This Saturday, the city of Saint-Leu organized its Marine Educational Area Generation Meeting to present an initial assessment of eight years of actions by the city’s kids. Revegetation of the beach, fight against cigarette butts or enhancement of local biodiversity, young Saint-Leusians have shown their interest in the lagoon and the Marine Reserve.
Written by MB – Monday, July 1, 2024 at 3:22 p.m.
Eight classes of CM2 from the center’s school looked back on their actions within the framework of the AME (marine educational area). Established in 2016 in partnership with the city, the Academy and the Reserve, this program aims to introduce young people to the lagoon, while making them aware of its fragility. It is an area of 3.4 hectares of beach and water that the Reserve has allocated to students who manage it in a participatory manner.
While the goal is to enhance the space by raising awareness among residents, the project remains primarily educational and allows the kids to learn more about their environment while working on their scientific curiosity. Thus, several clean-up operations have been organized, not to mention the creation of a nursery to plant vegetation on the beaches to combat erosion. It was even on the students’ suggestion that the town hall decided to ban smoking on the beach at Saint-Leu, a first in the French overseas territories. Thanks to the help of scientists from the Reserve and Kelonia, the children even participated in seven turtle release operations treated at the center.
A great report that the CM2s of this 2023/2024 school year were proud to present alongside former students, the oldest of whom are taking their baccalaureate this year. “Eight promotions have followed one another on this beautiful project, which demonstrates the commitment of this generation to respecting the environment. It is your generation that will have to take charge of this issue. Keep your curiosity for the sea. You have the power to change the world,” Bruno Domen recalls, addressing the students.
Another way to apply school knowledge
“Everything is possible thanks to will, patience and involvement”, explains Véronique Léandre, school teacher and head of the AME project at the center’s school. The teacher wanted to thank “Kelonia, the Reserve, the town hall and the prefecture which made it possible to create the AME as we know it”.
For Gauthier, 10 years old, this project was an opportunity to discover many things about the beach he has been visiting for years. “We were able to add plants for the turtles and retain the sand. And as we had to study seaside plants, I discovered that the velvet tree attracts them. In addition, the project was an opportunity to use other subjects, for example mathematics to calculate surfaces. rejoices the young boy.
In the future, AME students want to further strengthen the fight against cigarette butts by installing more ashtrays in town or near the seaside. Finally, exchange projects with Malagasy scientists and schoolchildren should continue.
The event was also an opportunity to plant more plants on the beach at Saint-Leu.
