The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

World Wetlands Day 2006 in Mauritius

World Wetland Day Celebration in Mauritius
2nd February 2006

Ramsar Site - Rivulet Terre Rouge Estuary Bird Sanctuary
Roche Bois -Port-Louis

To mark World Wetlands Day 2006 in Mauritius the following activities were organized by the Environmental Protection Conservation Organisation in collaboration with the Secondary Art Teachers Association & Nou Nouvo Baz:

1. Distribution of posters and stickers in all primary schools of Port Louis (Capital City of Mauritius).Information materials on the importance of wetlands were also given to head of schools to be taken with the pupils in the morning school assembly on the 2nd February 2006. Heads of schools were also invited to motivate teachers to organize trips for pupils to visit Rivulet Terre Rouge Estuary Bird Sanctuary.

2. A blow-up exhibit for public awareness was mounted at Roche Bois roundabout, high way northern entrance of Port Louis and our unique Ramsar site, Rivulet Terre Rouge Estuary Bird Sanctuary.

Secondary school students in Port Louis erecting the WWD exhibit at
Roche Bois roundabout

3. Distributions of 10,000 pamphlets (pictured on the left) in the form of bookmarks to the general public by the Secondary School children in the Port Louis. The pamphlets highlighted the importance of wetlands. The goods and services provided by wetlands, with special reference to our local Ramsar site.

The team decorating their faces with the letters WWD in preparation for distributing the bookmarks

And here they are, the WWD team ready to take on Port Louis!

The events were covered by the Top FM Radio in the Midday,12 O'clock News, by the National Television at prime time 19.30 Hrs News bulletins and the local press. National Parks & Conservation Service, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural resources supported the project. Thanks also go to the Ramsar Convention office for the posters and stickers, Voltran Autogas for the T-Shirts and the Beach Authority for the Bookmarks.

Hitting the headlines with their "Panneau pour le Wetland Day"

Reported by Kheswar Beeharry Panray, Chief Executive Officer, Environmental Protection Conservation Organisation, 75 Cheverau Lane, Coastal Road, Calodyne, Grand Gaube, Mauritius, Indian Ocean. Email: Kheswar@epco88.org, Kheswar@intnet.mu.

For further information about World Wetlands Day or the Convention on Wetlands, please contact the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ). Posted 16 February 2006, Sandra Hails, Ramsar.