Schools must teach students to protect the environment

The broadcaster and documentary maker, Sir David Attenborough, who turned 99 on May 8, has spent a lifetime reminding us of a basic truth: every breath we take and every mouthful of food we eat depends on the natural world.
His message is that human life and nature are inseparable, and that when the natural world is damaged, we all suffer.
He has often described the oceans as Earth’s most vital ecosystem. Healthy seas support marine life, help regulate the climate and play a central role in feeding the world.
If the oceans fail, the effects will not remain at the shoreline. They will spread through weather systems, food supplies and economies. Protecting the seas is therefore not a narrow environmental concern. It is a matter of survival. Attenborough’s belief is simple: people do not protect what they do not understand. That is why schools have such an important role to play. If children study different animals, trees, insects, rivers and seas, they are more likely to value them later in life.
Environmental care should not be treated as an optional subject or an occasional school project. It should be part of education from the start, alongside the other lessons that shape a child’s view of the world. This matters because the damage is already visible.
Climate change and the loss of rare wildlife are no longer distant warnings. They are realities we can see around us.
Yet Attenborough has never argued that the future is lost. Through initiatives such as the Earthshot Prize - an environmental award created by Prince William in 2020 - he has supported practical ideas that can be shared and expanded. His view is realistic but hopeful: the problems are serious, but solutions exist if people are willing to act.
There are encouraging signs in Oman. The government has taken steps to protect wildlife and preserve natural spaces, and those efforts deserve recognition.
Some time ago, I visited the Al Mouj golf course and was shown a small pond surrounded by reeds. It had been protected by law and several birds were nesting there, including some rare and endangered species.
As we walked towards the water, our guide mentioned that he had once seen an Osprey in the area. Almost at once as if on queue, the bird appeared overhead. It swooped down towards the sea with great speed, then rose again with a fish in its talons. It was a brief moment, but a memorable one. It showed how much beauty and balance can remain when people choose to leave space for nature.
That is the lesson: schools should help children learn about the natural world. They need more than facts about pollution and climate change. They need to develop a sense of wonder when looking at their natural environment and a responsibility to protect it.
If young people grow up understanding that a healthy environment and wildlife are not simply an interesting distraction but a necessity, they are more likely to defend them as adults.
The task is straightforward to describe, though perhaps more difficult to carry out. Use less plastic. Reduce harmful chemicals. Waste less. Respect all living things.
And above all, teach the next generation that the natural world is not separate from human life, but the foundation on which it depends.
Equally important is the protection of plants and trees. Forests and green spaces are vital to maintaining clean air, healthy soils and a stable climate.
Deforestation in some countries, especially in South America, must be stopped before more damage is done.