By boat we first stopped at the mangroves lying a few hundred meters in front of the coast line. We learned how the mangroves are born, what they need to grow and I understood the important impact for the sealife and the coastline. The next stop seemed to be the paradise but as I compare the surface with my pictures of the island as it was some years ago I start to realise the impact of global warning. As the sea level rises the consequence is directly to see because the island (Ilet de Caret) disappears. When the coral reef will be over flooded the living environment will be lost and the mangroves can’t live anymore with salty water and the erosion at the coastline will increase. As we dived next to the ship wreck I already noticed that the reef lost its colours and there were not much fish in the biosphere. 

I always teaches the problem of global warning to my pupil but I have to tell that it is important to feel and see it on my own. The journey was a need and I enjoyed a lot to spend the day in the sea. 

What I have learnt today:

Today I have learnt about the following highly interesting aspects of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage:

First of all, we have experienced the tangible magnificent flora and fauna of the beautiful island of Ilet Caret that is both deeply and badly affected by the dramatic consequences of climate change.

Unfortunately, it is more or less on the brink of extinction because also the Caribbean Sea is increasingly getting ever warmer which is making the coral reefs dying out one after the other.

Thus, it is only the intangible cultural heritage of the caring people’s positive attitude and respect towards this island’s natural treasures that can possibly save this small island from disappearing, but only if they are supported by the local people and authorities, the European Union and generous people from abroad providing their working hands and / or financial means.

Secondly, when visiting two additional small islands, we have learnt how extremely fragile and vulnerable the ecosystems of both coral reefs and mangroves are and how important it is to preserve these habitats for the fish respectively birds.