MidCoast Council, Manning Regional Art Gallery, Aussie Ark and the Manning River Turtle Group are inviting teachers and students to participate in an art project that promotes awareness of the endangered Manning River Helmeted Turtle.
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The live Zoom Webinar next Wednesday, March 3 at 11am will feature special guests including wildlife experts, to inform teachers and students all about the Manning River Helmeted Turtle.
This project is part of 'withNature2020', a global initiative that actively aims to raise awareness of the extinction crisis and engage the public in the conservation and care of biodiversity.
"Students will learn about our precious turtle that's found only in the Manning, as well as things they can do to protect aquatic wildlife such as avoiding single-use plastics, putting litter in the bin and following the 'Take 3' motto to pick up rubbish around waterways," Ali Haigh, council's public programs and education engagement officer said.
Art packs are currently being distributed to those schools that have already signed up, with the team hoping to get as many local schools involved as possible.
"We'd love to see all local schools taking part, there's still time to register and come on board," Ali said.
Students from local schools will create baby Manning River Helmeted Turtles using sticks, wool and a simple weaving technique as shown in the above video.
All art works will be gathered and displayed in the shape of a giant turtle at the 'withNature2020' event planned for late May, to correspond with the UN Biodiversity Conference COP15 and the International Day for Biological Diversity. The large display aims to highlight endangered species and alert global leaders to the issue of local biodiversity loss.
'withNature2020' aims to engage people with the need to protect the diversity in their local ecosystem, wherever they are, and to create a visually memorable mass event that will focus a spotlight on biodiversity and convince world leaders that people care.
In May 2021, signatories to the Convention on Biodiversity will make decisions that may determine whether we reverse the trend towards species extinction, 'withNature2020' is an international creative call to protect all species.
To find out more and register your school for the webinar, visit the project page on Council's website www.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/turtleartproject or contact Ali Haigh on 6592 5455.