Celebrating Nature!

In French Guiana, the highlight of the month of May was a celebration of nature throughout the regions that touch the Amazonian Park.  As in past years, the goal of this national event was to celebrate all aspects of nature during the week leading up to the International Day for Biological Diversity, which took place on May 22, 2022.

From Monday, May 16 through Sunday, May 22, the population of French Guiana was invited to take part in a series of events whose goal was to showcase Guiana’s biodiversity, while having fun at the same time. This proved to be a fruitful week, during which the public could discuss such topics as the protection of Agami Herons at Elahé, as well as enjoy special excursions, during the day and at night, to Saül. In Haut Maroni, various activities took place in the schools, while in Taluen and Elahé, elementary school students learned about systems for the flow of water, as well as local flora in the surrounding areas.

SPOTLIGHT ON PAPAICHTON ~ At Papaïchton, the staff of ABC organized a week of special activities in the schools, as well as three days featuring stands in the town square, and a look at the scientific findings of a mission in the remote area of Gros Saut on the Grand Abounami River. Events during school hours involved 10 different classes at the Capitaine Charles Tafanier Middle School and the Gaanman Emmanuel Tolinga School in Papaïchton, as well as at the Capitaine Louis Fofi School in Loka. Marilou Hircq, an ant specialist from the BUG program (urban biodiversity of Guyana) of the CNRS, organized an interactive initiation to the sciences. The students put themselves in the shoes of researchers equipped with the necessary gear to collect ants. Then Johan Chevalier, an independent scorpion specialist, taught them how to use a UV light. Various specimens, for the most part alive, 

EVENTS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC ~ The goals of the special stands was to make biodiversity more fun. Thanks to the good humor and willingness of everyone involved, a series of activities was organized to teach people how to recognize different bird songs and to identify various species of frogs, as well as increase their general cultural knowledge by playing the Leli Katop Racines game. A nocturnal excursion to look for scorpions with the help of UV lights was organized by the ONF to complete the program. A lot of kids were happy to explore nature with the specialists on the path at La Source. And finally, a closing night event took place on Saturday, May 21, including the projection of a film by Tanguy Stoeckle about the Gros Saut missions that took place in 2020/2021, and a barbecue organized in collaboration with the association Yenkumu Lutu… This allowed the staff to thank all of the participants and to award prizes from the Park to all those who won various tournaments. Close to 100 kids and a few parents took part in the various events, along with first deputy mayor, Sergina Telon. The week attracted a large public, especially the young people of the area, who came out in great 

Auteur : Emmanuelle Renard