More CEPA news to brighten the day! (16/04/04)

Good morning CEPA people:

Bit of a mixed bag of things today that should keep you browsing for most of the weekend (unless of course you have something better to do!):

1. First a message that went out on WLI e-group recently. Here's the main part of the message from Malcolm Whitehead, the WLI Coordinator: The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) has devised a new learning programme for school children aged 8-11 years (Key Stage 2 of the English National Curriculum). The programme is based around the topic theme of PONDS and includes web-based materials for school and wetland centre work that is linked to the English National Curriculum.

The programme is called the GREAT POND SAFARI and contains activities and free downloadables for a Scheme of Work that includes lessons in Art, Citizenship (Sustainability), Design, Drama, English, Geography, History, Music, Physical Education and Science. For full details about this and about a UK National Pond Survey visit www.wwtlearn.org.uk .

2. I've just received some great publications from Jaya Mary Asirvatham, the CEPA Programme Officer of the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), our NGO Focal Point in Malaysia. A recent volume of their full-colour magazine included a four-page spread on the value of wetlands and the threats they face, as well as a strong focus on Ramsar, the Ramsar sites in the country - and the CEPA role of the MNS. Their CEPA role is detailed on their excellent Web site: look here www.mns.org.my/cepa/ to see their CEPA programme outline. Have a look too at an excellent publication they have produced in English and Bahasa Malaysia that takes a more formal look at the Ramsar Convention and the wise use of wetlands in the country. It's available here in both languages as PDF files: www.mns.org.my/cepa/future_activities.php .

3. Another focus on people working for the CEPA programme in particular and Ramsar, and wetlands in general, is to be found on a Web site developed and managed by Bill Phillips, former Deputy Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention and the driving force behind the development of the Convention's CEPA Programme. Here's how Bill describes his Wetlands Help-line web site. "This site is designed to help people with an interest in the conservation and wise use of wetlands to access information and seek out programs and organisations that offer expertise and help in this field. While the site is focused mostly on the Oceania region (Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Island countries) it does include information, or links to information, that will be of use to wetland practitioners the world over. The site is constantly under construction as new information becomes available all the time. If you know of material that others may find useful, please let us know so we can include it in this site or help others to access it. It's all about communication, and sharing the resource information that's out there." Here's the URL to the site http://www.wetlandshelp-line.com - have a look at <The Help menu> section and check out the CEPA link there.

4. And finally, to take up more of your browsing time is the launch of Wetkit Ramsar, a brand new website supported by the Canadian Wildlife Service of Environment Canada, the North American Wetlands Conservation Council (Canada) and Ducks Unlimited Canada. It's designed to help Canadians find information and resources on the Ramsar Convention by connecting them with the 36 Canadian Ramsar sites providing regular wetland conservation updates from around the world. Browse and enjoy www.wetkit.net/ramsar .

Have a great weekend, Sandra Hails, Ramsar Secretariat

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