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What We Do |  |
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The most important goal of the CZM Public Outreach/ Education program is to enhance public awareness of the value of protecting the coastal resources for the long-term, sustainable benefits that protection and maintenance can provide to our territory. The strategies used to accomplish this task is as follows:
- The VICZM information handbook for CZM Permit applicants and the general public, which includes all the general information relating to the CZM process and how it works.
- Produced a VICZM Coral Reef Educational video in English and Spanish for the general public, schools, contractors, architects, bulldozer operators and homeowner associations.
- Use television commercials for yearly coastweeks beach cleanup campaign.
- Display exhibits at all environmental and science fairs, such as Earth Day, Wetlands Months, Agricultural week, and Education Science Fair Day.
- Use slide show presentations and display boards to educate the schools, private organizations and homeowners associations, etc.
- Use the print, radio and newspaper media outreach commercials and talk shows to promote the message of the V.I. Coastal Zone Management Program commitment to managing our coastal resources for the future, and show the public how they can get involved through participating, and using best management practices (BMP).
- Present Summer Camp Environmental Education Projects to Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Church Summer Camps and any other camp upon request. This project focuses on the beach and ocean environment, and how to protect and preserve the natural resources on which we depend. Through hands on presentations and exhibits.
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The VICZM Coral Reef Educational video in English & Spanish is available free to schools, contractors, architects, bulldozer operators and homeowner associations are that interested.
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What You Can Do | |
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Public information and constituency building are important components of the CZM. Therefore, information on the CZM, such as its rules and regulations, should promote 'user friendliness' and as a result, encourage voluntary compliance with CZM laws, rules and regulations.
Public education/outreach is a prerequisite for successful implementation and management of the marine and coastal resources. The most important goal of the education/outreach program is to convince people of the value of protecting resources for the long-term, sustainable benefits that protection and maintenance can provide.
Awareness must be raised among the public concerning the integrated nature of the CZM, the consequences of resources mismanagement and the importance of planning and development strategies as they relate to CZM.
Public outreach aims to provide the community with both information and an ethic so that its members can make informed decisions about the use of the resources.
The general public should be thoroughly informed of all meetings, hearings and conferences via regular media outlets. Transcripts of public hearings should be made available at a central location for all interested persons. Publications, such as brochures, pamphlets and fact sheets must be distributed throughout the community.
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Program Strategy | |
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The first step in designing the outreach program will be to identify the various target audiences. Developers, fishermen, dive operators, boat operators, politicians and other decision-makers and tourists are examples of the target group. Of the groups mentioned above, politicians and other decision-makers are the Program's first priority. Developers are the second priority, to be followed by the others in no specific order.
Specific educational objectives will be established in terms of knowledge, attitudes and behavior to be changed or influenced within each target group. For example, the knowledge that a protected area can increase fish stocks and catches, the use of soil conservation practices can reduce the cost of overall development. The CZM will also be mindful of the importance of the use of language and concepts with which each of these groups are familiar.
A multifaceted approach, combining printed material, audiovisual presentations and face-to-face interaction will be used to start the public information program. A variety of additional options will be employed: mass media (press, television and radio), fixed exhibits, tours (particularly for schools), informational recreational activities with an educational focus (such as yearly beach party which is the climax of the boating week conducted by DEE).
Evaluation and feedback mechanisms will be built into the information program to allow for necessary modifications in approach.
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Additional outreach information can be found at the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management website. http://www.ocrm.nos.noaa.gov/aboutocrm.html
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