Marvellous Mangroves Connects CMCN and CLEAN
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Delegates from the Chinese Mangrove Conservation Network (CMCN) have
just returned from a ten-day visit to the Sundarbans hosted by our
friends at the Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN).
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| China Mangrove Conservation Network (CMCN), Putian Green Sprout Coastal Wetlands Research Center (PGSCWRC), SEE Foundation and Eco Peace Asia representatives in front of CLEAN Office, Khulna |
The original idea came from MAP’s Education Director Martin Keeley,
when he visited both China and India this past summer to work on the
continued spread of the Marvellous Mangroves curriculum. Mr. Liu Yi,
executive director of CMCN, was looking for a location to take his staff
to explore Asia’s mangroves forests. Martin suggested to Mr. Yi and his
assistant, Jessica Sun, that they contact Hasan Mehedi, executive
director of CLEAN, so they could explore the wonderful Sundarbans
mangrove forests.
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| CMCN, SEE Foundation and Ecopeace Asia representatives visited Belphulia Islamia Collegiate School |
When Martin went on to visit Bangladesh to run another MM workshop,
he also ran the idea past Mehedi. And so the seeds of the exchange were
sown, and ended up with an exciting exploration of the Sundarbans, as
well as visits to several schools in the Khulna region. The photos show the whole crew from both organizations, as well as
CLEAN’s Rezaul Karim Zitu leading the mangrove food web activity with
one of the local schools.
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| Rezaul Karim Zitu, Education Coordinator of CLEAN organized a Mangrove Food web in Belphulia Islamia Collegiate School, Rupsa, Khulna during visit of China representatives |
“Now the introductions and the explorations have been made, I am
hoping this will lead to greater co-operation between the two groups as
they continue spearhead the spread MAP’s Marvellous Mangroves curriculum
throughout both countries,” comments Keeley.
Environmental education like the Marvellous Mangroves curriculum is
critically important, and we are delighted to help educate the next
generation of mangrove stewards. Moments like these, when we can connect
groups of passionate and dedicated people to students around the world,
are especially rewarding.
