News from the CEPA e-mail list

Two useful sources of educational materials (20/02/08)

Hello everyone:

Two useful sources of educational materials this morning. The first comes from list member Barrie Cooper, who shares with us information on the content and availability of the Wild and Wonderful Games CD, a compendium of 17 games all related to wetlands. The second comes form the Catchment to Reef initiative: two beautifully illustrated, instructive booklets.

1. The RSPB (a UK nature conservation NGO) has produced a new environmental games guide and CD to provide some attractive and inspiring resources that can be used to educate people about wetlands and conservation issues associated to other habitats. Themes covered by the games include adaptation, food chains, habitats and conservation. The CD includes the guide and attractive artwork for games that can be used as part of education and events programmes. One example is the wader migration game that takes people on a migration journey using a variety of wetlands. Participants learn about some of the conservation issues that threaten the existence of wetlands and the birds that depend on them. Barrie Cooper, RSPB International Education Manager, has written the guide and the games. Further information can be received from Barrie at: barrie.cooper@rspb.org.uk. Barrie has helpfully provided a short document that gives some more detail on a number of the games – download it here http://www.ramsar.org/cepa/outreach_cepanews_e254_info.pdf.

The CD is called Wild and Wonderful and the cost is equivalent to 10 British Pounds. If you would like a copy of the CD send your name, address and credit card number to: education@rspb.org.uk.

You will also receive an extra CD that has versions of some games without the English text; this will make it easier to insert the text of another language.

2. The Catchment To Reef initiative has produced two booklets in full-colour which can be downloaded here http://www.catchmenttoreef.com.au/Products.html. The first Are you connected: A guide to the processes linking Land, Sea and Reef looks at Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. With relatively simple text (secondary school level and above) and excellent illustrations, this 8-page booklet gets over the key message that what we do in our catchment area affects the health of the reef. The last page helpfully provides on-line sources of additional information.

The second booklet Nutrients, Catchments & Reefs: A guide to nutrients in your landscape, again focuses on the Great Barrier Reef and looks particularly at the natural flow of nutrients, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, and the impact on nutrient loads on the reef of the one million people who live in the catchment, their one million cars, 5 million cattle, and their 4,000 km2 of sugar cane plantations and 7,000 km2 of other crops!

With best wishes, Sandra Hails, Ramsar Secretariat

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