FOGSL signed a MOU with Ministry of Education Sri Lanka “for the training and conduct of field based nature studies, with special reference to birds through the Field Study Centers Programme of the Ministry of Education”.

FOGSL has over the years conducted numerous programmes with schools and has also trained Field Study Center staff of Ministry of Education in 2008. The approach to use birds as basic stimulating species for this approach has been tested and conceptualized within the theme “Exemplary Citizens through Conservation- an avifaunal approach”.

Our Objectives in this programme are:

• To assist schools and specially the FSCs, in the development of nature-based supplementary programmes to enhance the learning process of the content in the curriculum.
• To improve understanding and relationship between students and nature.
• To create an awareness among teachers and students on methodologies to study birds and nature.
• To develop a long-term monitoring programme of habitats and its occupants based at the FSC and catchment schools, with birds as bio indicators through internet access and networking.
• To create a societal movement through the participation of students and schools to value nature, ecosystems services and thus to contribute towards its conservation and sustainable use.

There are 36 Field Study centers in the country at present and it is intended to increase these to 96. Thus FOGSL sees these centers as potential locations to promote the above objectives and evolve in to island-wide monitoring network of the IBAs and other sensitive locations and thus contribute to bird conservation.

The first programme commence in 10 schools attached to the Mannar District Field Study Center, funded by UNDP.