Empowering the Next Generation of Water Conservationists

One of the many exciting collaborations that grew from the highly successful Biodiversity Science Education Program last year was a new partnership between Landcare NT, Territory Native Plants, and Power and Water Corporation focused on educating students about the importance of caring for our precious water resources.

Pilot water education sessions were added to Landcare NT’s existing Flora, Fauna Biodiversity Science Educations initiative, and successfully trialed across four schools, in the Palmerston and Litchfield areas.

These discussion-based lessons were designed to foster a deeper understanding of the critical role water plays in our environment and encourage sustainable practices for the future. By examining the links between natural water cycles and dams, bores and other integrated water supplies, students gained a valuable understanding of the impacts of a growing population on our water resources.

This knowledge aims to empower them to make informed decisions about water conservation and contribute to a more sustainable future. The biggest surprise for students was to find out that Darwin, with the smallest population of Australia’s capital cities, has the highest water usage rate in the country with lawns being the biggest contributor to this figure.

We extend our gratitude to Naomi Rae, PowerWater, and our trial schools – Bees Creek Primary School, Good Shepherd Howard Springs and Zuccoli Primary School - for their dedication to this initiative. We are looking forward to discussions in 2025 to see how we can continue to work together to nurture our next generation of environmental leaders and promote a culture of water conservation and sustainability in the Top End.