Students Invested In Educational Marine Zones

Action PA5

• Achieve pedagogical interventions in the scholastic environment (priority 1)

Five classes from three schools are involved in the protection and management of the natural heritage of Educational Marine Zones: CM1 and CM2 classes from the Ecole Clair Saint-Maximin in French Quarter; CE1 and CM2 classes from the Happy School in Grand-Case; and a sixth-grade class from the Roche Gravée de Moho Middle School, French Quarter.

The middle-school class participated in the replanting of mangroves from the nursery run by the Réserve Naturelle along the Spring path, on the edge of the Etang aux Poissons. The same school also created a Terrestrial Educational Zone with a second sixth-grade class, on the site of the famous indigenous petroglyph Moho rock drawing. This class benefitted from a presentation about the history of this Pre-Colombian site by archeologist Christophe Hénocq. Another one of the many activities at Happy School is the creation of a fresco on a wall by the beach in Grand Case, where there is a QR code painted to allow access to an audio message to raise awareness about sea turtles and the dangers linked to human activities. The message was recorded by the students, in French and in English.

Ecole Clair Saint-Maximin worked on a diagnostic of the egg-laying site on the beach at the Baie de l’Embouchure. Plans are for the next Educational Marine Zones to be created in association with the Mont des Accords Middle School. The Réserve Naturelle serves as an advisor for all these activities, in the classroom and in the field.