South Asian Convention on Coastal Management

My colleague Nalaka Rosairo attended a Coastal Management Work Shop at India. There were several representatives attended from South Asian region including, India, Maldives, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The Center for Science and Environment[CSE] a Delhi based organization and Pondichery based PondyCAN organized the work shop in which discussed the matters related to managing and regulating coastal environment, protecting coastal habitats and climate change. Presentations are available at: http://www.cseindia.org/content/south-asia-convention-coastal-management Fact sheets: India: http:// Bangladesh: http:// Sri Lanka; http:// Maldives: http:// Pakistan: http:// Nalaka Rosairo needs to update me further and will come back again if he has anything more to add to these information. Herman

Youth for Green Environment: Silviculture Program at Polpitigama

My colleagues in the Praja Sahayogitha Padanama in Polpithigama, in Kurunegala had done an excellent work on conservation of the environment. The Silviculture site at Polpitihigama area was one of the important contribution to the conservation of the area which is suppose to be a dry climatic condition. The youth group, the members of the YMESOC, the Youth- Movement for Environment and Social Change, had shed their sweat to make their environment green and wet in Polpithigama. Sampath Jayawardene, the coordinator of the program said to me, "This work changed the minds of the youth who engaged in this silviculture program. Our youth did their best not only to plant the trees, but also to protect them. We need to work hard to spread this idea and experiences in other areas of dry zone. We can see lot of positive things happening in the ground level. But we need to provide more space and resources to spread this idea and experiences". My colleague, Laksiri Pradeep did a nice poster based on the Polpitigama experience and I would like to share this with you all those who visit my blog for your information. I am sure, Laksiri will continue these experiences with other areas with Y-MESOC groups, in the north and south of the country. Herman

Tree Ordination program at Nilgala Forest Reserve!

Nilgala forest is one of a rich bio diversity in Sri Lanka and face serious threats to the same by now. People cut down trees from the forest for their personnel gains. With the blessings of some politicians, the henchmen engage the destruction of the forest.We think these are some what critical issues in present development context. Who ever, destroy such important forest is a prime concern of NAFSO and we are engage in to prevent the destruction. Environmental groups have engaged to protect Nilgala forest while using robes of the monks. The environmentalists says, "It is the ordination of the Nilgala forest and how long they are going to see the school. Yesterday, we have seen the vllagers have helped the trees covering the trees with monks robes. The function called, Ordination of the Trees which was held yesterday with the participation of villagers around Nilgala forest. The Environmental Justice Foundation facilitated the process with the communities around the forest. Herman