Adyghe State University's Department of Geography Celebrates Earth Day with a Series of Environmental Events

April 22 marks Earth Day, an international observance that underscores the vital importance of environmental stewardship. In honor of this occasion, the Department of Geography at Adyghe State University (ASU) organized a series of environmental events. These activities commenced on April 17 in the ASU courtyard and continue today, featuring eco-educational sessions in local schools in Maikop and the planting of boxwood in the mountains of Adygea.

On April 17, the ASU courtyard hosted the event titled "Sun and the Life of the Earth," which seamlessly integrated astronomy and ecology. The Department of Geography curated interactive stations for attendees, including training on telescope operation—guiding participants through the essential steps for successful astronomical observations—a presentation on the endangered flora of Adygea, and engaging environmental and geographic quizzes, with seeds awarded as prizes for correct answers.

"Distributing seeds for planting is a commendable initiative that promotes ecosystem support, enhances biodiversity, and contributes to making our surroundings more beautiful," remarked Fatima Tuguz, Head of the Geography Department.

As part of the campaign, participants were also encouraged to write a "Promise to the Earth" and share it on a communal canvas. Among the pledges were commitments such as "protect the planet," "avoid littering," and "perform acts of kindness for Earth."

On the same day, students and teachers visited the city park to refill squirrel feeders. After winter, the animals’ food supplies were nearly exhausted, and during spring—coinciding with the breeding season and dietary changes—additional support is especially vital. Participants in the "Living Earth" campaign placed food, including walnuts, hazelnuts, and sunflower seeds, into designated feeders, where they encountered one of the park’s squirrels.

Today, in celebration of Earth Day, the Geography Department is conducting themed eco-lessons at schools in Maykop. Students are learning how to give plastic a second life by transforming bottles into vibrant organizers, decorating rocks with messages for nature, and creating edible tree decorations—cardboard figures coated with paste and seeds—to support urban bird populations.

The highlight of the day is a boxwood planting campaign accompanied by a lecture titled "Rare and Endangered Plant Species of the Western Caucasus." The event is being held at the Gornoye Nasmorenie Recreation Center in the Maykop District, on the grounds of the Association of Ecologists' Interuniversity Ecological Forest Laboratory in Adygea, a designated field research facility. This relict plant species is currently threatened by the boxwood moth, an insect pest that can devastate entire stands.

All activities are organized by the Geography Department of Adyghe State University, which annually commemorates International Earth Day. Students—future educators in geography and biology—collaborate with their instructors to promote environmental awareness and contribute to regional ecological preservation. Their efforts range from educational quizzes to initiatives aimed at conserving rare plant species in the mountains of Adygea.