Inside the Mangrove Forest Film by Living Oceans Foundation

Inside the Mangrove Forest

March 29, 2016

Written by Amy Heemsoth

Mangrove Education and Restoration Program Blog

Sometimes as an educator it is difficult to inspire students, even if we are passionate about an issue. No matter what I do in the classroom, I still feel like I can’t reach some youth. It’s not always easy to get students excited about mangroves because at first they are just seen as trees.

So the question becomes…

How do we inspire people to care for mangroves?

I could respond with:

There is so much more to these mysterious trees. These coastal wetlands create a sanctuary for an extraordinary range of creatures. Three-fourths of all tropical fish are born here and countless reptiles and birds call this ecosystem home. They filter nutrients and toxins out of the water, provide protection in extreme weather, and are one of the most productive ecosystems on the planet.

I would hope that this statement alone inspires you, but there is only so much words and facts can do – so we made a film to help. I invite you to watch Inside the Mangrove Forest.

Now are you inspired? I hope that we were able to stimulate you with the visual beauty and importance of this unique ecosystem. At the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, film is one of the methods we use to teach and inspire conservation of the natural world.

We created this mangrove education film for our Mangrove Education and Restoration Programs. One of our goals is to continue improving and enhancing these programs by adding additional curriculum (such as films). This film helps to portray the beauty of the mangrove ecosystem and helps students who do not get to visit a mangrove forest in person understand why they are special and important. We hope that this film helps inspires students to become stewards of this vital ecosystem.

From Mangrove Mud to Meaningful Work: Desta’s J.A.M.I.N. Journey

Some students I remember for their grades, their quick answers, or a moment that made the whole class laugh. Others I remember for the way they stepped into the mangroves.

Desta was the kind of student who thrived outdoors. While some students hesitated at the edge of the mud, he walked right in. And when he inevitably got stuck — because everyone does — he didn’t get frustrated. He laughed. Covered in mud, holding mangrove propagules in his hands, he embraced the experience fully.

Even then, it was clear that he was connecting with the environment in a way that went beyond the lesson plan…

From Students to Stewards: A Full-Circle Moment for J.A.M.I.N.

There are certain faces you never forget.

Over the years, hundreds of students have stepped into mangrove forests with us through the Jamaica Awareness of Mangroves in Nature (J.A.M.I.N.) program. I may not always remember every name, but I remember the expressions — the hesitation before stepping into thick mud, the laughter when someone loses a shoe, the look of surprise when they catch that unmistakable sulfur smell rising from the mangrove soil…

How do we inspire people to care for mangroves?

Related Posts

From Mangrove Mud to Meaningful Work: Desta’s J.A.M.I.N. Journey

From Students to Stewards: A Full-Circle Moment for J.A.M.I.N.