Problem:
Most of the Sri Lanka's natural ecosystems are highly vulnerable to degradation due to anthropogenic activities. This leads to loss of natural habitats, unexpected environmental hazards and unpredicted weather patterns. The environmental problems like climate change, floods, soil erosion, landslide and natural disaster, etc. have been affecting the lives of humans as well as fauna and flora in many parts of the country. It is, therefore, imperative to work to resolve these environmental problems. In the Sri Lanka wet zone much of the original forest habitat was lost to a tea, rubber and cinnamon plantations, and other agriculture/forestry clearance. Further subsistence level encroachment for firewood and small-scale agriculture continues today. Thus the wet zone considered as one of the critical ecosystem in Sri Lanka.
Proposed solution:
In particular, the school children have remained untapped in the drive to promote environmental protection in Sri Lanka. Empower the younger generation to learn more and appreciate the environment, to learn how to utilize it while protecting it and to contribute in expanding the green cover of the country.
The intended outcome of this programme is to have a network of conservation education societies, functioning in schools in the wet zone of Sri Lanka. They will be acting as an environmental protector of their family who will deliver a greater awareness on biodiversity, deforestation, climate change, conservation education and knowledge which they will gain through the program. It will help them to identify and take action against these environmental problems. This programme was initiated in 2004 and still continuing to date. A total of 3500 trees were planted on 42 schools during the period of 2004 to 2016.