For environmental conservation:
HSBC partners World Vision
World Vision and HSBC recently launched a unique partnership to
protect the Kalpitiya bar reef and preserve the natural heritage which
is the largest and most diverse coral formation in Sri Lanka.
World Vision’s National Director Suresh Bartlett and Nick
Nicolaou CEO HSBC, exchange a copy of the partnership agreement |
The bar reef had been declared a marine sanctuary in1992, with an
area reserve of 306.7 square km, that is home to 156 species of coral
and 283 species of tropical fish. It is a popular tourist destination
for diving, dolphin and whale watching.
"This project is very much aligned to our strategy of protecting and
preserving the environment and natural habitat of marine life. The bar
reef is the largest of its kind in Sri Lanka and HSBC together with
World Vision Lanka, look forward to this initiative that would help pave
the way for generations to enjoy its rich biodiversity and marine life,
while providing alternative livelihoods to the people in the area," said
Nick Nicolaou, Chief Executive Officer for HSBC Sri Lanka and the
Maldives. "Protection of the environment is a special theme across all
World Vision's programmes and we are delighted to partner with HSBC in
this key venture, which is a great model of partnerships between
development organizations and corporates," said Suresh Bartlett, World
Vision Lanka's National Director.
Besides being a major tourist attraction, the Kalpitiya bar reef also
provides fishermen with their livelihoods as it functions as the
breeding center for fish. However, the reef is under threat from natural
enemies as well as human activity.
Recent threats to its ecosystem have been identified as
over-exploitation of fish resources caused by unsuitable fishing
methods, including using dynamite to catch fish inside the corals, deep
purse-seining which damage the coral and deplete fish resources; and
pollution from human activities such as agriculture, fishing and
improper tourism. The overall project would encompass three phases
covering 'education' (promotion and development of community based
awareness and education related to conservation), 'livelihoods'
(improvement of livelihoods aligned to environment friendly techniques)
and 'partnering with other stakeholders' (institutionalization of
socio-economic and environment initiatives through partnership).
HSBC has initiated several projects that focus on both education and
the environment. Past projects include entrepreneurship education,
English language training, undergraduate scholarship programmes,
computer literacy programme, setting up libraries in the Southern
province, supporting clean-up projects in Horton Plains and Sri Pada,
preserving the rich culture and heritage of the Colombo National Museum
and helping to regenerate a tropical rain forest in Mahausakande. |