Mangrove Clubs promote Mangrove Conservation
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Mangrove Club leaders of Comrade Ratan Sen Collegiate Girls School with MAP’s Education Director Martin A. Keeley, CLEAN’s Chief Executive Hasan Mehedi and Education Coordinator Rezaul Karim Zitu |
Mangrove Club
http://cleanbd.org/index.php/mangrove-club/
There is a long list of contributing factors that are degrading the
mangroves of the Sundarbans on a daily basis: lack of public awareness about the
importance of mangroves, illegal poaching and logging, industrial pollution,
urbanization, unplanned mega projects like adjacent thermal power plants,
dockyard and silos, unwise resource collection by the traders, frequent natural
disasters, irresponsible tourism, commercial shrimp farming, excessive use of
chemical fertilizer and pesticides, lack of accountability and responsibility
of authorities and absence of participatory forest management.
mangroves of the Sundarbans on a daily basis: lack of public awareness about the
importance of mangroves, illegal poaching and logging, industrial pollution,
urbanization, unplanned mega projects like adjacent thermal power plants,
dockyard and silos, unwise resource collection by the traders, frequent natural
disasters, irresponsible tourism, commercial shrimp farming, excessive use of
chemical fertilizer and pesticides, lack of accountability and responsibility
of authorities and absence of participatory forest management.
Education on the ecology and importance of the Sundarbans mangroves
is vital for conservation and sustainable use of the mangrove forest. But the schools’
national curriculum does not place enough importance on mangrove ecology. So,
the previous and current generations have grown up with very little knowledge
and sensitivity of the mangrove forest and its biodiversity. There are also severe
problems involving the typical learning process, which follows a strict
text-based lecture method without any practical or hands-on scientific activities.
is vital for conservation and sustainable use of the mangrove forest. But the schools’
national curriculum does not place enough importance on mangrove ecology. So,
the previous and current generations have grown up with very little knowledge
and sensitivity of the mangrove forest and its biodiversity. There are also severe
problems involving the typical learning process, which follows a strict
text-based lecture method without any practical or hands-on scientific activities.
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Distributing Magnifying lenses to a Mangrove Club |
Students
can play a vital role to change the direction from destruction to the dream of
ecological bounty and health. Recognising the potential role of children and
adolescents as social advocates, CLEAN initiated the formation of Mangrove Clubs
in 7 secondary schools in the Sundarbans adjacent areas. The clubs motivate the
students to study science; to protect the Sundarbans mangrove forest; to build
awareness within and beyond their communities and ultimately to implement the
Marvellous Mangroves Curriculum to build an environmentally-friendly and
conscious future generation.
Mangrove Club is a way to lead active children and adolescent
students towards conservation education. Mangrove Club’s mission is to create a
new generation that is environmentally-sensitive, knowledge-based and conscious
citizens. It is a structure which allows students to play the role of a
scientist, a teacher and a conservation activist. Mangrove Club is an organized
team of students and their teachers which runs independently, and creates
self-confidence in both young and adolescent students.
students towards conservation education. Mangrove Club’s mission is to create a
new generation that is environmentally-sensitive, knowledge-based and conscious
citizens. It is a structure which allows students to play the role of a
scientist, a teacher and a conservation activist. Mangrove Club is an organized
team of students and their teachers which runs independently, and creates
self-confidence in both young and adolescent students.
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| Students thrive in hands-on learning experience |
STRUCTURE
Students from ages 11-16 (Class-VI to X) are at the centre of
Mangrove Clubs. Any of them can join in the club by filling-out a prescribed
application with membership dues of only Taka 10.00 (USD 0.12), and by taking an
oath to conserve their local environment – especially mangroves. The members
elect 9-11 Club Team members with one senior student playing the role of
Captain together with two Vice Captains. At least one representative from each
class must be part of the Team. The Team members help their teachers to
facilitate Mangrove Education in classes and on field trips as co-facilitators.
They also facilitate hand-on activities in peer groups. Three teachers, including
at least one with a science background, facilitate the Mangrove Clubs as
Educators. The Headmaster or Principal of the institution takes the honorary position
of Patron of the Club.
Mangrove Clubs. Any of them can join in the club by filling-out a prescribed
application with membership dues of only Taka 10.00 (USD 0.12), and by taking an
oath to conserve their local environment – especially mangroves. The members
elect 9-11 Club Team members with one senior student playing the role of
Captain together with two Vice Captains. At least one representative from each
class must be part of the Team. The Team members help their teachers to
facilitate Mangrove Education in classes and on field trips as co-facilitators.
They also facilitate hand-on activities in peer groups. Three teachers, including
at least one with a science background, facilitate the Mangrove Clubs as
Educators. The Headmaster or Principal of the institution takes the honorary position
of Patron of the Club.
ACTIVITIES
§
Learning basic science related
to the national curriculum in and out of classrooms. This includes:
Learning basic science related
to the national curriculum in and out of classrooms. This includes:
§
Recognizing and knowing
mangrove microorganisms, and related flora and fauna, soil and water;
Recognizing and knowing
mangrove microorganisms, and related flora and fauna, soil and water;
§
Making presentations on
mangroves in their school and to other students;
Making presentations on
mangroves in their school and to other students;
§
Organizing in the schools regular discussion, debate, art competition,
knowledge games, essay competitions and other programs on mangroves and
wetlands.
Organizing in the schools regular discussion, debate, art competition,
knowledge games, essay competitions and other programs on mangroves and
wetlands.
§
Visiting mangrove forests
periodically for observation, hands-on knowledge and research purposes;
Visiting mangrove forests
periodically for observation, hands-on knowledge and research purposes;
§
Meeting media to inform them
about education techniques and their research findings on mangrove forest and wetlands;
Meeting media to inform them
about education techniques and their research findings on mangrove forest and wetlands;
§
Celebrating national and
international days related with wetlands, mangroves and environment to build
awareness in their communities;
Celebrating national and
international days related with wetlands, mangroves and environment to build
awareness in their communities;
§
Working in their own
communities to educate families, friends and community leaders on the
importance of mangroves including their unique characteristics;
Working in their own
communities to educate families, friends and community leaders on the
importance of mangroves including their unique characteristics;
§
Taking action on any disastrous
situation including serious pollution in mangroves;
Taking action on any disastrous
situation including serious pollution in mangroves;
§
Building the awareness of
tourists about the role and importance of mangrove forests;
Building the awareness of
tourists about the role and importance of mangrove forests;
§
Establishing databases for
water quality, plant and animal species types and number, etc. plus ongoing
data collection as part of the monitoring process;
Establishing databases for
water quality, plant and animal species types and number, etc. plus ongoing
data collection as part of the monitoring process;
§
Gathering information on
threatened and endangered species and take action to protect them;
Gathering information on
threatened and endangered species and take action to protect them;
§
Promoting dissemination and
replication of Marvellous Mangrove Curriculum in other schools and
organizations
Promoting dissemination and
replication of Marvellous Mangrove Curriculum in other schools and
organizations
Schools
§ Abul Hossain Girls High School, Khulna | § Belfulia Islamia Collegiate School, Khulna | |
§ Channir Chak LC Collegiate School, Khulna | § Com. Ratan Sen Collegiate Girls School, Khulna | |
§ Laudob-Badamtala High School, Khulna | § Surkhali High School, Khulna | |
TA Faruq Collegiate School, Bagerhat | ||
Spread your
hands to the Children to make change!
hands to the Children to make change!
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