There were 9 nominees in the competition Environmental Award of the Year 2011 and 14 nominees for the Small Environmental Award of the Year 2011.
The category Environmental Award of the Year 2011
NGO Wildlife Estonia – for the project “Happy Fish“, winner
The aim of the project was to recover the spawning grounds of the fish in the River Emajõgi and increase the mouths of the oxbow lakes of the River Emajõgi by cleaning out sludge and cutting down shrub from the meadows. It is not only the fish, who benefit from the project, but also nature protection agencies, anglers and boaters. The jury pointed out that this was the most large-scale nature protection project ever carried out in Estonia, the project included both the aspects of research and environmental education, and it had an extensive positive impact on the environment.
Recognized with a letter of thanks
- Ahto Kaasik’s “Guidelines for Managing Sacred Natural Sites” – Ahto Kaasik organized the information days of the Guidelines for Managing Sacred Natural Sites of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUNC) with the aim of raising public awareness of the topic of sacred natural sites.
- Andres Eilart’s book “Brushstroke Estonia“ – in the year 2011, the book “Brushstroke Estonia” by Aavo Kokk and Andres Eilart was published, combining the means of expression of nature and culture, thus achieving an outstanding environment educational effect.
The category Small Environmental Award of the Year 2011
JCI GO Koda for the project “Raising Children’s Awareness on the Topic of Waste”; winner.
The aim of the project was to raise children’s awareness of waste. The emphasis was on waste, sorting waste and showing the different possibilities of recycling waste. The majority of waste-related projects aimed at children are regional and campaign-based, while different environmental mascots carry a generally similar message. The aim was to harmonize the message expressed by different existing characters by bringing them together in the puppet show “Garbage Wolf and Super Rabbit” and gather different learning materials promoting environmental conservation. The puppet show that was staged as a part of the project was played to almost 6,000 children in schools and nursery schools all over Estonia, altogether 50 times. The show was also recorded on a DVD which was given to all the Estonian nursery schools and schools free of charge, so it could be used in lessons. The DVD also includes learning material about waste sorting at home, information about what happens to the waste after that, how to recycle garbage and other fun material on the topic of waste.
Recognized with a letter of thanks
- NGO East Estonian Waste Centre “Waste notebook”
A good learning material for nursery schools and primary schools, aimed at children aged 5–8 years. The notebook includes pictures that show how dangerous waste is to nature, explains the different types of waste and teaches how to sort them.
- Central Estonian Youth Work Centre’s Program “Save the Forest!”
The year 2011 is dedicated to the forest. The activities in the program “Save the Forest” 2011 were planned based on the theme of the year.
- NGO Keila Roheline Punkt “Environmental month and environmental day at Keila School“
This year, ENVIRONMENTAL MONTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL DAY were held at Keila School with the aim of increasing the environmental awareness of children and teenagers through different environment-related activities, bringing change to the everyday school life and thereby consolidating the implementation of environmental education.
- Tuule Nursery School’s small environmental deed
Tuule Nursery School in Tallinn has been paying attention to the green surroundings in Lasnamäe over the recent years. Working together with the nursery school teachers, they have prepared several instructions for study trails for other nursery schools in Tallinn.
- AS Väätsa Prügila landfill’s campaign Vabapaber (Free Paper)
The AS Väätsa Prügila landfill has been organizing waste paper collection campaigns at schools since the year 2003. In addition to schools of Järva and Rapla counties, also other educational institutions from Rapla County participate in the campaign. The aim of the campaign is to save natural resources by collecting waste paper and recycling it, thereby reducing the amounts of waste paper going in the landfill.
- Vigri Nursery School’s project “Raising the environmental awareness at Vigri Nursery School“
At least 8–10 events were planned (carrying out forest-themed active learning classes and days; this is a direct activity in order to teach children to know, love and appreciate the surrounding environment). The topics treated included environmentally friendly waste management, water management, protected plant species, protection of birds and the forest.
- Two Kärstna School’s projects: “Clean road sides” and “Environmentally educating activities via study trips at Kärstna School”
Kärstna School organized the cleaning action of roadsides for its students; they cleaned altogether more than 50 km of ditches and roadsides around the Kärstna village centre.