BIOTROP, together with three other SEAMEO Centres and six partner-institutions in Indonesia and Thailand signed a Framework of Collaboration (FoC) on 28 April 2017 held in Demak, Central Java, Indonesia to establish a sister-school project on mangrove education and conservation.

From Indonesia, the other SEAMEO Centres and partner-institutions are the SEAMEO Regional Centre for Quality Improvement of Teachers and Education Personnel (QITEP) in Science, SEAMEO Regional Open Learning Centre (SEAMOLEC), Diponegoro University, Yayasan Inspirasi Keluarga KeSEMaT (IKAMaT) Semarang, Bedono 1 National Primary School and Satu Atap 3 National Junior High School in Sayung, Demak, Central Java Province. From Thailand, the project collaborators are the SEAMEO Regional Centre for Archaeology and Fine Arts (SPAFA), Khlong Phitthayalongkorn Primary School (KPS) and Bangpakong Secondary School (BPS) in Bangkok.

The project generally aims to facilitate the exchange of teaching-learning materials and experiences in mangrove education as well as to determine appropriate ways to conserve and explore the sustainable use of mangrove ecosystem to benefit the partner schools and the communities around them.

The FoC signing was witnessed by the District Head of Demak, HM Natsir. In his remarks, Mr. HM Natsir expressed his appreciation to the four SEAMEO Centres for initiating the project. He recognized the significance of the project in bringing awareness on the importance of the mangrove ecosystem through education and conservation activities and maximizing its benefits for the partner-schools and their surrounding communities, particularly to address the abrasion issue in Demak District.

The FoC will deal with mangrove conservation and restoration, education, and socioeconomic and cultural development within the Program sites in Indonesia and Thailand. The partners are expected to cooperate on (1) exchange of informationand expertise toward effecting environmental, educational, socioeconomic and cultural development in the Project sites in Indonesia and Thailand; (2) research and development to address the environmental, educational, socioeconomic and cultural issues and concerns in the Project sites in Indonesia and Thailand; (3)capacity building to enhance the capacities of school students, teachers, community members and other relevant stakeholders in the Program sites in Indonesia and Thailand as well as eventually empower them to effectively and efficiently work for the environmental, socioeconomic and cultural development through education in their respective areas; (4)networking with other relevant individuals and institutions for the successful operation and sustainability of the Program; and (5) promotion, dissemination, and advocacy on the importance of mangroves in socioeconomic and cultural development of communities as well as the Project activities, outputs and outcome to the public.