As a fellow of Salzburg Global, Ian Mostert of IVN Nature Education made an important contribution to the Salzburg Statement on Nature-Based Education. Together with 47 experts from 20 countries, he contributed to recommendations calling on governments, schools and civil society organisations to structurally integrate nature into the curriculum.
Photo credit: Richard Schabetsberger.
1 million green schoolyards worldwide
One of the recommendations is to make schoolyards greener. “By literally bringing nature closer, we create places where children learn, exercise and discover through play,” says Ian Mostert. “Education in nature is good for academic performance, health and a sense of connection with nature. Moreover, a green schoolyard can benefit an entire neighbourhood by being designed as a green living room for the community. This gives all children—including those younger than primary-school age and children from disadvantaged neighbourhoods—the opportunity to grow up in contact with nature.”
The statement calls for investment in green schoolyards and outdoor lessons, with the ambition of creating 1 million green schoolyards worldwide by 2040. In the Netherlands, IVN is already actively working on this, including through the Healthy Schoolyards programme with Jantje Beton and the Van Leer Foundation. IVN also organises the annual Outdoor Lesson Day and, with support from the Dutch Postcode Lottery, works together with pioneer schools that embrace nature-rich education.
“I am pleased and proud that we can share our experience from the Netherlands with other countries and learn from the wealth of knowledge of our partners around the world. Together, we are contributing to an international movement,” says Ian Mostert. “We previously did this during exchanges with policymakers from countries including Ethiopia, Jordan, Brazil and India. With this call from a leading think tank, that joint movement is receiving an additional boost.”