The students had the opportunity to meet with Communication Specialist for the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States’ (OECS) Protected Areas and Associated Livelihood Project (OPAL) Ms. Tecla Fontenarde at an environmental awareness exhibition held at the Charlestown Public Library.
The exhibition, which was geared towards creating public awareness, formed part of activities to mark the 14th annual OECS Ministers of Environment meeting which was held on 19th and 20th October at the Mount Nevis Hotel.
Fontenarde, who was of the view that students played a vital role in environmental management, said it was important to educate them [students] at an early age “because they help to spread the word and create the type of awareness required across the OECS.”
The OPAL project, which is funded by the World Bank with assistance from the Organisation of American States [OAS] and the French government, is a $7.5 million project that started in December 2004. It sought to use protected areas to create biodiversity conservation.