Gives a synopsis of the ways of disseminating environmental information in rural areas in Botswana. Nata village, a rural community in Botswana was used as a case study. The study employed a questionnaire survey to identify the various ways of disseminating environmental information and the barriers to its free flow to the rural populace. The barriers identified are: poor attendance to tribal gatherings, low coverage of environmental information by the mass media and poor level of community participation in rural projects. The study concludes by making recommendations on how the flow of environmental information could be improved. Some suggestions for further investigation are identified.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
1. Ostman, R.E. and J.L. Parker. A Public’s Environmental Information Sources and Evaluations of Mass Media. Journal of Environmental Education, vol. 18 (2) 1987, pp. 9–17.
2.
2. Holdgate, M.W.Overview: Our Threatened World. Polunin, N. and Burnett, J. (1993). Surviving with the Biosphere: Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Environmental Future. (4th ICE) held in Budapest, Hungary, During 22–23 April 1990. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. 1993, pp. 1–21.
3.
3. Government of Botswana. Population of Towns and Associated Localities in August 1991. Botswana: Central Statistics Office, 1992.
7. Government of Botswana. Population of Towns and Associated Localities in August 1991. Botswana: Central Statistics Office, 1992.
8.
8. United Nations. Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development: Rio de Janeiro, 3–14 June 1992. Vol. I & III, 1993.
9.
9. Keiser, E.B.Environmental Information Update. FID News Bulletin. Vol. 43 (1) 1993, p. 11-11.
10.
10. Moemeka, A.A.Communication in National Development: the case of mass media in Rural Development. Informatologia Yugoslavica, vol. 17 (1/2) 1985, pp. 177–185.
11.
11. Kaberia, E.W.Suggested Ways of Improving the Nature and Delivery Methods in Environmental Information in Kenya. Information Trend News Magazine: Review of Development in Information Studies in the Eastern and Southern Region, Vol. 4 (2) 1991, pp. 83–88.
12.
12. Sturges, P. and G. Chimseu. Information Repackaging in Malawi. African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science. Vol. 6 (2) 1996, pp. 85–93.
13.
13. Smyth, J. and Stapp, W.B.Learning to Survive with the Biosphere. Polunin, N. and Burnett, J. (1993). Surviving with the Biosphere: Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Environmental Future. (4th ICE) held in Budapest, Hungary, during 22–23 April 1990. Edinburgh University Press, 1993, pp.244–252.
14.
14. Caws, P.Information Instruction and the Environment. Environment, vol. 25, 1983, pp. 25–29.
15.
15. Moemeka, A.A.Communication in National Development: the case of mass Media in Rural Development. Informatologia Yugoslavica, vol. 17 (1/2) 1985, pp. 177–185.
16.
16. Kaungamno, E.E.Development of Information Systems in Rural Africa. SCECSAL: Libraries and Information Services as Instruments of Transition in the 21st Century; Proceedings of the SCECSAL; Lusaka. October 4–9 1976. Zambia Library Association; Lusaka, 1978.
17.
17. Friedman, S.M.Environmental Reporting: Problem Child of the Media. Environment, vol. 25 (10) 1983, pp. 25–29.
18.
18. Mbuya, T.The Role of the Media in Environmental Education. Environmental Education in Botswana: A Planning Conference. Gaborone, 1992, pp.138–140.
19.
19. Schoenfeld, A.C.The Press and NEPA: The Case of the Missing Agenda. Journalism Quarterly, vol. 56 (3) 1979, pp. 577–585.
20.
20. Kaberia, E.W.Suggested ways of Improving the Nature and Delivery Methods in Environmental Information in Kenya. Information Trend News Magazine: Review of Development in Information Studies in the Eastern and Southern Region, vol. 4 (2) 1991, pp. 83–88.
21.
21. Legwaila, M. and B. Garebakwena. Methods of Information Provision to Rural Communities in Botswana: The Village Reading Room. A Seminar on Information Provision to Rural Communities in Africa. Proceedings of the Seminar Held in Gaborone, Botswana; 22–25 June 1994. Organized by the IFLA and Instutions IFLA 9ALP, ASCA and ROA) in Cooperation with the University of Botswana, BNLS and the Department of Non-formal Education, Botswana. Gaborone: 1994, pp. 63–70.
22.
22. Mchombu, K.Information Needs and Seeking Patterns for Rural People’s Development Africa. Gaborone; INFORD Research Project, 1993.
23.
23. IUCN. The Environmental Expertise Index for 1995. IUCN, 1995.
24.
24. Government of Botswana. Botswana: A Review of Commerce and Industry. 14th ed., Gaborone, B&T Directories, 1995.
25.
25. Mchombu, K.Information Needs and Seeking Patterns for Rural People’s Development Africa. Gaborone; INFORD Research Project, 1992.
26.
26. Lutts, R.H.Place, Home and Story in Environmental Education. Journal of Environmental Education, vol. 17 (1) 1985, pp. 37–41.
