Children were in the past instructed to be ‘seen and not heard’; but no more; and yesterday the Mangrove Action Committee (MAC) took their public awareness campaign to a new level by including children from the Hope Community, East Coast Demerara, in a ‘Mangrove Camp’.
Over 30 children participated in the camp, despite overcast conditions and a bit of drizzle.
The day camp, an interactive session, aimed at making the youngsters more aware of the Guyana National Mangrove Restoration Project (GRMP) and inviting their perspective on the project, through creative means – primarily drawing.
Under the $100M government funded programme, the GMRP aims to promote sustainable management of mangrove forest; develop effective protection of mangrove ecosystem and rehabilitation; increase public awareness and education on the benefits of the mangrove forests; establish and complete a legal framework for mangrove ecosystem management; encourage community-based mangrove management; and establish the administrative capacity for the management of mangroves in Guyana.
The project is managed by the MAC within the Climate Change and Agricultural Adaptation Unit of Guyana’s National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) of the Ministry of Agriculture.
As part of the efforts to protect, manage and restore mangroves in Guyana, planting started at the Hope Beach last week and by the end of this week, 13 acres are expected to be covered with mangrove plants.
Chairperson of MAC, Mrs. Annette Arjoon-Martins, told the Guyana Chronicle, that in every area where there is planting ongoing; similar camps will be held to involve the children.
“We have done our regional consultations, met with focal groups and held several community outreaches, but the children are as equally important as the adults in the community, which is why we are holding the camp,” she said.
Arjoon-Martins explained that young minds are easy to mould and as children they are open to new information.
More importantly, she said, for every child that is engaged in the project, there are two parents and siblings that the conservation message reaches.
“We hope that the children will take ownership of this project and play their role in protecting the mangrove forests,” the MAC Chair said.
In a broader context, she noted that the GMRP is progressing as per schedule and made it clear that the partnerships formed along the way have advanced efforts.
Arjoon-Martins said a collaborative approach is the only way more success will be had.
In an invited comment, GMRP Coordinator, Bissasar Chintamanie, said the Mangrove Camp will be instrumental in breaking down for children the concepts of coastland ecology and biodiversity.
The session, he explained, will see the children involved in depicting on paper their environment, and based on how much they know, they will be engaged to boost their understanding.
“They will be able to better appreciate their environment,” Chintamanie said.