Voice of Nature (VoNat) recently conducted an environmental education session with school children in Praise Baptist Academy-Buea, focusing on plastic waste management and its impacts on human health, amphibians, and other wildlife. The session highlighted growing concerns over plastic pollution, which continues to contaminate land, water ecosystems and threaten amphibians species.
VoNat Ecosystem Restoration Assistant, Munyar Delphine, explained that plastic waste can harm wildlife through ingestion and entanglement, block drainage systems leading to flooding. Students were introduced to practical solutions, including the principles of the 3Rs, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, as well as proper waste sorting methods.
”I learned about waste management and how materials such as plastic bottles can be reused or recycled into useful items like flower jars or for nurturing crops,” Ngangeh Peace said. Emerwung Thiona Abia noted the importance of keeping the environment clean to prevent diseases such as malaria and emphasized the need to separate degradable and non-decomposable wastes.
Plastic pollution has long been identified as a major environmental challenge, with widespread effects on ecosystems and public health. In response, Cameroon introduced a ban on non-biodegradable plastic bags in 2014 as part of efforts to reduce environmental damage and protect communities. Despite such measures, waste management remains a critical challenge in most urban areas of Cameroon.
VoNat remains commited to engaging communities to promote sustainable practices and support efforts toward a cleaner and safer environment for people and wildlife.
By Ndimuh Bertrand Shancho