Concept
By Samara Nicholas, Experiencing Marine Reserves:
EMR provides schools with outdoor
leadership, snorkel and safety
equipment
Marine reserves are vitally important for the conservation of marine biodiversity for future generations, and provide unique educational and inspirational opportunities. EMR sets a basic building block for the establishment of marine conservation areas around New Zealand. The young people of today will be the leaders of tomorrow, and their attitudes will shape society. Therefore, marine education is vital, to protect marine resources and biodiversity for the future.
The EMR concept is the essence of the programme:
- Introduction to marine biodiversity
- Investigation of local marine area
- Marine reserve experience
- Comparisons between local area and fully protected area
- Action for the marine environment
The EMR in water experiences and activities have often proven as powerful to the adults involved as the students. This is evidence to us that community involvement in education delivery can be highly effective. We have also seen that experiential learning situations in the environment often deliver unexpected and unanticipated positive outcomes for all involved.
The Experiencing Marine Reserves
programme at the Poor Knights
Despite the challenges posed by the field trips and activities, we have not experienced any problems. Our experience, equipment, and systems allow us to carryout activities in the water that most schools would not attempt. Northland schools participation in the EMR programme is offered for free (subject to ongoing funding). Currently, the only cost to the school is the associated transport, accommodation, food and glass bottom boat ride.
The highlight and essential component of EMR is to visit the schools closest marine reserve. In Northland and Auckland, most schools visit Goat Island. Comparisons between ‘unprotected areas’ and marine reserves can then be made. By comparing reserves with other areas it ensures the children (and parents) have the opportunity to form their own opinions based on actual experience.
In the final stage of the programme, it is time for the students to do something for the environment such as investigating where a marine reserve would go, sharing findings with the local community, running a public survey or making an official submission about marine conservation. This exercise empowers students to express their feelings and findings.
Over the years, students have been involved in a range of action projects, from writing letters to their local authorities to letters to Members of Parliament, and presentations in front of assembly to presentations at public events. EMR also receives a lot of media exposure, our work being highlighted in such publications as the National Geographic, school gazettes, local newspapers and television.
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