Creation of the Marine Educative Area (AME)
Marine Educative Area
The AMPN, initiator of the creation of an educational marine area in Monaco
This project, proposed by the Monegasque Association for the Protection of Nature (AMPN), is carried out within the framework of a partnership with the Gouvernement Princier and with the support of the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco.
The concept of an educational marine area was born in 2012 in Polynesia, in the Marquesas Islands, from the imagination of children from the school of Vaitahu. It is a small coastal maritime area, managed in a participatory manner by the children of a primary school, thus promoting knowledge and protection of the marine environment by young audiences. Each school year, the pupils of a class of 7ème (last year of primary school) helped by their teacher and accompanied by a scientific referent define management objectives and set up "actions for the sea".
In the Principality, the 7ème C class of the Ecole des Révoires was selected by theDirection de l’Education Nationale, de la Jeunesse et des Sports to initiate the marine educative area during the 2018-2019 school year. Once the project was presented to the children by the AMPN team, they set up a "children's council for the sea" in their class to reflect on the choice of the most suitable site. The study of the Monegasque coastline led them to favor the area located between the floating breakwater of Port Hercule and the Oceanographic Museum, this one presenting a diversity of habitats, natural or artificial, but also a great richness in terms of marine and terrestrial biodiversity. An in-depth visit to the site enabled them to understand all its particularities and to draw up an initial inventory, a necessary step in identifying the next “actions for the sea”.
In addition to its invaluable role in raising children's awareness of environmental protection, the concept of a marine educative area fits easily into official teaching programs by promoting cross-disciplinary activities. Eventually, the students will also build a relational network with many entities in the Principality which, through their commitment, their areas of expertise or their know-how, will support them in achieving their objectives.
The official presentation by the children of this unifying project, which corresponds to the wish of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco to protect the seas and oceans and to increase awareness campaigns, took place on March 27, 2019, at the occasion of Oceans Week.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7RNLd_oX-A