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High schools, middle schools learn conservation
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- Participants of the Micronesia Islands Nature Alliance’s Schools for Environmental Conservation gather together before heading back to Saipan. (MINA)
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- The CNMI Snorkels event on Managaha Island led by Division of Coatal Resources Management’s Jihan Younis and Mallory Muna. (MINA)
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- CNMI Snorkels on Managaha Island. (MINA)
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- Students from Dandan Middle School discuss their conservation action plan for their school campus. (MINA)
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- Isaac Tenorio of Dandan Middle School learns about the Conservation Action Plans process. (MINA)
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- Clarissa Masga of Francisco M. Sablan Middle School explores ideas with her students. (MINA)
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- Brooke Nevitt outlines the steps in developing a successful conservation action plan. (MINA)
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- David Benavente of the Division of Coastal Resources Management provides information on the CNMI Marine Monitoring Team. (MINA)
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- Micronesia Islands Nature Alliance program manager Becky Furey explains the next steps to participants. (MINA)
The Micronesia Islands Nature Alliance hosted a coral reef conservation workshop this past weekend for teachers and students from various high schools and middle schools on island as part of their “Schools for Environmental Conservation” program.
Participants attending the workshop included students and teachers from Saipan Southern High School, Kagman High School, Mount Carmel High School, Tanapag Middle School, Dandan Middle School, and Francisco M. Sablan Middle School.
Coral reefs have become a growing concern worldwide, and part of MINA’s efforts in conservation in the region is to align this year’s programs with the 3rd International Year of the Reef.
The curriculum designed for this one-day educational workshop introduced awareness of the concept of “think global, act local.” Presentations from environmental experts in the CNMI focused on the theme of “Learning About, Interacting With, and Actively Conserving Coral Reefs.”
Jihan Younis of the Division of Coastal Resources Management; Dr. Lyza Johnston of the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality; David Benavente of DCRM; Mallory Muña of DCRM, and Brooke Nevitt, former executive director and MINA volunteer, presented a wide array of information, with lectures and activities including the Micronesia Challenge, Coral Reefs 101, CNMI Marine Monitoring Program, Conservation Action Planning, and ways the community can get involved to help protect and conserve the islands’ precious coral reefs.
One of the most important components of MINA’s “Schools for Environmental Conservation” is the development of Conservation Action Plans. The students involved in the workshops are now in the process of developing these CAPs to help their schools ameliorate the threats to coral reefs and promote environmental stewardship among their peers. Students will present their CAPs this May.
In addition to the workshops, SFEC participants were treated to a field trip to Managaha Island to join a CNMI Snorkels event, a hands-on opportunity where they learned about the marine ecosystem while enjoying the island’s pristine waters.
All these activities are completely funded by MINA with support from the Coral Reef Initiative/Natural Resources Program in the Office of Insular Affairs.
MINA expresses their sincere appreciation to all teachers, students, presenters, volunteers, and MyCaptures Photography for making this year’s SFEC a huge success.
To learn more about how MINA empowers communities for conservation, visit MINA’s Facebook page, email MINA at minaoutreach@gmail.com, or call MINA at 233-7333(REEF). (PR)
