UNDP, Oaxaca Launch Environmental Education Initiative

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Mexico, in collaboration with Oaxaca’s Ministry of Environment, Biodiversity, Energy, and Sustainability, has launched initiatives to promote environmental education among children, focusing on biodiversity conservation in coastal ecosystems. The effort is part of the Kuxatur project, which integrates biodiversity conservation criteria into Mexico’s tourism sector.

The announcement coincided with the first anniversary of the Ñuu Kuu Environmental Education and Interpretation Center. Karime Unda Harp, Minister of Environment, Biodiversity, Energy, and Sustainability of Oaxaca, said environmental education is a seed of change, noting that working with communities, institutions, and families can yield positive results and instill environmental awareness in children.

Fernando Camacho, National Officer for Environment, Energy, and Resilience, UNDP, emphasized the importance of early environmental awareness. He explained that the Kuxatur project promotes tourism activities that recognize the value of biodiversity, helping visitors understand that productive activities rely on healthy natural ecosystems.

During the event, Laetitia Lafaure, Founder, EKOLOKID and a representative of the French Ministry for Ecological Transition, presented the EKOLOKID guide, which contains over 50 missions designed for children to learn about environmental protection. The guide encourages children to engage with natural spaces during vacations and promotes conservation practices in Mexico City, Puebla, Oaxaca, and Yucatan. Lafaure noted that the publication was developed in collaboration with local communities already active in environmental protection.

The collaboration marks the start of joint initiatives between UNDP, the Kuxatur project, Oaxaca’s Ministry of Environment, Biodiversity, Energy, and Sustainability, and EKOLOKID. These efforts aim to foster responsible tourism and biodiversity conservation among children through educational materials designed to raise awareness of environmental issues.