By Ifham Nizam
A staggering three tractor loads of garbage, was collected in close vicinity to one of the country’s most income generating parks, the Horton Plains National Park.
The programme was conducted by the Friends of Horton Plains, a nonprofit oriented, environmental group in association with the plantation community, scientists and members from various non-government organizations in the Nuwara-Eliya District, with the support of the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
A spokesman of the group told The Island yesterday said that more than 60 per cent of the garbage consisted of yogurt cups, milk sachets and beer cans.
He said that yoghurt cups were mostly from two major diary producers in the country. "We will request the companies to inform their sales outlets about the damage caused. A simple awareness campaign will do a lot for the betterment of the environment.
Friend of Horton Plains arranged a garbage collection shramadana programme on December 17, 2011 starting from Meepilimana to the entrance of Horton Plains National Park.
The most important factor in the shramadana was that more than 100 estates community members from Mattakelle, Bearwel and Holyrood Estates of Talawakelle Plantations and Dayagama West Estate of Agarapatana Plantations with their managers, assistant managers and families voluntarily participated.
In addition, a large number of Special Task Force (STF) officers from Meepilimana Camp, officials from Tea Research Institutes, Talawakelle and Department of Wildlife Conservation also participated. The Four teams each cleared around five kilometer strips during whole day.
Friends of Horton Plains, President S. Nandakumar said that the group have conducted various activities such as awareness programs to estate community, school teachers and children and business community, organized shramadana campaigns to remove invasive plants growing in the grassland of Horton Plains, workshops on biodiversity conservation and various environmental issues, field activities to educate members etc.
"This garbage collection programme was another event organized by the association with the active participation of members and estate community regarding conservation," he added.
Friends of Horton Plains Joint Secretary, Chaminda Senanayake said that the programme was an enormous success and three tractor loads of garbage were collected during the whole day. Yoghurt cups and milk packets were the most abundant waste and collected from the road side.
He says accumulation of garbage indicates the irresponsible activities of local visitors to Horton Plains and it is time to change their attitude.
He also said that children, particularly school children were educated regarding the accumulation of polythene and related environmental issues by team leaders during the programme.
A the end of the programme, participants were gathered at Horton plains National Park and Park Warden, G. U. Saranga addressed them. He said that the Horton Plains have been declared as a world Heritage site and categorized as a mountain cloud forest.
"Therefore, this initiative and support helps nature conservation and attract more visitors to the park," he added.
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=41673
No comments:
Post a Comment