Students learn value of marine life, wetlands

Sheena Gayle, Gleaner Writer

Western Bureau:

In keeping with its bid to promote the importance of protecting the environment, the Montego Bay Marine Park Trust last week Thursday hosted a group of students in an interactive presentation geared towards making them more environmental savvy.

The presentation was in keeping with the celebration of World Wetlands Day, which is recognised each year on February 2. The Montego Bay Marine Park used the opportunity to inform students of the importance of the wetlands to the environment and how citizens could seek to protect them.

The students - from schools such as the Montego Bay Community College, Anchovy High School, Irwin High School, and St James College - also participated in a sensitisation exercise, which entailed a boat tour of the Bogue Lagoon Fish Sanctuary, which is considered Montego Bay's largest contiguous wetland.

Youth sensitisaton Important

"It's important for our students to be part of this exercise, not only because of the celebration of World Wetlands Day, but also because we believe in having them get a hands-on experience in anything they are learning about," said Makeda Solomon, director at St James College. "It will help them in their studies in class and in how to become more connected to the environment."

Solomon added that because her school had a unique programme where students are accessed based on their personality profiles, such interactive learning experiences, coupled with the regular curriculum, help the students maximise their potential.

Jaswani Stewart, a senior ranger at the Montego Bay Marine Park, said more schools and members of the public should participate in such sensitisation programmes, which are crucial in advancing efforts to preserve the environment.

"Our wetlands are very important to our island and the more persons know about them, the better care they will take of them," said Stewart. "Most of the times, the wetlands are seen as insignificant and as such are destroyed. It helps to protect against flooding and it is a habitat for marine life, among other benefits.

"The more persons know, the better it will be for future generations," Stewart stressed.