Involving Communities Living on San Juan Bay Estuarine Basin in Macroinvertebrate Biomonitoring for Aquatic Ecosystems Conservation and Sustainability

Management initiatives to safeguard aquatic ecosystems, such as rivers and wetlands, need to incorporate the people that cohabit with them to be successful in assuring its conservation. Global conservation strategies are transforming from the traditional management approach to a more community inclusive process, because, by involving the community in day-to-day management, changes are made to the way in which people relate to ecosystem functions and services, making its conservation easier and more effective.  The main goal of this project is to assist local programs focused on the conservation and management of the San Juan Bay system in implementing environmental educational activities to involve the community in aquatic macroinvertebrate biomonitoring.   The activities lead participants to learn about its local watershed, to consider their lifestyle impacts on aquatic ecosystems, and to “take action” by discovering the aquatic life and initiating conservation strategies. This initiative is based on the 5E Instructional Model to encourage the active exploration of these ecosystems using inquiry and critical thinking to identify environmental problems, deciding upon the solutions and implementing management plans. In this way, communities become responsible for 'their actions towards these ecosystems, modifying its relationship with it and developing attitudes of empowerment, cooperation, and sustainability.