JANUARY 25, 2010, ST JOHN’S ANIGUA ….On Friday, forty-five (45) Environmental Cadet Teachers sharpened their skills on the subject of biodiversity during a workshop being facilitated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Housing & the Environment.
Environment Educator Arica Hill explained that the one day workshop was the start of an important part of the Environment Cadet Programme.

She outlined that the cadet programme for the year entails discussions and field trips on biodiversity and ecosystems.
“Many of the teachers that administer the programme are not science teachers, and often know very little about specific environmental issues. So, the Environment Division took this opportunity to train the teachers. We cannot expect them to teach without giving them the necessary tools, so today was a very important step in that direction.”

The first part of the workshop was held at the Heritage Hotel where Project Coordinator of the Sustainable Island Resource Management Mechanism (SIRMM), Ruleta Camacho, gave a presentation on biodiversity.

“SIRMM is pleased to be a part of this endeavour to sensitize teachers about important environment issues. We intend to continue to work with the Environment Cadet programme on similar projects”.
SIRMM is also a sponsor of the workshop and the Environment Cadet Programme.

The second part, of the workshop was a field trip to the Cades Bay area.

There, Senior Fisheries Officer, Tricia Lovell, gave the teachers in-depth information on biodiversity as it relates to mangroves. The teachers were able to relate what they had learned in the ‘classroom’ with what exists in nature.

Hill is of the view that teachers are more equipped to run the Environment Cadet programmes in their schools.

Similar workshops are expected to be planned throughout the year.