Nature Trust Malta has for the first time hosted the Annual LEAF National Operators’ Meeting in Malta, 21 – 23 March 2016. National operators from 23 countries from around the world attended this two day meeting.
A short video summarizing the whole event can be viewed from HERE.
Monday 21st March 2016
Arrival of delegates and pick-ups by green r electric cars from Luqa Airport Malta (all day)
12:00 – 18:30 Reception of delegates and arrival at the hostel
Participants who have free time can go out and around with a bicycle or be shown around the Nature Park
17:30 – 19:00 ISC meeting
20:30 – 22:00 Welcome Dinner & Opening Speech – Thiaga Nadeson, Malaysia, FEE BoD
22:00 – 23:00 Evening walk – TBC (bring a torch!)
Day 1: Tuesday 22nd March 2016
7:30 – 8:30 Breakfast
8:40 – 8:50 Welcome from Nature Trust Malta – Johann Gatt
8:50 – 9:05 FEE Update – Thiaga Nadeson
9:05 – 9:10 Agenda Review – Rachel Boyle
9:10 – 9:45 LEAF developments and the new SDGs – Rachel Boyle
9:45 – 9:50 Welcome speech from the Mayor of Marsaxlokk
9:50 – 10:20 WORKSHOP 1 – LEAF website and workspace on Podio
10:20 – 10:40 Introduction to new countries and how they are running LEAF
• Slovenia – Gregor Cerar/Tina (10 minutes)
Introduction to new LEAF National Operators (10 minutes)
10:40 – 11:00 Tea & coffee break
11:00 – 12:30 WORKSHOP 2 – LEAF Research – Anthony Purcell, An Tasice, Ireland
12:30 – 13:00 NEW FEE/LEAF Strategy 2016 – 2020
Round table discussions (15 mins) Feedback (15mins)
*PLEASE REVIEW PROPOSED STRATEGY BEFOREHAND*
13:00 – 15:00 Lunch @ Marsaxlokk Fishing Village
15:00 – 17:00 WORKSHOP 3 – round table sessions / 3 working groups (approx 7 at each table)
• Fundraising
• Research
• Resources
Introduction/explanation (15 mins)
Each group will work on reviewng current situation, decide on actions/future plans (1hr)
Groups will be based on interest expressed during NOM 2015
Each of the three groups will present what they discussed (30 mins/10 mins per group)
Q&A from everyone (15 mins)
Note: This Workshop will be held outdoors at the Nature Park if weather permits
17:00 – 17:10 Group photo
17:10 – 17:20 Tea & coffee break
17:20 – 18:20 WORKSHOP 4 – Country presentations – examples of best practices
• How we raise funds successfully (20 mins) – Natasha Manan, WWF Malaysia
• Forest & Water Theme in practice (20 mins) – Jan Froněk, Czech Republic
• Examples of how we are having a positive impact on behaviour (20 mins) – Dimitrios Gotzos, Greece
18:20 – 18:30 Summary of the day – Rachel Boyle
19:00 – 20:00 Depart for Dinner & Excursion to Rabat/Mdina
10:30 – 23:00 Return to Hostel
Day 2: Wednesday 23rd March 2016
07:30 – 08:30 Breakfast
8:30 – 9:30 Drive to Buskett Woodland (BW) excursion (packed snack)
During the drive to BW we will run a fun exercise for the six new attending NOs (similar to the Speed Dating concept)
– New NOs prepare approx. 3 questions prior to arriving in Malta, which they would like to ask the more experienced NOs. New NOs will sit with a more experienced NO for 5 minutes, after 5 minutes an alarm will sound, this alarm will indicate that it is time to move to the next (more experienced) NO.
This fun, interactive exercise will be carried out for the duration of the drive to BW.
9:30 – 11:00 Guided Tour of Buskett Woodland
11:00 – 12:30 Best practice activities (30 minutes each)
• Primary example – LEAF Japan
• Secondary example – LEAF Latvia
• Third level example – TBC
12:30 – 12:45 Closing discussion – Rachel Boyle
13:00 Depart from Buskett and drop off at Airport for some of the delegates, then proceed to lunch at Marsaxlokk
13:45 – 14:45 Lunch
15:00 – 15:30 ISC meeting
Departure of delegates
The Annual National Operators’ Meeting for the International Education for Sustainable Development Programme LEAF (Learning About Forests) will this year be hosted locally by Nature Trust (Malta) with the support of the International NGO Foundation for Environmental Education.
21 delegates from seventeen countries will be attending this two day long meeting which will be held at the Xrobb l-Għaġin Nature Park and Sustainable Development Centre. The aim of the meeting is to discuss issues related to the management of the International LEAF Programme and its implementation in schools and other educational facilities. Besides providing opportunities for networking, the meeting will also include presentations from delegates of various participating countries and discussion workshops.
LEAF is a sister programme to EkoSkola. In essence the LEAF programme seeks to help learners understand the key role forests play for sustainable life on our planet and whether that role is being compromised by the way of life we lead. The LEAF programme is thus an opportunity for schools to empower students to adopt an active role in environmental decision-making and action in their school community. The latest changes in the National Curriculum Framework which recognizes ESD(Educational for Sustainable Development) as one of the central cross curricular themes and the 17 UNESCO SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) are definitely fertile ground for the LEAF programme.
The Malta LEAF NOM is being supported by GreenR Cabs an innovative company which has successfully introduced zero-emissions cabs in Malta, with a brand new fleet of 100% electric vehicles and a 24/7 service. Fabien Courtellemont, Managing Director, said: “We are very proud to assist Nature Trust in their commitment to minimize their carbon footprint. We will provide Zero-Emission cabs for nearly all airport and local transfers, therefore significantly reducing the emission of CO2 in our environment.”
Other partners supporting this important event include: Marsaxlokk Local Council, PARKS Directorate through the LIFE Project: Saving Buskett and the Plant Health Directorate, both within the Ministry of Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change, HSBC Catch the Drop Campaign, EDIC Victoria Gozo office, EDIC Malta and WasteServ.
Nature Trust (Malta) will be hosting this meeting in the most sustainable way possible keeping its carbon footprint to a minimum including the use of sustainable products with the majority of food items being locally sourced.
