On the occasion of the World Wetlands Day (WWD) which is celebrated every year on the 2nd February, the Management Body of the Messolonghi lagoon (FDLMES), the Secondary Education Directorate of Etoloakarnania and the Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Anthropos (MedINA), are organising a wetland education activity in the local High School of Katohi.
Based on the educational material of the Mediterranean Wetlands Initiative (MedWet) and specifically its role playing game on wetland management, the participating students will learn about the values and functions of wetlands, the threats they face and the complexity of today’s great environmental challenges.
The educational activity will unfold over three days; the first day the environmental education officer from FDLMES and Lily Mordechai from MedINA will visit the local school and inform and discuss with the students the values and functions of wetlands, as well as their important role in safeguarding us from disasters which is this year’s WWD theme. On WWD the students will visit the Messolonghi lagoon and receive a guided tour by FDLMES during which they will get the opportunity to discuss with local stakeholders such as fishermen and others. On the third day, with the support of their teachers, FDLMES and MedINA, the students will play the role playing game by taking the roles of various stakeholders with conflicting interests that must commonly decide on the management of their local wetland. The aim of the role-playing game is to teach the students the value of dialogue and science in resolving environmental problems.