An American expat in Abu Dhabi has found a unique way to promote mangrove conservation among children - he uses puppetry, story-telling and music sessions to create awareness about the capital’s vital eco-system.

Meet children’s author John Stark, who has been conducting fun-filled interactive educational workshops in various city schools to highlight the importance of mangroves and their role in providing an essential habitat for hundreds of species.

The workshops are held under the banner of UAE-based Noukhada Adventure Company - a tour service operator which offers low environmental impact tours around the coastal waters and inland areas of the capital.

The mangrove experience

“The future of this habitat lies in the hands of children. So we want to reach out to them, create awareness and instill a sense of responsibility in them,” says Stark, who is a teacher at the American Community School in Abu Dhabi

A typical programme consists of three 45-minute sessions in the school. It features a live presentation aided by a camping tent, kayak, songs, puppets and a slide show.

“The workshops are a great learning experience and the kids absolutely love it as they are led through an enthralling story of a brother and sister who bond with nature. It’s like a virtual adventure where children use their imaginations as they paddle through a mangrove forest,” adds Stark.

Taking the legacy forward

“Mangroves serve as nursery grounds for fish as they lay their eggs in the tangled roots of mangrove trees. If this crucial habitat is not protected it would be detrimental for not only the mangrove forest but the whole aquatic ecosystem of the region. “To follow in the footseps of their father, Emirati children, who inherited this natural legacy, must understand the implications their actions have on the environment,” he says.

Mark Freeman of Noukhada Adventure Company said the response to the workshops has been very encouraging. “We are in talks with several schools and are hoping to conduct similar workshops in other emirates as well,” he says

source : gulfnews