The "Feed the birds!" campaign in the context of SDG 15 "Conservation of terrestrial ecosystems"

On January 23, 2024, as part of the implementation of SDG 15 "Conservation of terrestrial ecosystems", 1st year students of the educational program "6B05202 - Ecology" participated in the campaign "Feed the birds!". This event was organized by senior lecturers of the UNESCO Department for Sustainable Development, O.A. Zubova, B.H. Tussupova and K.K. Khamitova, and was an important step in supporting the local ecosystem, as well as in raising awareness among young people about the need to take care of wintering birds.

As part of the campaign, students donated bird food to the Botanical Garden of Almaty. Earlier, the staff of the Botanical Garden asked the townspeople to bring food for birds, as it became difficult for them to find food in nature due to heavy snowfalls. The students responded to this call, demonstrating their concern for the preservation of the city's biodiversity. Their task was not only to collect and bring bird food, but also to help spread information about the importance of caring for wintering birds among the townspeople.

Students' participation in the campaign is directly related to the ideas of sustainable development, which are key to SDG 15, Namely ecosystem restoration, Conservation of biodiversity and ensuring the sustainable existence of various species of animals and plants. The students showed how the younger generation can participate in solving the environmental problems of the city, contributing to the preservation and improvement of the ecosystem. They realized how important it is not only to conduct scientific research, but also to actively participate in real environmental projects in which knowledge and skills can be put into practice. This became an important step for them in the formation of sustainable ecological thinking, which will accompany them in their future professional activities.