Mangrove Action Project Receives Disney Conservation Grant
PORT ANGELES, WA: 15 September 2014: Mangrove Action Project (MAP) has been
awarded a $24,300.00 grant from the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF).
The conservation grant recognizes Mangrove Action Project’s efforts to educate
young people throughout the world on the vital importance of mangrove wetlands,
in this instance the focus is on introducing MAP’s “Marvellous Mangroves”
curriculum to Bangladeshi schools.
awarded a $24,300.00 grant from the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF).
The conservation grant recognizes Mangrove Action Project’s efforts to educate
young people throughout the world on the vital importance of mangrove wetlands,
in this instance the focus is on introducing MAP’s “Marvellous Mangroves”
curriculum to Bangladeshi schools.
“Bangladesh is the twelfth country throughout the world
where MAP has begun the process of translating, adapting, researching and
introducing “Marvellous Mangroves” – a 300-page curriculum linked teaching
resource guide,” said MAP Global Education Director Martin Keeley. “The Disney
grant will enable us to complete this exciting program for the home of and
inspire local people to protect the magnificent Sundarbans mangrove forest.”
where MAP has begun the process of translating, adapting, researching and
introducing “Marvellous Mangroves” – a 300-page curriculum linked teaching
resource guide,” said MAP Global Education Director Martin Keeley. “The Disney
grant will enable us to complete this exciting program for the home of and
inspire local people to protect the magnificent Sundarbans mangrove forest.”
In the past twelve years, thousands of teachers and over
250,000 students in eleven countries worldwide have learned through exciting
hands-on science the wonders of tropical mangrove wetlands through the Mangrove
Action Project. The expansion and adaptation of MAP’s innovative education
program into Bangladesh will include recent additions focusing on restoration,
ecotourism and research. The Marvelous Mangroves Teachers’ Resource Guide will
become the core of community understanding of mangrove ecology.
250,000 students in eleven countries worldwide have learned through exciting
hands-on science the wonders of tropical mangrove wetlands through the Mangrove
Action Project. The expansion and adaptation of MAP’s innovative education
program into Bangladesh will include recent additions focusing on restoration,
ecotourism and research. The Marvelous Mangroves Teachers’ Resource Guide will
become the core of community understanding of mangrove ecology.
In Bangladesh, MAP is teaming with the Coastal Livelihood
and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN, formerly Humanity Watch) which has
several decades of successes behind it and concentrates its efforts on the
southwest coastal zone of Bangladesh.
With a special focus on the Sundarbans, CLEAN has an strong track record
of working with communities in the world’s largest mangrove forest. MAP’s
education program will reinforce CLEAN’s philosophies of local community
involvement. While focusing specifically on the Mangrove Curriculum, it is
essential to recognize that MAP’s principales of conservation and&
restoration have many years of successful implementation in the communities the
group serves.
and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN, formerly Humanity Watch) which has
several decades of successes behind it and concentrates its efforts on the
southwest coastal zone of Bangladesh.
With a special focus on the Sundarbans, CLEAN has an strong track record
of working with communities in the world’s largest mangrove forest. MAP’s
education program will reinforce CLEAN’s philosophies of local community
involvement. While focusing specifically on the Mangrove Curriculum, it is
essential to recognize that MAP’s principales of conservation and&
restoration have many years of successful implementation in the communities the
group serves.
The Disney funding will allow the production and publication
of Marvelous Mangroves in Bangladesh as well as enabling enable the operation
facilitation of several teachers’ workshops incorporating Marvellous Mangroves
into the existing schools curriculum.
of Marvelous Mangroves in Bangladesh as well as enabling enable the operation
facilitation of several teachers’ workshops incorporating Marvellous Mangroves
into the existing schools curriculum.
According to Hasan Mehedi, CLEAN’s Chief Executive, the
Sundarbans region is included in both the UN’s World Heritage Sites, and
Ramsar’s critical wetlands. “The mangrove forest here plays a crucial role in
reducing the vulnerabilities of climate change including cyclones, coastal
flooding and tidal surges,” says Mr. Mehedi. “It also acts as one of the
world’s largest fish breeding sites which contributes to the livelihoods of
over100,000 fisher folk. Around one million people depend on the Sundarbans for
their lives and livelihoods,” he adds.
Sundarbans region is included in both the UN’s World Heritage Sites, and
Ramsar’s critical wetlands. “The mangrove forest here plays a crucial role in
reducing the vulnerabilities of climate change including cyclones, coastal
flooding and tidal surges,” says Mr. Mehedi. “It also acts as one of the
world’s largest fish breeding sites which contributes to the livelihoods of
over100,000 fisher folk. Around one million people depend on the Sundarbans for
their lives and livelihoods,” he adds.
The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund focuses on protecting
wildlife and connecting kids and families with nature. Since its founding in
1995, DWCF has provided more than $25 million to support conservation programs
in 114 countries. Projects were selected to receive awards based upon their
efforts to study wildlife, protect habitats and develop community conservation
and education programs in critical ecosystems.
wildlife and connecting kids and families with nature. Since its founding in
1995, DWCF has provided more than $25 million to support conservation programs
in 114 countries. Projects were selected to receive awards based upon their
efforts to study wildlife, protect habitats and develop community conservation
and education programs in critical ecosystems.
The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund works to protect
species and habitats, and connect kids to nature to help develop lifelong
conservation values. Since its founding in 1995, DWCF has supported more than
1,000 conservation programs in 112 countries with over $25 million in
contributions. The DWCF is focused on supporting nonprofit organizations that
provide expertise and solutions to make positive conservation impacts
worldwide.
species and habitats, and connect kids to nature to help develop lifelong
conservation values. Since its founding in 1995, DWCF has supported more than
1,000 conservation programs in 112 countries with over $25 million in
contributions. The DWCF is focused on supporting nonprofit organizations that
provide expertise and solutions to make positive conservation impacts
worldwide.
For information on Disney’s commitment to conserve nature
visit www.disney.com/conservation.
visit www.disney.com/conservation.
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About The Mangrove Action Project: Witnessing firsthand the
rapid devastation of the world’s mangrove forest wetlands and their associated coastal
ecosystems, the founders of the Mangrove Action Project (MAP) decided in 1992
that it was time to form a global network to address the problems of mangrove
loss worldwide. MAP has grown steadily during the last 20 + years to become a
respected member of the global environmental movement. MAP’s international network has grown to
include over 500 NGOs and 350 scientists and academics from over 60
nations. In recent years, MAP has
transformed from a network-and advocacy focused organization into one still
involved in advocacy, but with programs and activities on the ground, supported
through local offices in Thailand and Indonesia, as well as close partner
groups in S. Asia, Latin America and S. Africa.
MAP’s pro-active approach to long-term mangrove conservation
involves: education, advocacy,
collaboration, conservation and restoration, as well as sustainable
community-based development. Learn more at MangroveActionProject.org
rapid devastation of the world’s mangrove forest wetlands and their associated coastal
ecosystems, the founders of the Mangrove Action Project (MAP) decided in 1992
that it was time to form a global network to address the problems of mangrove
loss worldwide. MAP has grown steadily during the last 20 + years to become a
respected member of the global environmental movement. MAP’s international network has grown to
include over 500 NGOs and 350 scientists and academics from over 60
nations. In recent years, MAP has
transformed from a network-and advocacy focused organization into one still
involved in advocacy, but with programs and activities on the ground, supported
through local offices in Thailand and Indonesia, as well as close partner
groups in S. Asia, Latin America and S. Africa.
MAP’s pro-active approach to long-term mangrove conservation
involves: education, advocacy,
collaboration, conservation and restoration, as well as sustainable
community-based development. Learn more at MangroveActionProject.org