An Environmental Education program was held in 4th December 2016 in Anzali Wetland Environmental Education Center located in Selke Wildlife Refuge.
39 girl students of Bentolhoda Sadr University studying Education from Rasht participated in this program. These participants will be primary and secondary schools teachers in near future.
Mr.Watanabe the Environmental Education (EE), and Wetland Ecosystem expert from JICA Expert Team explained the history of EE in Japan and the action plan and joint pilot activities of EE. He said that it takes very long time to solve the many issues of the Anzali Wetland. Especially monitoring and adaptive management should be continued for very long time. Japan has more than 40 years EE experience in school curricula by the ministry of education, culture, science, and technology. Based on Japanese experience, JET recommends experiential program in Selkeh EE Center. According to a study by National Institution for Youth Education in Japan, children and youth with much experience in nature have more sense of moral and justice than with less experience in nature. The experiential program in Selkeh must give students good effects especially for the Anzali Wetland conservation. He also mentioned that as the future teachers this group has an important role to educate the students and make them involve in activities and programs for Anzali Wetland conservation.
After this part, all of participants went outside to experience the real nature by bird watching activity and by using binoculars and telescope they could watch the existing birds such as Egret, Cormorant, Black-necked Grebe and Goose in Selke Wildlife Refuge from Bird hide and the Bird watching tower. JET hopes all of participants understood that such experience activities like bird watching is very impressive and effective for EE programs for students.
In indoor training, Ms. Yousefzadeh, Environmental Education Expert from Department of Environment (DOE) explained the context of “Bird in Anzali Wetland” booklet, and then participants asked some questions about the center, the project activities, EE programs, and other related matters.
Dr. Mosapour, professor of Bentolhoda Sadr University had a presentation about importance and international position of Anzali Wetland as one of the wildlife and especially for migratory birds, and emphasized on the necessity of the EE programs and activities for Anzali Wetland conservation.
