Ruk Rakaganno - Protectors of trees - Project: Rehabilitation of Coastal Areas and Livelihood Improvement

Project: Rehabilitation of Coastal Areas and Livelihood Improvement

Proposed project activities

  1. To identify sites for planting a ‘bioshield’ (green belt).
  2. To educate school students on the importance of improved biodiversity due to trees and shrubs planted in their environment. (both school and home)
  3. To educate, encourage and instruct tsunami − affected communities on the need to establish and maintain home gardens as a means of improving family nutrition and incomes.

Actual project activities

A. SCHOOLS‘ PROGRAMME
  1. Selection of schools and meeting officials of state agencies at provincial and district level, , to explain the programme and solicit their support.
  2. Meeting the school authorities to explain the programme and arrange logistics.
  3. Organizing schools into clusters for programme to impact on a maximum number of students.
  4. Accessing appropriate Resource Persons.
  5. Accessing appropriate planting materials for distribution to the schools as per their requests.

The awareness programmes consisted of talks on:

  1. Biodiversity − what is it? Can it be enhanced?
  2. Special attention was paid to coastal biodiversity.
  3. The role of plants (trees, shrubs, creepers) in the prevention / mitigation of natural disasters.

    4. Practical work

  4. Selection of site for the school nursery and observation of soil conditions.
  5. Selection and preparation of plant materials for the nursery.
  6. Preparation of planting site.
  7. Preparation and use of compost as fertilizer.
  8. Observation of the growth of plants under different physical conditions.

B. HOME GARDENING PROGRAMME
  1. Meeting selected community groups for introductory talk.
  2. Survey of available space for home gardening and assessment of soil conditions and water availability.
  3. Topics discussed at workshops.
    1. Home gardens − why do we need them?
    2. Biodiversity in home gardens − can it be improved? How? Why?
    3. Soils − different types. Appropriate soil mixtures for different plants − e.g. seedlings, adult plants, drought resistant plants, water loving plants.
    4. Crop rotation − its benefits.
    5. Fertilizers − are they necessary? Why?

    Practical work

  4. Grafting methods
  5. Methods of composting.
  6. Indigenous pest control methods.

C. BEACH PLANTING

  1. Meeting Coast Conservation Department (CCD) officials in Colombo to discuss programme. Permission granted to access regional offices.
  2. Meeting with Coast Conservation Department {CCD} regional officers in Galle, Matara Trincomalee and Central Environmental Authority (CEA) officers in Ampara and Pottuvil/ Panama Divisional Secretariat.
  3. Sites selected with assistance of state officials. (state lands)
  4. Private lands – selection of properties without vegetation,or damaged vegetation.
  5. Tree species planted.