Moses Ompusunggu The Jakarta Post 3 May 18;
To commemorate National Education Day, which falls every May 2, Raja Ampat regency in West Papua launched on Wednesday an environmental education module for sixth-grade students at its world-renowned marine tourist area.
The module was developed by Raja Ampat regency's Education and Culture Agency, Tourism Agency and Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Agency, as well as The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Indonesia.
The module touches on the relationship between marine tourism and climate change and is the latest document launched for Raja Ampat's students, following the opening of two modules on the same topic for fourth-grade and fifth-grade students in 2016.
"With the presence of this module, I hope students will love and honor more of the blessings from God. We must protect our natural resources for future generations," said Raja Ampat Regent Abdul Faris Umlati in a statement issued by TNC Indonesia on Wednesday.
Raja Ampat is home to 553 coral reef species, equal to 75 percent of the world's coral reef species, and more than 1,000 coral fish species. Apart from its sea resources, Raja Ampat has terrestrial forests that serve as habitats for numerous birds found nowhere else in the world.
"TNC is aware that education is key to building future generations that care for the environment. We hope that one child who cares about the environment at present will contribute to a thousand people in the future," said TNC Indonesia country director Rizal Algamar. (ahw)
