A STUDY OF ENVIRONMENTAL NEED ASSESSEMENT
Abstract
Needs assessment guidelines and tools are enumerated for identifying immediate and long‐term environmental education needs in a community or region and for recommending subsequent actions. Interviews, written and oral surveys, participatory workshops, public meetings, document analysis, and other methods of qualitative and quantitative data collection are described for gathering information quickly and inexpensively from people and institutions with a wide range of backgrounds, interests, and expertise. Needs assessment conducted in the Bay Islands in Honduras and Tikal National Park in Guatemala led to the implementation of environmental education activities, such as the development of an environmental education manual and workshops for teachers, publication of an ecology guidebook, and establishment of a park‐community camp program. Evaluation and monitoring based on the needs assessment results will provide feedback for program modification and design of future initiatives
Keywords
Needs assessment, guidelines, tools, long‐term environmental education, community or region