History

The mangrove curriculum is based on a wetlands curriculum which was initially developed in the early 1990s with local school teachers for use in British Columbia, Canada, and Washington State, United States. In 1997, MAP's education director, Martin Keeley, started adapting the curriculum for tropical mangrove wetland areas.

The mangrove curriculum and teachers resource guide for the Cayman Islands was developed, tested, written, illustrated, and completed during a 3-year time-frame. Guided by Mr. Keeley, the curriculum was adapted from hands-on science-based programs and activities which have been used by educators throughout North America during the past 20 years.

Following standard ecology curriculum principles, the guide provides teachers with 300 pages of information and hands-on activities, covering everything from migrating birds and the properties of water, to what to do and find on a mangrove field trip. It concludes with ways students can help protect and preserve mangrove habitat in their own communities.

April 2007 update of Cayman Island program

Country Adaptations

Using the Cayman Islands experience as a blueprint, MAP has worked with the following NGOs to adapt the curriculum for use in local schools, as well as train local teachers in its use:

CORALINA - The Corporation for the Sustainable Development of the Archipelago of San Andres, Old Providence and Santa Catalina, in San Andres and Providence, COLUMBIA.

CODDEFFAGOLF - Comité para la Defensa y Desarrollo de la Flora y Fauna del Golfo de Fonseca, HONDURAS.

SFFL - The Small Fisheries Federation of Sri Lanka, SRI LANKA

Amigos del Bosque, GUATEMALA

MAP Indonesia/YARL, INDONESIA

The curriculum has recently been translated into Portuguese and work is currently underway to adapt the materials for use in BRAZIL.

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