The Mangrove interpretation Facility, Chorao Islands
INTRODUCTION
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is all about educational practices that promote environmental, social, cultural and economic sustainability. Outdoor visits and nature trails take students out of the traditional classroom setting where they directly interact with the environment. A simple walkthrough a forested area ora garden can open one's mind to the immense possibilities of the natural world and develop within them respect and care for the environment, which is an integral part of education for sustainable development. In terms of learning outcomes, this method stimulates all the 5 senses, accentuates observation and inquiry skills amongst students. However the onus of ensuring that this method is widely used in schools, largely rests on educators.
Field trips and outdoor sessions need to be carefully planned to achieve the desired learning outcomes. One of the challenges that educators often encounter is lack of information and knowledge to conduct these trips.
In order to bridge this gap, a mangrove interpretation facility has been developed at the Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Chorao. The centre is one of the many outcomes of the project ‘Conservation and Sustainable Management of Coastal and Marine Protected Areas (CMPA)' which is being jointly implemented in the state of Goa by GIZ (German Cooperation for International Development) and the Goa Forest Department. This program is part of larger project that is being implemented in the state of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, and GIZ on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB).
The centre is housed in the Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, a mangrove forest located on the island of Chorao. The site offers exposure to learn about the different species, their local names and utility. Mangrove ecosystems support a wide variety of birds, fish, crustaceans, mammals, reptiles and people and thus making the centre a fantastic site that showcases the inter-linkages and interactions between these elements. Some of the bird species are unique to this island and attracts avid bird photographers coming from far and wide. The interpretation centre has been designed with a lot of thought and care to impart the right information and represents a unique combination of local knowledge with international design. Some of the exhibits are interactive and have photographs that are locally sourced to ensure an authentic experience for the visitors.
In order to promote this centre amongst students, GIZ in partnership with the Center for Environment Education (CEE) and the Goa Forest Department organized a 3 day teacher training workshop titled 'Understanding Mangroves'. This workshop was attended by around 45 high school teachers from North Goa along with 12 cluster and block resource persons from the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Government of Goa. The training included a rich diversity of topics and resources persons drawn from various fields from Goa. The upkeep, maintenance, up gradation and patronization of this facility can go a long way in showcasing and passing local knowledge to conserve and live in harmony with this ecosystem.
Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Chorao represents a unique coastal and marine protected area. It serves to highlight the stellar role that the floral and faunal biodiversity contained in such an ecosystem plays. The varied adaptations of vegetation and creatures that colonise this habitat is much more than what meets the eye. The mangrove interpretation facility put in place as a collaborative venture, I am certain shall go a long way in ensuring a better appreciation among all stakeholders and visitors alike.
Dr. A. Anil Kumar – IFS, Wildlife & Eco tourism Division, Goa Forest Department
Although mangroves are ubiquitous to Goa's backwaters they have been largely underappreciated. Besides birds and a diversity of other unique fauna they support, mangroves help boost fisheries, function as sediment traps, prevent soil erosion and also buffer us from extreme events. It is hoped that the current interpretation facility would serve as a learning site for students, teachers, tourists and the public at large to better appreciate this unique, fascinating and truly significant ecosystem.
Dr. Aaron S Lobo Technical advisor, GIZ