International Mangrove Day

Children at our coastal village Library Learning Centres have today learnt the environmental importance of mangroves and how to plant them. Together with an impressive team of experts from The Nature Conservancy, Coastline Care Project and volunteers from our Platinum partner Steamships the children got shovels out and got stuck into planting 120 mangrove seedlings.

In order to ensure the sustainability of the mangroves planted - site inspections took place prior to the events today, to select the correct species and locations. Mangroves are not only culturally important for the coastal villages but also play an immense role in protecting the coastline against storm surges, sea level rises and wind protection. In addition to this mangroves also provide habitat for biodiversity as well as food, medicine and shelter for local populations. Early Childhood Education is also very much about ensuring that cultural practises are passed on to future generations and are not forgotten.

A great thank you to the great Steamships team, The Nature Conservancy and The Coastline Care Project for your amazing support for the children and Pari and Baruni villages.

This story was also covered by Loop PNG, see article.