Wetland values in Colombia's schools
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Wetland education in Colombia
Project WFF/03-2/CO/1 "Divulgative Educative Ramsar Plan - From Fuquene Lake - Phase 1: Plan formulation and production of didactic pieces" has developed an innovative pedagogic proposal on wetlands in Latin America, stressing the role of Ramsar in the region. The result of a joint effort involving the education communities around Fuquene lake, Colombia (students, teachers and parents), the approach followed has focused on the formal educative atmosphere in elementary schools, using the principles of active pedagogy for children. It sought two goals: to promote understanding of Ramsar's work (origin, objectives, member countries, activities and actions); and to develop a strategy to spread knowledge from schools towards the entire community, emphasizing the measures that need to be taken in order to preserve the local wetlands. The informational package called "A volar se dijo" ('Let's fly away') included the
production of didactic materials such as booklets for children and teachers, a video and an informational brochure. These products will make it entertaining and fun for children in Latin America to learn about Ramsar and wetlands in a fun and playful manner, yet still conserve key messages and information that will help shape the feelings, attitudes and abilities that are paramount to protecting wetlands in the region.
El proyecto WFF/03-2/CO/1 "Plan Educativo - Divulgativo Ramsar - Desde la Laguna de Fúquene - Fase 1: Formulación Plan y producción de piezas didácticas" ha desarrollado una propuesta pedagógica innovadora sobre los humedales en América Latina, con énfasis en el papel que desempeña Ramsar en la región. Al ser el resultado de un esfuerzo conjunto entre la comunidad educativa aledaña a la Laguna de Fúquene, Colombia (estudiantes, maestros y padres de familia), el enfoque seguido se ha dirigido al ambiente del salón de clases en escuelas primarias, utilizando los principios de pedagogía activa para niños. Se persiguieron dos objetivos: promover un mayor entendimiento del papel que desempeña Ramsar (origen, objetivos, partes contratantes, actividades y acciones); y desarrollar una estrategia de divulgación desde las escuelas hacia la comunidad con énfasis en las medidas que deben tomarse para conservar los humedales locales. Las piezas didácticas que constituyen el paquete "A volar se dijo" incluyen manuales para niños y maestros, un video y un folleto informativo. Estos productos conseguirán que los niños de América Latina puedan aprender de manera lúdica y divertida acerca de Ramsar y los humedales en general, mientras adquieren conocimientos clave que contribuirán a modelar impresiones, actitudes y habilidades esenciales para proteger loshumedales de la región.
-- Adrián Ruiz-Carvajal, Ramsar
The Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971), the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service support the Wetlands for the Future Fund (WFF) training initiative for the Western Hemisphere, first begun in 1997. This activity promotes the implementation of the concept of "wise use" of wetlands through the strengthening of the capacity of countries to manage their wetland resources in perpetuity and by contributing to the integration of wetland conservation and management with the development process. All proposed activities must be in line with the principles, recommendations and guidelines of the Ramsar Convention. For more information about the WFF, see http://ramsar.org/wff/caxref:4158.