The Cyprus Marine Environment Protection Association (CYMEPA) has been officially informed by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) that its funding proposal for the Ecosystems Restoration Education (ERE) initiative—under the LEAF – Learning about Ecosystems and Forests programme—has been selected alongside only three other proposals worldwide.
The LEAF programme is implemented in 28 countries; however, for the Ecosystems Restoration Education (ERE) project, only the following countries were selected this year:
- Cyprus (CYMEPA)
- Argentina
- Malaysia
- Armenia
CYMEPA’s proposal, titled “Join the FBI: Forest Bureau of Investigation,” received particularly positive feedback for its creativity and strong potential for scalability. The initiative leverages educational tools, school-based programmes, and digital resources that link environmental education with healthy living and sustainability. The Cypriot proposal includes forest research activities, neighbourhood ecosystem restoration competitions, school gardening programmes, and digital educational resources—themes designed to mobilise a large number of teachers and students, strengthening the connection between forest exploration, food systems, and healthy living.
The approved funding amounts to €5,000. The proposal also incorporates the Magic World of Culture element from the Net Zero 4 Youth project, further enhancing the interdisciplinary and innovative character of the initiative.
What is the ERE project?
The Ecosystems Restoration Education (ERE) project, implemented within the LEAF (Learning about Ecosystems and Forests) programme (www.leaf.global), connects educators and students with nature through experiential projects. Its aim is to integrate hands-on environmental restoration practices into teacher professional development, strengthening environmental responsibility and addressing ecosystem degradation.
The programme transforms natural areas into “living classrooms” for restoration, fostering skills related to habitat care, biodiversity, and sustainable practices.
Both ERE and LEAF are implemented by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) (www.fee.global), of which CYMEPA is a member. FEE is a Supporting Partner of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, adapting actions at the local level and making restoration education accessible on a global scale.