Prototyping Field-Based Learning via Agro-Eco-Edu-Tourism

As an alternative tourism, ecotourism is defined as the traveling activity to the natural areas responsibly involves preserving the environment, supporting local economies, and providing interpretation and education. The aim of ecotourism is to ensure the connectivity of tourism and conservation. This concept of ecotourism is employed to develop and design the prototype of Agro-Eco-Edu-Tourism (AEET) at SEAMEO BIOTROP. AEET combines agro-, eco-, and edu-tourism with aiming to promote agricultural product, environmental conservation, and learning package to increase the community's skills and well-being in implementing the concept of AEET. The development of learning prototypes is crucial and plays an important role as the field-based learning model for the users or visitors. For this needs, SEAMEO BIOTROP develops five prototypes that can be a model for the "off class"education, where the visitors can learn about biodiversity out of their classroom. The developed prototypes are Aquatic Garden, Stingless Bee Garden, Sensory and Therapeutic Garden, Smart-Agriculture Hydroponic, and BIOTROP Science and Technology Expo. The development of those prototypes is expected to be the field-based learning model for biodiversity conservation education. The AEET is designed to become a "showcase"of biodiversity in Southeast Asia. The AEET can also be a great tool to educate public about biodiversity with a "fun"way as a bridge for connecting education and conservation aspects. This approach can be offered as an alternative way to educate the public about biodiversity conservation which is important to sustain the environmental earth.