Teachers' Resource Book for West Indian wetlands (18/07/05)

Hello CEPA list members:

Using the West Indian Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna arborea) as a flagship species, the Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds has developed a 276-page "Wondrous West Indian Wetlands Teachers' Resource Book" to be used throughout the Caribbean. Working with many local partners across the Caribbean they have developed wetlands education workshops targeted at teachers and educators in environmental NGOs as well as government agencies, and providing training and educational tools to raise awareness of and appreciation for the values of local wetlands.

The resource book, containing comprehensive background information and educational activities relating to the ecology and conservation of Caribbean wetlands, is distributed in conjunction with the workshops. During 2004 a total of 554 teachers attended one of 20 such training workshops held in seven countries across the Caribbean including Anguilla, The Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Society has noted that responses on evaluations, including a "before and after" wetland quiz, have shown that the workshops are highly effective in changing attitudes and perceptions about wetlands and that participants leave the workshops with the knowledge, skills, and tools they need to teach and inspire others. They identify several factors that have contributed to the success of the training project, including strong leadership, thousands of hours of donated work by many creative and committed individuals, successful fundraising, use of a flagship species, local empowerment, political involvement, and the regional nature of the project.

Companion materials to the resource book include a slide show, puppet show, poster, colouring book, conservation buttons, postcard, field trip notebook, and a duck identification card for hunters. The Society also promotes the development of Watchable Wildlife Ponds, accessible wetlands which are managed for interpretation to schoolchildren, local residents, and eco-tourists.

For a brief insight into the contents of the resource book look here http://www.ramsar.org/outreach_teachingmaterials_wiwd_e.htm.

For more information on the Society's activities look here http://www.whistlingduck.org/ and for more information on the workshops and the resource book, please contact Lisa Sorensen directly by email lsoren@bu.edu.

Best wishes, Sandra Hails, Ramsar Secretariat

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