“Holding Back the Sea” launched

Jan 29, 2012 News

The Mangrove Action Committee’s documentary, “Holding Back the Sea” provides

information on the usefulness of and importance of preserving mangroves and would soon be available in secondary schools along the coastline.
According to Annette Arjoon-Martins, Chairperson, Mangrove Action Committee, this development comes under the Mangroves Restoration Project’s education and awareness component. It is the most successful aspect of this project, funded by the European Union and Government of Guyana.
She made those remarks at the launching of the documentary yesterday at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development, Kingston.
Arjoon-Martins emphasized that this documentary will complement the Secondary Schools’ Manual on mangroves that were distributed last year. In addition, teachers will be trained to utilize the manual as a learning tool during the first week of February.

Attendees at the launching of “Holding Back the Sea”

This year the committee would create a manual which would target tertiary institutions. The project also has a research component that secondary school and tertiary students could access funding to conduct researches.
Beyond the learning institutions, the private sector and other agencies have sponsored billboards, free of cost, promoting the preservation of mangroves. In addition, Guyana Explore magazine carried articles about the programme. This resulted in tourists visiting the Mangroves Visitors Centres.
According to Olato Sam, Chief Education Officer, Ministry of Education, this collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the Mangrove Action Committee holds great promise and much of these elements are infused currently into our curriculum.
He said that their partnership helps to change the behaviour of youths, heightening their awareness levels and certainly ensuring they have requisite knowledge and skills to promote effective mangroves management practices in their respective communities.
“One of the hardest things to orchestrate, particularly at a national level is behavioural change in that regard I think the Ministry of Education is ideally poised to make a significant impact on furthering behavioural change,” Sam noted.
He stressed that research has shown that well beyond legislation, consumerism and the other forms of advocacy education, particularly the education of our young children has the most impact on changing behaviour as it relates to environmental consciousness.
Sam stated, “The role of the Learning in Channel in this regard is paramount. Guyana’s economic wellbeing is tied to the safety and protection of coastal resources. So our students need to be aware of the usefulness of mangroves and their value in protecting the environment.”