Detailed
reports are made public at our website (http://www.agepp.net/).
It is our hope that this handbook takes one small step towards connecting people andcommunicating citizens’ activities across Asia.
AGEPP Editorial Committee

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INDEX

Chapter 1 Report from Asia…………………………… 5
New Departure for Children and Paper (Indonesia) ……………………… 6
Children with and without Disabilities Experience Nature (Korea) ……… 8
Lake Unites Forest, River and People (Japan) ……………………………10
Citizens Revitalize Abandoned Agricultural Reservoir (Korea) …………12
Connecting City and Village (China) ………………………………………14
Revitalizing the Appeal of Villages (Japan) ………………………………16
Saving a Traditional Mountain Society (Indonesia) ………………………18
Eco-tourism in a Forest Protected from Logging (India) …………………20
Restoring Native Rice for Self-Sustaining Agriculture (Philippines) ……22
Changed from Illegal Logging to Organic Farming (Indonesia) …………24
Small Eco Enterprises in Small Villages (India) …………………………26
Villagers Create Products from the Forest (Philippines) …………………28
AGEPP Participant Voice: Part 1 …………………………………………30

Chapter 2 Connecting Asia through ESD ……31
Asian Citizens Gaining Momentum ………………………………………32
About AGEPP ………………………………………………………………34
About ESD-J ………………………………………………………………36
AGEPP Participant Voice: Part 2 …………………………………………38

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Chapter 1

Report from Asia
In countries all over Asia, ordinary people are working hand in handto begin activities towards creating a sustainable society. In Asia,
longstanding agrarian societies that have centered on rice havean abundance of wisdom to live in harmony with nature. Here we

introduce a taste of Asia’s wisdom as it is applied in modern times
from various perspectives.

Children

Sustainable Issues in Asia 1: Children

Supporting a New Departure
for Children and Paper
Area: Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, Indonesia

Implementing Body: Setia Kawan Raharja: SEKAR Foundation
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

T

he SEKAR Foundation is conducting a paper recycling project with street children
in their teens and twenties at Tanjung Priok. They are using waste paper and plantfiber for the materials. In these activities, the word "recycling" has two meanings:
focusing on and reviving the potential value of street children who are often treated ascommunity trash and a wasted resource. The children pulp the dried water hyacinth(enceng gondok) -- a naturalized plant infesting local rivers -- and paper scraps andmake high quality recycled paper. Products made from the top quality paper are highly
valued overseas and exported to Japan, America and Singapore.
Through this project, the natural environment has been improved and the children
have established economic stability. The recycled paper factory staff has created afamily-like atmosphere, respecting the children and trusting their decisions. The
children have also gained peace of mind.

The handmade paper making progresses one sheet at a time.

Recycled paper is used to make tissue holders,masks and other crafts.

All children and staff participate in meetings at thework studio.

Background・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

TChildren cut and dry water hyacinth and mix it with paper scraps to make recycled paper.

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anjung Priok is a highly industrialized area with a rising population locatedin North Jakarta, DKI Jakarta Province. With a complex social and economic
background, including a growing gap between rich and poor and unemployment,children are forced to run away from home due to domestic violence, poverty, etc.
These children earn a little money by selling cigarettes to drivers in passing-by cars or
by begging to fulfill their daily needs. They close off their hearts, do not care muchabout their surroundings, and often get involved in criminal problems such as drug
dealing, prostitution, gambling and violence.
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Children

Sustainable Issues in Asia 1: ChildrenChildren with and without Disabilities
Experience Nature Together
Area: Incheon City, Republic of Korea

Implementing Body: Incheon Agenda 21
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

Incheon Agenda 21 has implemented an eco-tour project where children with andwithout disabilities learn about and experience the natural environment together.
A wide range of activities have been conducted including sledding on ice at a wintercamp, playing with mud at a wetland during a summer camp, and preparing andeating the Korean dish Bibimbap together outside. Over 400 children with disabilities
have participated in the tour. They have learned more about the environment where
they are living and some have expressed opposition to residential development aroundthe Sorae Marine Eco Park.
In addition to inter preter t raining and environ mental education prog ram
development, Incheon Agenda 21 implements caretaker training specific to children
with special needs that targets housewives of low income families, which aims toincrease their financial income as well as build social connections.

Creative measures have been taken to make the program fun and enjoyable for allparticipants.

Children sled during the 2006 winter camp.

Planning meeting with environmental education andsocial welfare stakeholders.

Background・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

In Korea, over 300 municipal governments have formulated Local Agenda 21 actionplans and established citizen-initiated councils for their advancement. Incheon
Metropolitan City is located in the northwestern part of Korea facing the Yellow Sea.
Since the 1970s, the area has drastically industrialized and population rapidly increased.
Due to the economic development policies of local and national governments, children
with disabilities have been marginalized and their parents have long been adversariesof the government. Incheon Agenda 21 has held round-table meetings inviting various
stakeholders from government, environmental education and social welfare, the resultof which was the launching of the eco-tour project.
Children with and without disabilities walk in wetland mud and share their experiences.

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9Water and People

Sustainable Issues in Asia 2: Water and People

Lake Unites Forest,
River and People
Area: Lake Kasumigaura Watershed, Ibaragi Prefecture, Japan
Implementing Body: NPO Asaza Fund・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

N

PO Asaza Fund began restoring the natural shoreline of lake Kasumigaura by
replanting native aquatic plants on its concrete paved shores with local elementary
school students and has expanded its activity range to include the lake tributaries aswell as surrounding agricultural land and forests. Other activities include restoration ofsmall farming reservoirs, interviews for elementary school children with elders about
what it was like in the past, growing rice and brewing sake, forest management, alien
species removal, and biotope projects in 200 schools within the watershed.
NPO Asaza Fund coordinates the collaboration of a diverse network of partners.
Over 130,000 citizens participate in Asaza projects. Choosing a new species every 10
years, the fund aims to revive habitat for each species so that they may survive on theirown 100 years from now.

Lake Kasumigaura surrounded by flatlands.

Asaza Fund poster depicts the goal to revive a
species each decade. “Ten years from now let’s
revive the Great Reed Warbler and in 20 years the
Whooper Swan, etc.”

Local, traditional method of bundling coppice andsinking it into the water is used to create breakwater.

Corporate staff and their families participate in rice
planting near the lake.

Background・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

S

Elementary school children grew and planted asaza (floating heart) in the lake.

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tretching 250 kilometers in length, Lake Kasumigaura in Ibaragi Prefecture is thesecond largest lake in Japan. From 1969 to 1995 the government implemented theKasumigaura Development Project to regulate water flow and for water consumption.
The banks of the lake were covered in concrete, water quality and the fishing industry
declined, forests were diminished and population exploded. Many measures were taken
to address solutions to the various environmental issues but no drastic improvements
were made.
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Water and People

Sustainable Issues in Asia 2: Water and People

Citizens Revitalize
Abandoned Agricultural Reservoir
Area: Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, Republic of Korea

Implementing Body: Pyounghwa-dong Eco Club, Jeonju Council for Local Agenda 21
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

Developers and local citizens became entrenched in an adversarial relationshipover a proposed reclamation of the city reservoir. Citizens wanting to protect thereservoir created the Pyounghwa-dong Eco Club. The group hosted debates, held public
hearings and created dialogue between housing developers, pro-reclamation citizens
and government. Additionally, they picked up trash, removed toads from the lake, set
up a place for experimental learning, maintained aquatic plants, planted wild flowers,
and hosted a fall cultural festival.
Jeonju Council for Local Agenda 21 collaborated with Pyounghwa-dong Eco Club inplanning public debates and seminars. The council involvement allowed stake holders
to participate equally and to comfortably share their opinions. Having created thisenvironment, the adversarial relationship turned into one of agreement and the reservoir
was not reclaimed. Water quality and the natural environment surrounding the lake
continue to improve, and the lake is now used as a site for environmental education.

Residents participate in reservoir cleaning activities.

Many people now come on tours of the reservoir.

Various environmental education programs are
implemented based on nature along the shores.

Background・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Jeonju City is located in southwest Korea with a population of 620,000. With theservice industry being the city largest industry, population increased starting in the
1970s, which led to a reduction in green space at the heart of the city. Agricultural
reservoirs built in the 1940s were reclaimed for residential purposes and their numbers
were greatly decreased. There are still more plans to reclaim such reservoirs. The
remaining reservoirs have declined along with agriculture itself. Calls for theirreclamation mount as they are not maintained, which leads to fowl smells and pests.
Agricultural reservoir amidst high-rise apartment buildings.

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City and Village

Sustainable Issues in Asia 3: City and Village

Connecting City and Village:
Green Hope Action
Area: Rural Villages region wide, China

Implementing Body: Friends of Nature, China Youth Development Foundation
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

Volunteer teachers from urban areas are dispatched to "Hope Schools" in ruralvillages where they carry out environmental education in the implementation of
the Green Hope Action Program. After training, volunteers are dispatched to villages
where they analyze local issues such as desertification with local students and teachers.
They all then seek out solutions and implement them together. Lessons aim for children
to be able to carry out a democratic debate and to take practical actions towards solving
a problem.
To date, approximately 500 volunteers have been dispatched to 1000 schools.
Volunteers themselves learn a lot about issues facing China's rural communities and theurban problems that cause them.

Handmade educational materials are used to learn about local wildlife.

Everyone gets their hands in the mud and shares
their opinions.

Prior to being dispatched, volunteers go throughtraining in Beijing.

Background・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

As a result of rapid economic development, rural China is confronting manyenvironmental problems including desertification, ecosystem destruction,
introduction of alien species, air and water pollution, etc. Seventy percent of China's
population lives in rural areas but in economically poor villages, there is no leeway forenvironmental education; some villages don't even have schools.
Dispatched volunteers and children from rural areas.

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City and Village

Sustainable Issues in Asia 3: City and Village

Revitalizing the Appeal of Villages:
Green Village Cooperation Volunteers Project (GVCV)Area: Rural villages region wide, Japan

Implementing Body: NPO Green Earth Center (GEC)

Traditional method of drying harvested rice. (Sakae
Mura, Nagano Prefecture)

Helping dairy farmers. (Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi
Prefecture)・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

S

ince 1993, 20-30 young adults ranging from 18-40 years of age have been
dispatched as volunteers to rural villages throughout Japan. In any given region,
one to two volunteers are dispatched for one year to work on community revitalization
activities chosen by a host municipality. Activities in rural villages include assisting inforest management, operation of public facilities, creating local agricultural specialties
and making traditional crafts. 384 volunteers have been sent to a total of 273 villages asof May 2007.
For urban young people, life in rural villages is a precious opportunity to come incontact with traditional wisdom and a connection between nature and people. The
experience has greatly affected the life choices that volunteers make thereafter. 141
young volunteers have decided to settle down in rural villages after completing the
program. This project has also spurred village residents to re-discover the value of theircommunities and feel a sense of confidence and pride in it.

Youth participate in replacement of thatched roof. (Bungoono City, Oita Prefecture)

Background・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

Along with Japan modernization came a vast migration of people to cities. In
urban centers, air, water and other environmental factors deteriorated; people
lives became isolated; and a myriad of social issues began to arise. In rural villages,
depopulation and aging continued to worsen and villagers could no longer maintaintheir cooperative lifestyle. Traditional wisdom that utilized nature is no longer being
passed down in villages and the rural ecosystem that was once kept in balance by thewell tempered hand of villagers is beginning to break.
Volunteers help with forest management work. (Itsuki Village, Kumamoto Prefecture)

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17Sustainable Issues in Asia 4: Trials of Ethnic Minorities

Trials of Ethnic Minorities

Saving a Traditional
Mountain Society
Area: Kanekes Village, Leuidamar District, Lebak Regency, Indonesia
Implementing Body: Baduy Tribe・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

T

he Baduy Tribe is an ethnic group that inhabits Kanekes, a remote mountainvillage located 120 kilometers from Jakarta. The Baduy have rejected electricity,
cars, television, recreation amenities and even schools. They continue an independent
lifestyle based on their traditional values. The Buduy believe that all necessities -- food,shelter and clothing -- should be made from the village natural resources. Anythingother than these three necessities is seen as coming from human greed or some
irrational emotion.
A unique form of lifelong education is implemented in Kanekes. Villagers learn
how to conserve the environment in ways that improve its condition and how to fulfill
human needs according to Baduy values. Food, shelter and clothing are plentiful. The
Baduy lead a sustainable life that cannot be measured by poverty, illiteracy or othersuch numerical data.

Weaving is one role for women.

Rotating slash and burn farming techniques are
implemented every three years.

The community is managed
in three areas: residential,
agricultural and untouchedforest.

Background・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

Kanekes Village is comprised of three Inner Baduy groups and 50 Outer Baduy
groups. The total population is 10,000. Outer Baduy are situated outside the Inner
Baduy, which has no contact with the outer world. In fact, all things from the outerworld are forbidden. Baduy teach that destruction of nature also means the destructionof the humans inside it and that nature is not a resource that should be exploited toget great benefit, but it is a gift from God to be conserved by humans for the next
generation. Several hundred ethnic minorities live in Indonesia, many whose people do
not understand the official Indonesian language.
Residents’ homes, where people learn the Baduy way of life, are Baduy’s schools.

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Sustainable Issues in Asia 4: Trials of Ethnic Minorities

Trials of Ethnic Minorities

Eco-tourism in a Forest Protectedfrom Logging
Area: Khonoma Village, State of Nagaland, India

Implementing Body: Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan
Sanctuary and other agencies

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

Angami Naga villagers living in Khonama Village are implementing a "green
village" eco-tourism project that embraces culture, history and protection of thenatural environment. The project, which aims to advance the tourism industry andprotect the environment, is being carried out by three agencies including the Khonoma
Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary (KNCTS). In addition to planningand implementing tourism programs, the project hosts workshops and seminars forparticipants from overseas and works to establish legal frameworks to protect thesustainability of the region's nature and economy.
Many village youth act as tourist guides and work in managerial positions atguesthouses. Not only does this provide youth with income, but with the eco-tourism
industry purchasing local foods from local producers, local farmers gain income aswell. Workshops and seminars have become educational opportunities for youth as
they exchange ideas about nature protection and tourism with people from outside theircommunity.

Elder shows bones of prize animals. Hunting used to be very common.

Background・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

K

Student volunteers.

A stone staircase winds its way through
Khonama Village.

honoma Village is located in North
Eastern India along the border with
Myanmar in the State of Nagaland. It is a
mountainous village located one hour by
car from the state capital Kohima. Primarily
young people have resorted to forest clearing
to acquire income. Angami elders, whose
livelihoods have been based on the forest,
were successful in banning deforestation in
North India in a case settled by the Supreme
Court of India. A group of villagers also
urged the importance of protecting natureand suggested banning hunting, which is apractice at the core of Angami culture. After
debate between pro and anti hunting groups,
the region is now recognized as a nature
conservation area.

Located in the mountains, Khonama is a beautiful village with terraced rice paddies.

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Sustainable Issues in Asia 5: Farming for Self-sustenanceFarming for Self-sustenance

Restoring Native Rice Species,
Aiming for Self-Sustaining Agriculture
Area: Rural villages throughout the Philippines

Implementing Body: Independently operated by farmers and NGOs
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

In 1987, a group of experts from the University of the Philippines started theMASIPAG Project (Magsasaka at Siyentipiko Para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura).
Farmers learn and implement technologies which enable them to plant native species
suited to their local environments and methods to manage weeds and pests andimprove soil without relying on chemical fertilizers. There are 42 MASIPAG groups
throughout the Philippines. Initially, new tenant farmers and small scale farmers go
through training in seminars, through discussions and on-farm fieldwork to acquire theknowledge, skills and attitudes to implement farming. Then, farmers must put theirskills to test in a trial farm where they use native varieties of seeds.
As MASIPAG methods do not require the purchase of chemical fertilizers or otheragro-chemicals, the economic burden of farming is reduced and farmers are able toprotect nature as well as human health. The project does not rely simply on instruction
from experts but farmers polish their techniques through their own discussions and by
managing seed selections, which they name after themselves. This type of hands on
active participation in the development of farming empowers farmers.

Farmer shows bountiful crop of native rice.

Farmer managed seed bank.

The Catholic Church actively supports many
MASIPAG groups.

Background・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

In the Philippines, many farmers lost their land due to the rule of Spain in the 16th
century. More than half of the country land was in the hands of an elite few large
land owners. A majority of farmers were either tenant farmers or worked on small
scale farms less than one hectare in area. In the 1970s and 1980s high yield varietiesthat brought large harvests were developed and the Philippine government strongly
advanced their use in the country (Green Revolution). However, by switching over tovarieties that needed to be purchased and required large amounts of water, chemicalfertilizers and other agro-chemicals, tenant and small scale farmers took on massive
amounts of debt and in turn become even poorer. The introduction of high yielding
varieties led to the rapid loss of the wisdom and skills that sustain traditional farming.

Rice planting at trial farm. This is where participants test what they have learned.

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Sustainable Issues in Asia 5: Farming for Self-sustenanceFarming for Self-sustenance

Illegal Logging Abandoned
for Forest Friendly Organic Farming
Area: Trawas, East Java, Indonesia

Implementing Body: Pusat Pendidikan Lingkungan Hidup
Environmental Education Centre (PPLH)

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

T

he Trawas NGO Environmental Education Centre (PPLH) has been implementing
village development that incorporates environmental education since 1999.
PPLH implements educational activities that inform villagers that excessive forest
clearing by poor farmers seeking cash income is destroying the environment, which
in turn is undermining the foundation of their own livelihood, and engages villagers
in community problem-solving activities. Of these initiatives, the organic farming
group is particularly active with a growing number of participating farmers each year.
Participants have learned and implemented organic farming knowledge and techniques.
Farmers have been able to avoid the sales costs of agro-chemicals by improving soil
with compost thus reducing previous expenses while achieving the same harvest size.
Also, by creating a system that brings farm goods directly to market and eliminatesintermediaries along the way, farmers increase their profits and are able to distancethemselves from the vicious circle of borrowing money and placing a burden on theenvironment in order to implement modern farming.

In organic farming Water Buffalo are used for tillage and their manure is used for compost.

Store where a women’s group sells processed goods
made from organic vegetables.

Farmers’ classroom built in the middle of a field.
Lectures and debate take place here.

Background・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

Trawas is situated at the base of Mt. Penanggungan in the eastern part of Java
Island. As a result of agriculture modernization policies, farmers had to purchasehigh yielding seed varieties, chemical fertilizers and other agro-chemicals, all thewhile accumulating debt with exorbitant interest. Furthermore, in recent years, theprice of chemical fertilizers and agro-chemicals has increased. Meanwhile, young
manufacturing workers have lost regional jobs due to a currency crisis and havereturned to their villages. Both farmers overburdened with debt and unemployed young
people are pursuing illegal clearing in areas of protected forests. In the two years
leading up to 1999, 30 hectares of forest were destroyed in Trawas.

As forest clearing advanced, topsoil erosion, flooding and landslides occurred.

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Small Economy

Sustainable Issues in Asia 6: Small Economy

Supporting Eco Enterprises
in Small Villages
Area: Hingolgadh Region, Gujarat, India

Implementing Body: Centre for Environment Education (CEE)・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

T

he Centre for Environment Education implements an eco enterprise microfinanceprogram that targets financially challenged women in five rural communities innorthwest India. As agriculture modernizes and becomes more and more large scale,farmers that have battled with high interest debt are now starting their own small
businesses with low interest enterprise funds on a path to independence. A committeeof outside experts and local villagers provide education and technical support enabling
the development of organic farms and eco products, which allows villagers to acquire
income.
As a result of this program, the region employment rate has increased and farmer
debt has begun to decrease. The environment has been improved and a soft, moist,
nutrient-rich soil has been created. Additionally, women that are now able to bringin their own income have pride and strength in making decisions about their children
education and farming.

Women make juice out of cactus fruit that they collect.

Farmers textbooks showing
how to make compost andvermi-compost.

Women’s top quality clear butter is highly valued at themarket.

Background・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

Hingolgadh is a nature sanctuary located in the State of Gujarat in northwest
India. The region is extremely dry with half its land unsuitable for farming.
Livelihood patterns, previously dependent on a diverse agriculture, have shifted to a
monoculture of water intensive cash crops requiring high inputs of chemical fertilizers
and pesticides, as farmers seek to increase their incomes. However, drought and salt
damage have worsened as the costs of chemical fertilizers and agro-chemicals escalate.
Poor farmers have become dependent on debt from high interest borrowing.
Farmers sell directly at a market so all income earned belongs to them.

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Small Economy

Sustainable Issues in Asia 6: Small Economy

Mountain Villagers Create Products
from the Bounty of the Forest
Area: Sierra Madre Mountains, Northern Luzon Island, the Philippines
Implementing Body: Kalahan Educational Foundation (KEF)

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

Afood processing center for local wild fruits like guavas was established in 1977
to improve the Ikalahan people's welfare without harming their precious forest
or expanding agriculture or pasture lands. Everything, including food processing,quality control, marketing, etc. started from scratch, but the community made continual
improvements. In order to improve product packaging and establish a new sales route
the Ikalahan had to negotiate with city people in Tagalog and English, which proved to
be a difficult experience for the indigenous group.
For the Ikalahan, these activities are a continual learning process in which theyreevaluate what it means to be Ikalahan, what their culture is and the state of theenvironment, while not conforming to the values of the city. Currently, the "Mountain
Fresh" brand of Ikalahan jams and jellies is for sale in over 90% of supermarkets in
Manila.

KEF school where young people are taught traditional wisdom and values.

Locally made cooking and processing equipment wereintroduced so if anything broke down it could be easily
repaired or replaced.

Background・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
KEF Founder Mr. Rice carries out scrupulous
quality check prior to jam shipments.

T

he Ikalahan are one indigenous minority in the Philippine's. They inhabit thenorthern mountainous region of Luzon Island. They have developed a way of lifethat protects and grows the forest which is an important base to their livelihood. In
1973, elders from the Ikalahan tribe established the Kalahan Educational Foundation(KEF) to build an independent local community. In 1974, KEF was granted the rightto manage 5,000 hectares of Ikalahan land as a forest protection area by the Philippine
Government's Forest Management Bureau.

Women prepare materials at the Food Processing Center.

28

Handbook for ESD in Asia

Local Citizens Fostering Sustainable Societies

29

AGEPP Participant Voice: Part 1
Active members from citizen organizations in each participating country went into
the field, recorded activities and compiled the results in this report. Representatives
closely observed approximately six different projects and drafted reports in theirnative language and English. An annual international meeting was held to discuss
the most effective way to report activities as well as to exchange information about
the state of ESD in various regions. A new network of people connecting Asia
through ESD is being created.

H

olding direct meetings with international colleagues and various
information gained through case studies really empowered me and
BINTARI, the organization I work for, as we move to advance ESD. Being
involved with this project sparked BINTARI’s involvement in newactivities and our organization’s network was vastly expanded. I hopethat this project expands to all regions of Asia and leads to the creation ofpartnerships.
Feri Prihantoro
BINTARI (Bina Karta Lestari) Foundation (Indonesia)Through this experience, I realized that it is important to involve community
members, not just teachers and students, through lifelong learning in orderto achieve sustainable development. Previously, I thought that environmental
education was ESD. But, thanks to AGEPP, I have started thinking about how
environmental education can contribute to sustainable development and now thinkof ESD as part of the relationship between environment, society and economy.
AGEPP is a place for Asia’s diverse countries to communicate and learn
together. This time we were able to share case studies from China withpeople from other countries. We hope to inform more people throughout
Asia about NGOs and their activities in China through the AGEPP network.
Yin, Hang
Friends of Nature (China)Having seen the case studies, I think that ESD itself is being involved
with the actual act of people living; this is the core value of ESD in
Asia. By participating in AGEPP I have become aware of my organizations
responsibility as a member of the larger Asian community.
Park, Yeon-hee
Local Sustainability Alliance of Korea (LSAK) (Korea)

30

Handbook for ESD in Asia

Local Citizens Fostering Sustainable Societies

Chapter 2

Connecting Asia
through ESD
Through the collection of Asia’s good ESD practices for thisproject, non-profit organizations throughout the region worked
collaboratively beyond their borders.

While sharing the perspective of ESD, citizens that had never met

brought forth examples of their activities, compared them andcompiled them in this report. This activity in itself is also one formof ESD.

Asian Citizens Gaining Momentum…Utilize traditional wisdom
in local communities
Chair, Japan Council on the UN Decade of Education for
Sustainable Development
Director and Professor, Rikkyo University ESD Research Center

Abe, OsamuAs seen in Chapter 1, Asian citizens
have begun various activities.

individual citizens are working hand inhand moving forward together.

In a self-reliance support program forstreet children in urban Indonesia, water
hyacinth--a naturalized plant infesting
local rivers—is collected and its fibers
u t i l i z e d t o m a k e p a p e r. D i ff e r e n t
issues are weaved together including
an environmental strategy as well asprotection of paper resources.

The earth is a world with limits. It’s
a 12,000 kilometer diameter mass of
atmosphere, water and rock. A finite
amount of energy from the sun beams
down upon it. This is the seed of earth’s
society. It doesn’t matter how mucheconomic growth occurs. If we destroy
this seed, humans can no longer survive
here.

In dry regions of India where
genetically modified cotton is being
grown on a massive scale, economicallychallenged farmers have begun activities
to create self-sufficient agriculture basedon traditional organic farming methods
that does not rely on chemical goods ormoney.
In economically surging Korea,
citizens are fixing and restoring theecosystem of an agricultural reservoir
that had become a waste dump in
the shadows of high-rise apartmentbuildings.
Each of these is an example of

32

Prof. Abe (left) with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus of Grameen
Bank, Bangladesh.

Handbook for ESD in Asia

Local Citizens Fostering Sustainable Societies

Economic growth means income
from all economic activities--from
corporations to individuals--willcontinue to grow and profits willcontinue to be made. However, it
is impossible for earnings to growinfinitely.
It is now that we come up against thewall of economic growth that cannot
continue infinitely.
Not only do we face the current
financial crisis. With global warming
and resource problems, we face thedaunting task of creating harmony inhuman society on a limited planet. Thisis precisely why “building sustainable
societies” is needed now.
To build sustainable societies, what
we need most is “people”.
ESD is the development of people
to participate in creating a sustainable
society.
Activities that build on the strengths
of individual citizens are what mattermost for developing a citizen base, notgovernment or country. Stated from a
broader perspective, this can be seen
as a shift from a nation-state oriented
society to a citizen based society.
Citizen here refers to citizenorganizations and corporations.
In this collection of case studies fromall over Asia, we did not focus on theefforts of governments and bureaucrats,
rather we compiled the work of citizenorganizations. Consistent through all of
the examples are local wisdom (local
knowledge) and wisdom passed on by

the common people in Asia (traditional
knowledge).
In order to farm organicallyor conserve the environment, thefundamentals are based on the wisdomof people that have survived there for
hundreds to thousands of years.
Traditional wisdom is outdated, it has
no value in our international economic
society and it is something thatpeople have tried to forget. However,I am certain that this wisdom will benecessary to utilize as the common
people’s wisdom in order to create
sustainable societies rooted in various
regions.
I hope that these case studies spur
individuals across Asia to awaken
to the appeal of their communities,
participate in place-based sustainability
efforts, especially those that utilize
local resources or traditional culture
and allow individuals to participate firsthand (internal development), and thatthe network broadens.

33About AGEPP

2006＊Open Call for AGEPP Partners through ESD-J website and related mailinglists and Selection＊AGEPP1st Meeting (Tokyo)- Discussed the AGEPP case format and the project directionwww.agepp.net＊Launched AGEPP website

2007＊Collected 12 case reports＊AGEPP 2nd Meeting (Tong Yeong, Korea) and Korea ESD International Forum- Reviewed the case format and the project direction and discussed the utilizationof AGEPP cases for the post AGEPP＊Visited the case report site in India (Gujarat, India)＊AGEPP Special Working Session (The 4th International Conference forEnvironmental Education (Ahmedabad, India)- Appealed the value of AGEPP and discussed how the Asia civil ESD network
should be2008＊Collected 19 case reports＊“From Asian Civil Society to G8 Summit” International workshop andforum on the proposal to G8 summit (Tokyo)- Clarify the AGEPP perspectives and drafted the proposal to Hokkaido
Toyako Summit in Japan＊Proposal submission and press release of the Proposal to G8 Environmental 		
Ministers’ Meeting and G8 Summit＊Appealed the value of AGEPP and the Proposal at the Civil Summit (Sapporo, Hokkaido)＊AGEPP 3rd Meeting (Tokyo)- Analyzed the cases for editing the AGEPP handbook＊Published the AGEPP HandbookThis project began with the goal ofadvancing ESD throughout all of
Asia.
Japan Council on the UN Decade of
Education for Sustainable Development(ESD-J), which was created to promote
the DESD in Japan, is the lead agency.
ESD-J is a registered non-profit
organization.
An open call was made forparticipation via e-mail and other media
and in 2006 as the project began to grasp
the development of ESD in respective
regions, partners progressed creating the34

Handbook for ESD in Asia

Local Citizens Fostering Sustainable Societies

case format.
The project title partners agreed uponwas AGEPP, short for “Asia Good ESD
Practice Project”.
Over the course of three years
leading up to 2008, the project aimed
to advance ESD in Asia and develop
an ESD network through exploringand documenting ESD practices thathave been conducted within the Asian
historical and cultural context, such as
tradition, life and local knowledge.

that 30 cases from member countries. In
addition to the six countries represented
in this handbook, cases were also
submitted by partners in Nepal. Eachcase report is very thorough, up to 20
pages.
To p i c s i n t h e r e p o r t s a r e v e r ydiverse including: agriculture, poverty
e r a d i c a t i o n , w o m e n , c h i l d r e n ’s
rights, people with disabilities,
public health, recycling, indigenous
peoples, ecotourism, rural community
revitalization, and watershed
conservation.

A multilingual website (English,
Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Tagalog
and Indonesian) where submitted casereports and news related to AGEPP or
ESD can be viewed was also created.
AGEPP has helped clarify thecharacteristics and perspectives uniqueto ESD in Asia, has become a precious
platform for debate amongst Asian
civil society members as was the casein 2008 at the G8 Hokkaido Toyako
Summit where a proposal was submitted
concerning the creation of mechanisms
to support sustainable societies.

To date, AGEPP has collected more35

About ESD-J
Japan Council on the UN Decade of Education for
Sustainable Developmentwww.esd-j.org

National Networking
Connect People in Japan

Pass Japanese Cases
to the WorldInternational Networking

Support Community based ESD

Utilize foreigncases in Japan

Promote International Network
based on Asian Contacts

SupportCommunities
Communication

Make a policy
based on Community
Expeiences
Policy Advocacy
Lobbying ESD throughNational and Local level

Information and Training

Communication

E

SD-J is a non-profit organization
founded in 2003 in order topromote Education for Sustainable
Development. ESD-J has developed
an ESD civil network by connecting
the people and organizations, such as
NGOs, educational institutes, municipal
governments, business entities, andmedia. We conduct activities for thepr o m o t i o n o f E S D n a t i o n a l l y a n dinternationally.
ESD-J members include 100
organizations and 300 individuals fromvarious fields, such as environment,
development, human rights, social
welfare, and peace and all these are36

Handbook for ESD in Asia

Local Citizens Fostering Sustainable Societies

working for the same goal of achievinga sustainable world. Based on thisnetwork, ESD-J’s activities include
policy advocacy, educational material
development, training and information
sharing.
One main goal of activities is to make
ESD more easily understood. ESD-J
is involved with development of ESD
activity handbooks which introduce
local ESD activities, support of “network
meetings” which bring together people
from diverse fields to discuss local
issues, and ESD model community
building.

Broaden Recognition of ESD
Training ESD Coordinators

Communication

ESD-J Activities＊Policy Advocacy for ESD Promotion＊Support for local ESD activities and networking＊Develop international ESD networking＊Information sharing with various media outlets＊ESD Training and dissemination of information

37

AGEPP Participant Voice: Part 2On my case survey, I visited an organization that is practicing ESD on a
grassroots level. I felt that the true meaning of ESD and how a sustainablecommunity is actually created can be communicated through the expressions andvoices of local activities. Many efforts and discoveries are necessary in order toachieve citizens’ right to self-determination and self respect. Systematizing andorganizing the abundance of local wisdom becomes the community’s strengthand empowers.
AGEPP must continue. Why don’t we collect over 100 case studies,
compile them in television programs, books and photographs, then present
them to UNESCO.
Elizabeth C. Roxas
Environmental Broadcast Circle Association Inc (EBC) (Philippines)In India ESD is education for life and for people’s lifestyles. The core of ESD
is education related to their daily lives. It comes down to how people cansustainably survive. Modern scientific knowledge and research are not sufficientin ESD. Local wisdom and ancient practices need to be integrated and ESD mustbe accepted as realistic and practical on a grassroots level. I would like forplace-based ESD case reports like this one to continue in the future. Also, I
would like to reflect the results based on these case studies to national andinternational agency ESD initiatives.
Ramesh K. Savalia
Centre for Environment Education (CEE) (India)

In the future I’d like to develop curriculum for higher education based on
AGEPP case reports. I’d also like to continue debate about themes andtopics that transect the cases we have collected thus far in order to deepen
our understanding.
Chou, Ju
National Taiwan Normal University (Taiwan)

Funded by Toyota Environmental Activities Grant Program

Special Thanks

Chou Ju
Bishnu Bandari
Natori Yoshihiro
Matsumura Takashi
Okada Yuko		
Derek Elias		
Kono Masanori
Monthip Tabucanon
Won Jung Byun
Asakura Koji		

National Taiwan Normal University
Pusan University, Korea
United Nations University Institute for Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS)
United Nations University
United Nations University
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Bangkok
Asia/Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU)International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Tongyeong City Government, Korea
National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan (NFUAJ)AGEPP Editors
Atul Pandya		Ramesh Savalia
Elizabeth Roxas
Feri Prihantoro
Sheng JingHua
Li Jie 		Yin Hang 		Yoon Denise
Park Yeon-Hee
Shim Hyunmin
Chiang Huei-yi
Dil Shrestha		Centre for Environment Education(CEE), India
Centre for Environment Education(CEE), India
Environmental Broadcast Circle (EBC), Philippines
BINTARI Foundation, Indonesia
Friends of Nature, China
Friends of Nature, China
Friends of Nature, China
Local Sustainability Alliance of Korea (LSAK), Korea
Local Sustainability Alliance of Korea (LSAK), Korea
Local Sustainability Alliance of Korea (LSAK), Korea
Earth Passenger, Taiwan
National Resource Center for Non Formal Education (NRC-NFE), Nepal

Volunteers

Won Jongbin, Manita Shrestha, Ota Masako, Kaneto Tetsu, Kuboyama Tomofumi, Kodera Masaaki,
Saito Miki, Sano Junya, Soga Sachiyo, Takai Ayumi, Takesue Katsuhisa, Nakamura Mayo, Harada Tai,
Yamazaki Megumi, Yamada Yukie, and many friends

ESD-J

Board Members: Abe Osamu, Ohmae Junichi, Sato Masahisa
Secretariat: Murakami Chisato, Noguchi Fumiko© ESD-J 2008
Publisher: Abe Osamu
Japan Council on the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD-J)
5-53-67-B2F Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001 Japan
Phone: +81-3-3797-7227
Fax: +81-3-6277-7554
Art Designer: Miyabe Kowji

38

Handbook for ESD in Asia

Local Citizens Fostering Sustainable Societies

English Translation: Gregory Michel

39