Ecological education: Bringing ‘ocean materials’ into schools

‘Marine conservation means preserving the integrity of ecosystems’

From March 21 to 23, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), in coordination with AkzoNobel, the Ly Son Marine Protected Area Management Board, and the Quang Ngai Fisheries Association, organized a training program on marine ecosystem conservation for fishers and teachers in Ly Son island district.

According to Dr. Nguyen Chu Hoi, Standing Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fisheries Society, marine conservation means protecting the integrity of marine ecosystems and the ocean’s natural capital. When ecosystems are safeguarded, fishery resources can recover, forming a foundation for the development of a sustainable blue economy that balances conservation and livelihoods.

From his viewpoint, the ocean has the capacity for self-recovery and plays a particularly important role in addressing global challenges. The ocean is a massive carbon reservoir. Vietnam’s waters alone are estimated to absorb and store approximately 30% of CO₂ from the atmosphere. The country’s 16 marine protected areas not only safeguard ecosystems locally but also create a “spillover effect,” meaning marine species from protected zones can spread to surrounding waters.

“However, for the conservation work to truly be effective, humans remain the most important factor. Changing the awareness, vision, and behavior of communities, particularly fishers and the younger generation, is considered the most fundamental and sustainable solution,” said Dr. Hoi.

A survey by IUCN Vietnam shows that teachers have a keen interest in these topics and wish to receive in-depth training on biodiversity as well as skills to design extracurricular activities related to marine conservation. Natural science and social science subjects can fully integrate such content into the 2018 general education curriculum.

Dr. Kieu Thi Kinh from the University of Da Nang - University of Science and Education said that integration should not be a mechanical addition of a new subject, but rather the use of the ocean as “teaching material.”

For example, natural science classes can explain marine ecological mechanisms, climate change, and the carbon cycle, while social science subjects can incorporate discussions on fishers’ livelihoods, maritime culture, and maritime security.

Students in Ly Son have an advantage because they can directly observe changes in the marine environment, coastal ecosystems, and the impacts of local socio-economic development on natural resources. This helps cultivate awareness of marine environmental protection while they are still in school.

Sea turtles - indicators of ocean health

Marine environmental health is facing many challenges, including pollution, plastic waste, habitat loss, outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish damaging coral reefs, and red tide phenomena.

Realizing these negative elements, Tran Dinh Hue, former Deputy Director of Con Dao National Park, considers sea turtles the species to indicate marine environmental health. Sea turtles are an important link in the food chain and help maintain ecosystem balance. Green turtles help sustain seagrass ecosystems, while hawksbill turtles help regulate coral reef ecosystems. In addition, unhatched eggs or dead hatchlings provide nutrients for coastal soils, contributing to natural nutrient cycles.

On a global scale, sea turtle conservation began in the early 20th century and expanded significantly in the 1960s. Today, more than 60 coastal countries have committed to and implemented sea turtle conservation programs.

“As the earliest and most successful sea turtle conservation site in Vietnam, Con Dao National Park is ready to share experience with other protected areas in terms of human resource training, communication, and the development of environmental education materials for students and communities,” Hue said.

The waters around Ly Son are regarded as highly biodiverse, featuring typical ecosystems such as seaweed beds, seagrass meadows, and coral reefs, with more than 700 recorded marine species. Each year, the Ly Son Marine Protected Area launches action campaigns in response to Vietnam Sea and Island Week, World Environment Day, and World Oceans Day through a range of meaningful activities.

In 2025, 300 fishers joined training sessions, carried out beach clean-ups along more than 2 km of coastline, collected 51 kg of marine debris through diving activities, and cooperated with a charity group to release 35 Huynh crabs (or spanner crabs).

“Teachers are the ones who plant the seeds of awareness, shape attitudes, and nurture a sense of responsibility for protecting natural resources and the environment among the younger generation. When awareness changes, so does behavior, and people will act more responsibly toward ecosystems,” said Dr. Kieu Thi Kinh.

As part of the project “Community-based sea turtle conservation and reduction of accidental turtle capture from fisheries through a volunteer network” implemented by IUCN Vietnam, sixty teachers from An Hai and An Vinh secondary schools have recently participated in an activity to enhance their knowledge of marine conservation and sea turtle protection. They learn how to optimally integrate ocean knowledge into the national education curriculum without altering the core syllabus, making lessons more engaging and closely connected to real-world contexts.