"Learning Chests" ALFIN Strategies to Promote the Sustainability of the coastal Line from La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Abstract

The intention of the project is to raise awareness among the children and youth of the city of La Paz about the environment. This was possible through the implementation of exploratory and simulated practices with respect to the habitat and the biological information on aquatic and coastal species of ecological importance that are distributed along the Gulf of California and the adjacent coastal zone. The target population was children and youth from the city of La Paz, Baja California Sur that attend municipality organized pro-science events. The selection of species with any status of protection was made according to existing wildlife, belonging to the vertebrate groups from the NOM 059-ECOL-2010. Information collected related to the bibliography of each and every one of the selected species and the elaboration of the registries, and the visual and tactile components can be found in special containers called “Learning Chests.” A total of 162 species and subspecies were selected: 24 fishes; 4 amphibians; 32 reptiles; 56 birds, and 46 mammals. At the moment, the first “Learning Chests” have been equipped for the Californian Least Tern (Sternula antillarum browni), a subspecies of the non-endemic coastal bird which is subject to special protection. The actions taken during the various stages of the project provided an opportunity for librarians to present skills for communication and information management within the educational context, and to promote knowledge of the participating groups through these important interactive activities.