Today is World Environment Day:

Save our Rainforests!

Nilma DOLE

Now that Sri Lanka has officially declared the end of terrorism, we must now make serious decisions on ending the destruction of Mother Nature.

Today, Sri Lanka celebrates World Environment Day (WED) under one flag and it is imperative that we formulate a policy to prevent the illegal encroaching, deforestation and wildlife threat that is taking place right under our noses. It is definitely no joke that the next natural disaster since the extinction of the dinosaurs will be climate change and the consequences would be worse since it is a human-made catastrophe.

Climate change will no doubt affect us as studies are being conducted on our changing weather patterns and as we hear of global warming calamities taking place around the world, the problem will be closer to home.

The United Nations has declared the theme for this year as ‘Your Planet Needs You-UNite to Combat Climate Change’ with Mexico being the host nation.

In Sri Lanka, activities have been planned island-wide with regard to World Environment Day with the main event being held at the Vihara Maha Devi Park by the Environment Ministry where Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayake will be the chief guest. In order to coincide with this event, an island-wide school program will bring children together in understanding the value of Mother Nature.

Tree planting excursions, growing of vegetables, essay and drawing competitions will be held as well, cementing the love of nature amongst the present generation.

A National Photographic Exhibition organized by the Central Environmental Authority together with the Environment Ministry which was opened yesterday (4th June) will conclude tomorrow displaying the best of flora and fauna in Sri Lanka.

After worldwide celebrations of WED, yet another key international environment date is the United Nations Climate Change conference in Copenhagen to be held from the 7th till the 18th of December that will see many developed countries in the hot seats being questioned by developing countries on reducing global warming.

A recent comment made by Environment Minister Champika Ranawaka stated that the West are already on the way to becoming ‘climate change terrorists’ for the under-developed countries have had to pay the price for global warming. He emphasized, “International law should be harsh in dealing with environment issues because every human being is threatened”.

Further he commented, “Developed countries are exploiting developing countries as they have not come to a collective compromise to cut carbon emissions by surpassing the limits set by the Kyoto Protocol with regard to this,” he said.

According to Ranawaka, Sri Lanka’s carbon emissions a year amounts to about 660 kg per person and a recent study revealed that Sri Lanka has the potential to cut carbon emissions by 6.7 million tonnes a year.

The IUCN has researched that an annual loss of 33,000ha of forest cover is rampant in Sri Lanka making it one of world’s eight hot spots of habitat loss.

According to the 2007 Red List of Threatened Fauna and Flora of Sri Lanka, 72 flowering plant species were extinct. Sixty percent of them had been endemic species.

Twenty one amphibians found their way to the extinct list as well, and these species were all endemic to Sri Lanka’s wet zones with a whopping 33 percent of vertebrate species that are nationally threatened.

The good news is that Sri Lanka could generate more than US$ 100 million through carbon credit sales a year.

Many corporations are planning WED activities that are steered by their CSR projects which have proved beneficial in providing a sustainable mechanism in helping the environment.

MAS Holdings, under the patronage of the Ministry of Education Sri Lanka, is doing their bid in commemorating WED by holding a one and half day workshop on Sustainable Development Leadership for youth. The participants will be students from 29 schools in rural Sri Lanka.

These schools have been involved with the MAS ECO GO Beyond Sustainable Development Education Program since 2006. This program is a corporate citizenship initiative of MAS Holdings (Pvt.) Ltd. a leading apparel solutions provider in Sri Lanka. The leadership camp will end with a tree growing event in the MAS Fabric Park in Thulhiriya.

An ongoing project done by Jetwing is the Eternal Earth project at Hunas Falls where visitors and school children plant trees to offset carbon emissions generated by traveling there. British Council will also have nature friendly activities today.

Rainforests all over the world play an essential role in absorbing carbon dioxide and environmental researcher Dr. Simon L. Lewis said, “Tropical forest trees absorb about 18% of the CO2 added to the atmosphere each year from burning fossil fuels, substantially buffering the rate of climate change”. It is vital to protect our remaining rainforests to no only save habitats, but to prevent climate change in Sri Lanka.

Tree huggers Rainforest Rescue International (RRI) is organizing a wide-scale cleanup of Kottowa Forest, one of the closest rainforest fragments to Galle. Nearly 250 people from the Galle District will participate on June 5th to conserve and raise awareness of the importance of this forest area - uniting together in efforts to conserve this important carbon sink and to help combat climate change.

Sri Lanka’s ecoregions include lowland, montane and dry evergreen rainforests so a firm emphasis on protecting these and key forest reserves like Sinharaja, Yala, Horton Plains and the Peak Wilderness sanctuary should be done.

So let’s unite on World Environment Day this year to help Mother Nature or else we’ll all be wiped off the face of our planet thanks to climate change!

How You Can Help!

Little habits go a long way in saving Mother Nature. Here are some tips:

1. Plant trees - As many as possible. Tree huggers are the best friends you’ll ever have.

2. Save Water and Electricity - Do not waste water by running the tap and insulate your water heater and turn off lights when not in use.

3. Reduce Waste - Try as much as possible to reduce using plastic, polythene bags, disposable items and use towels instead of tissues. For women, there are reusable sanitary napkins called ‘Momoji’ available that are clean and safe.

4. Recycle reading material - Give old newspapers to the paper collector or give them to a local shop so that they can make reusable paper bags.

5. Cut down carbon emissions - Try to car pool or use office transport to get to work instead of taking the car. Bicycles and buggies are a great way to get around.

6. If there isn’t an office recycling system, start one yourself! Recycling our trash actually contributes to reducing global warming emissions. Estimates show that 75% of what is thrown in the trash could actually be recycled, though currently only 25% is present. For example, if you must have a paper copy, make sure you default your printer option to use both sides. Most computer accessories like ink cartridges and CDs and DVDs are made of materials that could be reused.

7. If you’re in search of something to personalize your workspace, look no further than the humble houseplant. Houseplants are good for the environment because they remove quantities of pollutants present in the air.

(courtesy official World Environment Day website)

Hear Her Plea!

We never think,
What harm we do to her,
Her life is on the brink,
She sheds a lone tear.

The burdens she has to bear,
Of our great sin,
She cries and we pretend not to hear,
But we won’t win.

How come we still turn a blind eye?
To her suffering?
Don’t we know we’ll die,
If we don’t hear her calling?

It is she who sustains us,
Feeds us and warms us,
It is she who comforts us,
Who clothes us and nurtures us.

Our Mother Nature
Will die forever,
and so will we,
If we don’t help her.