Earth Hour: Every morning before the prayers are recited students will learn about how the natural environment around them has changed at the Dungkar Primary School in Lhuentse.

One of the 20 members of the newly established Science Centre Club will report on the changes in air temperature and the amount of rainfall the previous day.

Every day, the students will take turns to take measurements from a new thermometer and science centre that the WWF Bhutan office funded.

“The exercise will allow students to learn about the environment and discuss climate change beyond the school including their parents,” the school’s principal Tenzin Wangdi said.

The centre was established to mark the Earth Hour on March 19. Bhutan joined over 178 countries to mark the event themed “Shine a light on climate action”.

“The centre will also inspire students to explore the world around them and to understand how we can live in harmony with nature, and build a safe, clean and healthy environment,” a press release from the WWF office stated.

The school will also increase birding activities with the Nu 40,000 fund from WWF to once a week from once a month.

“The birding club will buy instruments for the activity and try to maintain it for many years in future,” Tenzin Wangdi said. The school has 119 students.

This year’s theme for Earth Hour is a very important one especially for Bhutan as we are located in a region most at risk from climate change, the agriculture minister Yeshey Dorji said in his statement for the event.

A tree plantation was organized in Dungkar to encourage green initiatives such as planting trees to contribute to negating the ill effects of climate change and protect watersheds for the well being of the country’s environment and green economy.

The Earth Hour is WWF’s global environmental movement that began in 2007.

Tshering Palden

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