Top prize at Green Schools poster competition for two local students

SLIGO students, Esier Bairova and Ben Gray, both from Corran College, Ballymote, were among twelve award winners of this year’s Green-Schools Marine Spatial Planning Poster Competition: “What I’d like to see for the sea”. The students were celebrated at an award ceremony in Cork this past week for their posters depicting their vision for the future of Ireland’s ocean and coast. In partnership with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Green-Schools asked students to create posters showing how they would like Ireland’s seas to be used in the future.

The competition ties in with the National Marine Planning Framework, which aims to balance the different demands for using Ireland’s marine territory, including the need to protect and conserve the marine environment. It's about planning when and where human activities take place at sea and ensuring these activities are as efficient and sustainable as possible.

The competition was open to schools taking part in the Green-Schools Marine Environment theme, which encourages schools to learn about the importance of the ocean, and to take action to reduce marine litter and raise awareness in their local community about ways we can help the marine environment.

As part of their work on the Marine Environment theme, schools are asked to investigate sources of marine litter, take part in a #2minutebeachclean and carry out a Marine Litter Awareness survey, which demonstrates significant increases in awareness among school populations about these issues, year on year. Schools also learn about Ireland’s marine biodiversity, investigate issues such as the impact of climate change on the oceans, and learn together through workshops and events nationwide.

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Kieran O’Donnell TD congratulated the schools at the award ceremony: “Ireland’s maritime area is one of the largest in the European Union.

“With such significant resources comes the responsibility of ensuring that they are managed in the right way for us and for future generations. Therefore, it is very important that we engage with young people and encourage them to think about the maritime area and what the sea means for them. My Department has ensured we get our message about marine planning into schools to make sure that children are aware that Ireland has this very valuable asset and that we need to protect it. This “What scheme that promotes I’d like to see for the Sea” and acknowledges longterm, poster competition is the whole-school third marine spatial planning action for the environment, competition and we and is operating in have seen each year the 58 countries around the number of entries and world including; almost understanding of marine all EU member states, planning increasing. Africa, South America,

I could see the strong North America, Canada, messages in the winning Oceania and Asia. GreenSchools posters and I know that is an initiative the future of Ireland’s of FEE (the Foundation maritime area is in good for Environmental hands.” Education).

Speaking at the awards The programme is ceremony, Green-Schools coordinated in Ireland National Manager, by An Taisce, operated Joanne Scott, said: “I am in partnership with so impressed with the Local Authorities and winning entries, the students is supported by the really understood Department of Housing, the theme and highlighted Local Government, and many creative ways to Heritage; Department of use and protect our seas. Environment, Climate Thanks to everyone who and Communications; participated, it's fantastic Department of to be able to celebrate Transport; Department in person with you all at of Tourism, Culture, today's event”. Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport

Green-Schools and Media; Department (known internationally of Foreign Affairs; Irish as Eco-Schools) is an Aid, National Transport international environmental Authority, National Parks management and Wildlife Service, Uisce education programme, Éireann, Clothes Pod and environmental management the Wrigley Company system and award Limited.