The importance of Awareness & Education

1.The importance of awareness: how aware are we In Suriname regarding mangroves?

2. Activities on Awareness and mangroves in Suriname

Mrs. Loes Trustfull

Awareness isn’t all but it’s the first step

1.

White: you’re not at all aware of what’s happening around you, unprepared—and sometimes, unwilling

Yellow: you’re aware of the people and events taking place around you. You are willing to act if need be, although you don’t believe it will be needed.

Orange: you have become aware of a specific danger and you are prepared to counter that danger if you need to.

Red: you must act immediately to save your life.

(Er worden ook andere kleuren gebruikt……)

the codes indicate levels of awareness and willingness to

act.

Photo: Tony Alexander/Smart Productions NV

RAISING AWARENESS AND APPRECIATIONfor mangroves (preservation, protection, regeneration, research, alternative livehoods, etc.)

2.

MANGROVES: RAISING AWARENESS AND APPRECIATION

Are we in Suriname generally aware:• That coastal communities in Suriname are highly vulnerable to sea level rise and will need

to adapt. Global assessments of climate risk and vulnerability reports, play an important role in the development of local adaptation policies.

• What are the facts of a hard structure against mangroves? (costs, maintenance, environment, validation of mangroves, etc?)

• That mangrove ecosystems play an important role as habitat to fish and crabs? • Of the more complex environmental conditions affecting this unique ecotone between

land and sea? Do we know the details these relationships, the various benefits, the drivers of change, and their effects on an inherent vulnerability of mangroves?

• Who is responsible for the destruction? (fisherman, land owners, the government? What can we do?

• What do we know about Guyana, our neighbor? (Mangrove Restoration Project)• What about our curriculum?• Where are the data?Is the general public well informed? Our parliament etc.?

Regional Stakeholders’ Workshop on Mangrove Restoration in Guyana; Recommendations1.More community meetings to focus on small groups. 2.More youth education, possible through schools with the Ministry of Education. 3More community involvement in the project 4.ntroduce Mangrove as a topic in Geography 5.Interschool debating competitions 6.Have school talks by mangrove project personnel 7.Educate students on Mangrove Management and Restoration 8.Educational tours to deforested mangrove areas 9.Conference on mangrove restoration which will include the Caribbean and South American countries 10.Increase public awareness on the importance of mangroves 11.Public awareness program needs to include signage near mangrove sites prohibiting person from dumping garbage in the mangrove and from destroying the mangroves 12. Public awareness program should target fishermen to educate them on the damage caused to the mangroves forest and effects this would have on their fishing.13. etc………………………..

Some activities regarding public awareness:• Educational material (films/books) SCF (3 films),

Mrs H. Berrenstein (book, film), L. Trustfull (books, films, fieldtrips), Nature Management (Mangrove Educational Centre Coronie)

“Youth in action for mangroves” FBpage: Choose your side, choose for mangroves in Suriname

Awareness and EducationFor students: Mangroves are a valuable educational resource and they are the focus of much study and constant wonder. Aspects of mangrove ecology are an important part of the curriculum of many schools abroad and a number of universities.

Marvellous MangrovesA Curriculum-Based Teachers’ Resource GuideMartin Keeley

For the coastal communities / general public

*Mangrove workshops for communities

OBJECTIVES OF THE WORKSHOP -To review and discuss a National Mangrove Management Plan from different stakeholders’ perspective - To understand how different stakeholders are affected in different ways -To understand the recommendation presented by different stakeholders

The process will link people and research and provide ideas for howwe plan the next steps and what is relevant for the analysis, through facilitated participatory group discussions

* Development of awareness material: books, flyers, radio & tv spots

* Information about Legislation and regulation

THANK YOU!