MAP has been partnering with the Guatemalan NGO, Amigos del Bosque, on the adaptation and introduction of the Marvelous Mangroves curriculum.

Amigos del Bosque (Coatepeque office)

Amigos del Bosque (Friends of the Forest) works throughout the country on ecosystem protection. Its Coatepeque office, staffed entirely by volunteers, is located in the department of Quetzaltenango, near the border with Mexico, and directs activities related to the protection and conservation of the Ramsar site Manchon Guamuchol, on the Pacific coast.

Activities include:

• Working to stem the expansion of shrimp aquaculture;
• Halting the clear-cutting of mangroves by the Army;
• Introducing environmental education related to mangroves and marine turtles to the region;
• Supporting mangrove research activities in the Ramsar reserve;
• Creating interpretive boardwalks through the mangroves; and
• Hosting school field trip visits and workshops.
  

Manglares Maravillosos Curriculum Adaptation

MAP worked with Amigos del Bosque and our Colombian partner, CORALINA, to adapt the Honduras version of the curriculum for use in Guatemala.

In 2006, 20 Guatemalan teachers, representing the Pacific and Caribbean coastal departments (states), were trained to use the curriculum during a 3 day train-the-trainers workshop. Subsequent regional workshops have been held to train more teachers along the Pacific Coast.

MAP will be returning to Guatemala in 2007 to hold a train-the-trainer workshop on the Caribbean coast, as well as to evaluate the program.

Program Support

MAP received funding to carry out the Guatemalan adaptation and introduction from:

• New England Biolabs (2004, 2006)
  
• Ramsar Wetlands for the Future Fund (2005) - includes photo gallery