Ecosystem and Society Role playing game Building a bridge between Aegna and Tallinn Külli Relve and Sirje Ahert

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1 Ecosystem and Society Role playing game Building a bridge between Aegna and Tallinn Külli Relve and Sirje Ahert Purpose: Introducing the nature of Aegna and the analysis of environmental issues. Practicing finding compromises, research based learning and the methods of role-playing. Target Group: High School pupils Resources: Role cards and a map of Aegna for each group. See R. Nerman s Aegna, Tallinn, 2008, 311 pp. The programe consists of three parts: I. Preparatory work in school II. A one-day programme on the island of Aegna III. Summary session in school Activities I Preparatory work in school: The pupils are provided the following questions and instructed to search the web and R. Nerman s book Aegna for answers. Each pupil (or a group of 2-3 pupils to fit all presentations within one lesson) chooses one of the questions and answers it with a 2-5 minute presentation in front of other pupils. Presentations are also possible during the ferry ride to Aegna. 1. When and how was the island of Aegna formed. What is the island like? 2. What does the term moraine, or boulder field mean? Why is it under protection? 3. Which uses of the island have been prominent during different centuries? 4. How would you describe the demographic change of the island during the last 100 years? 5. Which buildings can you find on the island? Choose one building and describe its erection and current status. 6. Describe the environmental situation on the island and its current uses. 7. Why are some species referred to as invasive? Provide examples of invasive species on or around Aegna. 8. How populous are the cormorants and which problems do they cause? 9. Why does the island maintain a rescue team? Since when have they been stationed there? 10. Which ships pass the island? Which ships land at the island? Which are the possible environmental impact of the ships? 11. How has Tallinn historically used Aegna? What is the current importance of Aegna for Tallinn? 12. What might happen if a dog is allowed to go free on Aegna? II Activities on the island: Gather around the map that introduces the island, study the map and explain Aegna s rules of conduct. 1. One should not disturb or damage nature.

2 2. Any trash you produce or find should be collected and taken with you, rather than left on the island. 3. One should use the paths provided and never step on moss. 4. Moss-covered rocks should not be climbed as it damages the habitat it provides. 5. Follow any instructions or signs along the way. Trek to the Nature House building along the coastline, through the boulder field and burial grounds. A Nature House guide will introduce the birds and plants seen on the way, which will hopefully include the cormorants, the Rosa Rugosa and the Blue Letture (Lactuca tatarica). Take a break near the building of the Nature House so that the pupils can explore the surrounding areas. Once they return, reflect on what each pupil has seen and noticed. Have each pupil mention at least one interesting or beautiful thing they saw. Reflexions should be in the form of a discussion with pupils asking questions from their teacher and the local guide who should draw general conclusions from the observations and provide a logical introduction to the role play. Role playing game, Building a bridge between Aegna and Tallinn Description of the situation The instructor from Aegna Nature House tells the pupils the following story: The city newspaper ran an article two days ago stating that Tallinn wants to build a bridge to connect Aegna to the mainland. They have just begun to assess the environmental impact and detailed planning phase is scheduled to begin immediately after the environmental impact report is published. Aegna Nature House hosts a meeting between the Tallinn city government and the representatives of different interest groups. The meeting aims to formulate a communique detailing the feasibility and issues related to building the bridge to be forwarded to the city planners. Division of roles Chairman, appointed by the teacher. If the group is less than enthusiastic, the chairman can be an instructor from the Nature House. Secretary, notes down the statements of representatives during the meeting and makes them available for the representatives on request. Assists in drafting the final communique. During the search phase, the secretary will work as a journalist/photographer. Forming positions: Each role prepares its position in groups of 2-3 pupils to be able to argue for or against building the bridge with convincing arguments. The position may include a request for special conditions, promises or detail propositions. The groups should be provided with minutes to prepare their positions and search the island for evidence to support their arguments. Each group should have at least three pieces of evidence (depending on their argument, an object they found, natural landscape (photo or picture), analysis of traces of

3 activity, interview, measurement or research results (may be fictional to an extent)) that supports their position. The teams should present their evidence in the form of a poster. Distribution of roles and maps of Aegna It is not necessary to use all roles but the resulting discussion should be evenly balanced. Meeting A representative of each group will be given the floor with the chairman keeping order to ensure that all representatives can provide their position and signal their support or opposition to the positions of others. The secretary shall help categorize positions. Voting can be used to signal support and opposition to any proposal. The overall aim is to form consensus through compromising. Each representative should assist the process by providing proposals for the final draft of the communique and the entire group should find one single formulation of the communique that represents their common interests. III Summary session in school The secretary shall use his or her notes to remind pupils of the way in which the final communique was formed. The communique is revised if necessary, formatted and signed by all representatives. If possible, the communique and posters should be hung on the classroom walls for at least a week so that pupils would have time to study them.

4 Descriptions of roles: 1. Chairman Appointed by the teacher. Keeps order, gives the floor to representatives and calls for signalling votes on proposals. Should not provide substative input so as to remain neutral. 2. Representative of Tallinn city government Information about the interests of other groups That a conclusion is reached at the end of the meeting Emotional decisions Damaging reports by tabloid newspapers. 3. Real estate developer Buying land on the island to build a highrise hotel complex with a spa and some restaurants Early and extensive advertising for his project Opposition by environmental groups A lack of clients Other real estate developers competition 4. Local fisherman Sustaining sealife populations Safety of his boat Opportunities for selling fish Ships obstruct fishing Hobby fishermen Loss of peace and quiet on the island Rising expenses 5. Speedboat captain Having people to ferry Attractiveness of the island

5 Loss of business due to the bridge Longer shipping routes to other islands Rising expenses 6. Representative of the shipping company Safe shipping routes City government subsidies Having people to ferry Destruction of Aegna pier Loss of business due to the bridge Reduced profit 7. Environmentalist Safe habitats for protected animals and plants A balanced ecosystem Problems from paved roads Increased litter Pillaging Increased human effects Destruction of landscapes 8. Berry picker Sustainability of berry Good connection between the mainland and island Few competitors Pollution Too many people 9. Cormorant activist Plentiful sealife population Sustainability of Cormorant nesting habitats

6 Disturbers Oil spills Speedboats 10. Travel agency Beautiful beaches Good infrastructure signs, trash bins, picnic sites, restaurants, camping sites, playing areas for kids Attractive and peaceful environment Shops and cafes Wild nature Crime 11. Long-time visitor Conventient access to the picnic site Trash bins Beautiful landscapes Existence of picnic Other visitors to the picnic sites Strict rules 12.Sports activist Well-lit paths Sports equipment rentals Other people to do sports with Safety Convenient access to the island Abuse of paths and equipment Wild animals and stray dogs Litter along the paths 12. Heritage conservator

7 Survival of the village community Protection of remains of local culture Construction of informative signs and maps Availability of information sheets for visitors People disregarding the value of culture Hurried decision-making Visitors with little interest in history 13. Rescue team member Safe environment Policing of rules Existence of good quality rescue equipment Fast access Crowds Drug addicts and other people with unpredictable behaviour Delays in rescue efforts Fires on the island Losing his job 14. Builder of the bridge Existence of work Availability of construction workers Availability of building materials Good plans for building Too many specific conditions on how the bridge is to be built Poor environmental research that does not allow the bridge to be built Lack of capital 15. Owner of a cafe chain Opening a cafe on Aegna More visitors Convenient access for goods Pillagers

8 16. Sheep herder Limitations to visitor access Lack of varied goods Rising expenses Pastures Being able to get feed for the winter Selling his or her product Large dogs Thieves Environmental limits to grazing and animal husbandry Forests 17. Military officer Defensive use of the Island The maintenance and development of the defensive structures on the island Improving the physical form of young people Exhibitions of military objects Reduction in the defensive capacity of the country Reduced feeling of military duty in young people 18. Grass snake (natrix natrix) activist Moist habitats near bodies of water Plentiful frog populations Plentiful availability of bird eggs Disturbing people Water pollution Construction work in habitats Cormorant population increases 19. Fox activist The survival of plains and other open areas Human food remains

9 The availability of insects and mice The erection of a hen house on the island Hunters Dogs Light pollution 20. Tabloid journalist Increasing newspaper sales Scandalous revelations Sensational news Unproblematic decision-making and proceedings Clear representation that doesn t allow for mis-quoting