The Manitoba Forestry Association, and the Manitoba Model Forest are working in cooperation to provide education opportunities on sustainable development with a focus on sustainable forest management. We are working with students and teachers from 4 schools to facilitate the Young Master Program on Sustainable Development in Manitoba.
The Young Masters Program on Sustainable Development is a program developed by the International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE) at Lund University in Sweden.The program is an interactive distance education course; using the internet students connect with other students, teachers and environmental educators around the world. Students, ages 16-18, work with a teacher advisor at their local school to complete assignments about sustainable development. Students and teachers receive feedback on their work from the international community by submitting their work online to the IIIEE. Students are also able to see the work of other students around the world. Ultimately the program leads students to initiate a project within their community that promotes sustainable development and preventative strategies to deal with environmental problems.
The program is comprised of four parts:
Part 1: ‘Sustainability Why?’ – An online study highlighting the need for sustainable development.
Part 2: ‘Sustainability How?’ –An online study into preventive environmental strategies for sustainable development.
Part 3: Project Development – Students develop and implement a sustainable development project that will have a lasting impact on their local community.
Part 4: International Convention – Students will have the opportunity to meet other YMPSD students and present their projects at an international convention. Conventions are organized every 2-3 years
with meetings so far in Sweden, Italy, Egypt, United Arab Emirates.
The MFA and MMF provide support for students in the program as well as funding for the development of the students' community projects. Students began their course work in September 2010, project work is expected to begin in March. Details of the students' projects will be posted here once they have commenced.