The future of the sea is determined by the behavior of the beach dwellers

Head of the National Research Institute of Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences: The future of the sea is determined by the behavior of the beach dwellers

The head of the National Research Institute of Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences said: The future of the sea is not determined only in laboratories and libraries, but in local communities and the daily behavior of coastal people.

Doctor, Ali Mehdinia On Monday evening, at the closing ceremony of the first grassroots training workshop for sustainable development in Hormuz Island, he added: This island has a unique marine-coastal ecosystem whose life depends on the health of the waters and biodiversity around it.

He continued: Coral reefs, salt beaches, bird and fish habitats and sea currents around the island are all parts of a living and sensitive system, the smallest change in which can affect the life and economy of the local people and beach dwellers, and for this reason, protecting the marine environment of the island is not only a choice, but a vital necessity, and without a proper understanding of the connection between the sea and people's lives, no development model will be sustainable in Hormoz.

Mehdinia pointed out: The training workshop for the basic people of the development of Hormoz Island was not only an educational meeting, but it is considered a fundamental step in the path of sustainable development, and during its holding, we witnessed a brilliant example of the synergy of scientific knowledge and local knowledge, and we saw how local knowledge, people's experiences, and scientific findings can come together and identify the challenges of an island.

This scientific official noted: The National Research Institute of Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences, as a leading scientific institution in the country, and the regional center for oceanographic research training in West Asia, does not see its mission only in conducting scientific research, but also considers itself committed to promoting marine knowledge and literacy of marine citizens; The knowledge that transforms people from spectators to helpers in the protection of the sea.

The head of the National Research Institute of Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences emphasized: The results obtained in this workshop will be the basis for developing a collaborative program for the sustainable development of Hormuz Island, and this program will align the indigenous knowledge of the people with scientific findings and management policies.

The first training workshop for grassroots people for sustainable development in Hormoz Island started on Sunday, November 4th in this island and continued for 2 days.

This program was held in collaboration with the National Research Institute of Oceanography, UNESCO, Hormozgan Governorate and the local administration of Hormoz Island, and sustainable livelihoods, maritime tourism and its opportunities and challenges, the role of tourism in development, intangible heritage and creative economy were among the topics that were discussed by researchers with the presence and participation of a number of Hormoz Island residents in this program.

Also, in this program, group workshops were organized to identify the issues of Hormoz Island and prioritize them and collaborative approaches in the local development of Hormoz Island, and the participants in the form of three working groups examined environmental challenges, sustainable livelihoods, and culture and education, and analyzed the roots and consequences.

More than 70 people participated in this program; The director of the UNESCO office in Tehran and the secretary general of the UNESCO National Commission in Iran were among the speakers and participants of this program.