On July 17, 65 members of ASEZ STAR, the Church of God Student Volunteer Group, from the Buenos Aires and Santa Fe regions in Argentina visited an environmental education center in the city of Buenos Aires. There, they participated in caring for native plants and cleaning up the surrounding gardens. The Environmental Education Center offers a variety of hands-on environmental programs and features facilities such as a native plant nursery, soil garden, and hydroponic garden, serving as an interactive space for environmental learning for the public.
Upon arriving at the center, the members received a lesson from the staff on the definition and importance of biodiversity, as well as the role of native plants1. These plants, which grow naturally in the region without human intervention, are essential for maintaining biodiversity and contributing to ecosystem stability—making their preservation all the more important. The students then transplanted seedlings of Argentina’s endemic species, Daphnopsis racemosa and Setaria lachnea, into individual pots.
1. A plant that grows naturally in a certain area without artificial protection or intervention. In a narrower sense, it refers to indigenous plants that have originally existed in that region.
Following the planting activity, the members collected and sorted waste around the center to create a cleaner, healthier environment for the plants to thrive. In recognition of their efforts, the center awarded the participants with certificates of appreciation.
Santiago Lázaro (15), an ASEZ STAR member, said, “Even though I’m just a student and can’t do everything, I want to take responsibility for what I can do and help protect the environment.”
A representative from the center expressed gratitude, saying, “What ASEZ STAR is doing is incredibly important. You, who care about the environment, are the future of our society.”
