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Mangrove conservation taught to Filipino kids through heron’s story
Environmental conservation must reach out to all concerned individuals, even to children.
Taking a break from the stressful and dangerous world of law enforcement, the Philippine National Police (PNP) joined efforts with the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI), the country’s largest broadsheet, to launch the Second Read-Along Session at the Pacific Mall in Legazpi City to promote the conservation of mangroves among young children.
Depleting Mangrove Forests
The Philippines, one of the world’s most ecologically diverse countries, possesses major marine ecosystems including sea grasses and coral reefs. However, its mangroves have suffered the earliest and greatest degradation because of their relative accessibility and a long history of conversion to aquaculture ponds. The decline of Philippine mangroves from half a million hectares in 1918 to only 12,0000 hectares in 1994 may be attributed to local exploitation for fuel wood and conversion to agriculture, salt beds, industry and settlements.
Haribon Foundation, Phils. reveals that there is no rational mangrove forest conservation program in the Philippines. However, there are some noteworthy efforts carried out by local government units (LGUs), the academe, NGOs and people’s organizations. Although these initiatives are properly recognized, they remained mostly reforestation projects. The educational aspect of conservation also needs reinforcement.
Everybody on Board, Including Kids
To rehabilitate and conserve the mangrove resources, a systematic approach of community-based coastal resource management needs to be followed. This will provide integration of all stakeholders, especially local communities and the local governments who are the main players in taking action towards a more sustainable use of resources.
This of course, does not exclude children.
Around 120 children were read a story by authors Catherine Yu Untalan, Reena Rae de Leon Sarmiento, Mae Astrid Tobias entitled “Bakawan” (Mangrove). The illustrations were done by Van Zeus Allen Bascon.
The story is about the adventure of a Heron that brings to the mangroves different sorts of plastic material that humans dump near the shores. He brags them off to her friends also inhabiting in the mangroves, such as Crab, Monitor Lizard, and small fishes. Aided by visuals, the story presented a fragile mangrove ecosystem that slowly becomes a repository of non-biodegradable and harmful human wastes. After a near-death experience by the heron when he was caught in an oil slick, the mangrove creatures then thought of recycling the piled-up materials.
Chief Supt. Paterno P. Bangui, director of the Philippine National Police in Bicol, the police guest-reader, thought that “one way of educating our children or the young is through storytelling like this”, which he thinks is effective.
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