Promoting Sustainability through Ecological Design and Environmental Education Case Study of Green Turtle Cay Abaco, the Bahamas

Katie Raich

Date of Award

2006

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Lowman, Margaret

Keywords

Sustainability, Environmental Education, Ecological Design

Area of Concentration

Environmental Studies

Abstract

Significant changes in the way humans are living must be made to create a more sustainable future. This thesis was an attempt to address how such changes could be made within the small island community of Green Turtle Cay in The Bahamas. The goal was to create a plan for promoting environmental stewardship and sustainability on the island, using a platform of ecological design and environmental education. The Amy Roberts Primary School serves as the focal point for much of the plan because it is a public institution, with an inherent mission to educate and inform, and can therefore serve as a model for the community. Ideally, the community can in turn act as an example for other islands. The topics investigated in this thesis are environmental education, energy, water, waste, and plants. Two ecological design technologies are addressed: photovoltaics and wastewater treatment gardens. Energy and water conservation techniques, as well as the practices of recycling and composting, are attended to and suggestions are provided to aid Green Turtle Cay in adopting such practices. Agricultural issues and various functions of plants are investigated as well. Environmental education is examined in relationship to each element of the plan and in how it relates to various target audiences, namely the schoolchildren, the community, and tourists. Education is portrayed as the foundation upon which a sustainable world can be built. The primary intention of this thesis is to emphasize the importance of a sustainable future in which a high quality of life for all is achieved while preserving and protecting the natural environment.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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