PAREO project |26 July 2023
Children take action for the coral reefs
The ongoing PAREO Project is an innovative project to raise awareness among children in the Indian Ocean region that combines the transmission of scientific knowledge, discovery of the environment in the field and the implementation of concrete conservation actions.
During this third year of the PAREO project in the Seychelles, which started in 2019, a group of children from Grand Anse and Baie Ste Anne schools on Praslin had the chance to be part of the project, under the guidance of two Praslin-based coordinators, Maria Brioche and Liza Alissop, both in their second year as coordinators, after a successful year 2022. The project is planned to go on until the end of 2023.
The children recently shared their first newly obtained knowledge with government officials, which include the importance of a healthy coral reef, the ecosystem and the species living there.
They made use of the ‘MARECO kit’ which is an educational kit developed by the scientists from the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) to transmit their knowledge of coral reefs. Learning was made easy with educational lessons, fun games, drawing sessions and, the best of all, snorkelling and excursions through the marshland and mangrove forests.
This project helps kids to appreciate coral reefs, create an understanding of its importance to overall ocean health, and even enables them to act as reef ambassadors.
They presented their knowledge and findings to the district administrator (DA) of Baie Ste Anne, Berty Cedras, and of Grand Anse Praslin, Chantale Lorre. Also present was the head teacher for Baie Ste Anne, Monique Lesperance and Eco School leader from Baie Ste Anne, Karen Port Louis. The presentation also made the parents proud. Good reef conservation and understanding is spreading its word. Who knows one day some of these students who are fascinated by nature could become young professional marine scientists.
PAREO is made possible through the sponsorship of Europe Programme INTERREG V, France and Reunion Regional Council. It was designed by the scientists Pascale Chabanet and Lola Massé from the IRD and it is conducted in cooperation with the Eco-school department of the Ministry of Education and local collaborators such as Seychelles Park and Garden Authority (SPGA) and supported by Yes Consulting and SeyNoPlastic.
It is a project to raise awareness for the protection of coral reefs. It combines the transmission of scientific knowledge, discovery of the environment from the perspective of new technologies and concrete conservation actions.
It encourages young people to become actors in the protection and careful management of their daily environment. It takes place on four islands of the Indian Ocean: Reunion, Mauritius, Curieuse Island in Seychelles, and Moheli Island of Comoros. These islands have in common an exceptional reef heritage. Unfortunately, our reef continues to be degraded by human exploitation, despite our conservation efforts. The question is raised: What if we protected them differently by raising awareness among children in the Indian Ocean? It is essential to involve children in the process of combining the transmission of scientific knowledge, discovery of the environment in the field and the implementation of concrete conservation actions, direct and indirect. Direct actions include replanting endemic species to limit mudslides, or sea erosions whereas indirect actions involve raising awareness among users of the environment.
Reunion, Mauritius, Comoros and the Seychelles are bordered by coral reefs and with community engagements the project’s objectives are to create awareness of our vital reefs and ensure the livelihood of our people. The knowledge-based solutions enable the setting up of conservation actions envisaged for the next generations’ professionals. PAREO is a project implemented by the children themselves to forge links between science and society.
Media Contact: fullpoint@seychelles.net Irene Tel: 2515142
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