25 July 2009

::: Climate Change | Gamini s Greener Globe :::

Sri Lanka faces more and more natural disasters as severe droughts, coastal erosion, heat waves which are somehow linked to climate change. IPCC findings, published in 2004, clearly shows that increase of Greenhouse Gases in the atmosphere as the reason for climate change. This includes Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrogen Dioxide, CFC, and even Water Vapor. It is estimated that the temperature rise will be 2 to 5 degrees Centigrade at the end of the century. Some even believe of a more severe temperature increase and 40 cm sea level rise by 2080. Some assessments state that the rise of average temperature by 4 to 5 degrees Centigrade will raise the sea level by 3 to 5 meters which leads to break up of ice caps in Greenland and Antarctica. Greenpeace says the breakdown of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet alone contains enough ice to increase the sea level by 5 meters. And if all ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica melt entirely, the sea level will rise by 70 meters.
Although the countries except the United States signed the Kyoto Protocol which agreed to reduce 5.2 % of CO2 emissions, none of the countries have fulfilled the agreed obligation yet. The World cannot be saved by the bodies appointed for saving it unless we all unite and act accordingly. Sri Lanka has made less contributions to climate change. Although, our GDP is high enough to become a middle income country, we are still an agrarian nation. However, we need to understand that the current development paradigm is not climate friendly. Most developed countries followed the thinking of Develop Today & Conserve Tomorrow .. However, the environmental disasters, including climate change, have shown that this has been a failed approach.
Today, we are facing three major crises such as food crisis, climate crisis, and financial crisis. At the end, the humanity is in a serious crisis. Though the world will recover from the financial crisis, there is no easy solution for the food crisis and the climate crisis.
The Developed Countries in the north have already exceeded their fair share in their resources utilization. They also have exceeded the use of the environmental space. The developed countries, representing less than one fifth of the world’s population, have emitted almost three quarters of all historical emissions. On a per person basis, they are responsible for more than ten times the historical emissions of developing countries. The Developed Nations owe the Developing Nations a huge Ecological Debt and Emission Debt. They are not yet ready to pay this debt. Honouring these obligations is not only necessary but it is also the basis of a fair and effective solution to climate change. Those who benefited most in the course of causing climate change must compensate those who contributed least to it but bear its adverse effects. Unfortunately, the poor majority in the world suffers most from both the food crisis and the climate crisis. According to Greenpeace more than 120 million people will become climate refugees by the end of the century in India and Bangladesh alone. According to OXFAM, a charity organization, the world will require 50 to 140 billion USD a year for the poorer countries to adapt to climate change. Sri Lankans who engage in nature based livelihoods, are already suffering from climate change. As the climate change is a very new issue to the authorities in Sri Lanka, they do not have any relevant statistics. However, we cannot ignore climate change anymore as it is already causing impacts. If we are to promote a Carbon Neutral Economy, we still have the opportunity and time for it. It is not advisable to wait for the government agencies to show the red flag on climate change. Every individual has the responsibility to act on climate change. The authorities need a more dynamic approach on climate change. The Coal based energy dependency in Sri Lanka is not climate friendly. Although Wind energy and Solar energy are climate friendly, Sri Lanka state bodies have a phobia in promoting these innovative energy concepts and they still have a learning exercise on climate change. But, we should not underestimate the climate impacts to Sri Lanka as we are an island in the Bay of Bengal ..
The Globe must think of adopting :: Develop In A Sustainable Manner While Respecting All The Conservation Efforts ::

17 July 2009

::: Eco Tourism | Gamini s Greener Globe :::

As the new millennium unfolds, we are becoming increasingly aware of the finite, interconnected, and precious nature of our P L A N E T H O M E .. Likewise, tourism is becoming an increasingly popular expression of this awareness. With advances in transportation and information technology, ever more remote areas of the earth are coming within reach of the traveler. In fact, tourism is now the world's largest industry with nature tourism the fastest growing segment. In response to this increasing appreciation of nature experiences, a new travel ethic has arisen which is now called E C O T O U R I S M ..
This term has become increasingly popular in both conservation and travel circles, but what exactly does it mean ?

<< Environmentally responsible travel to natural areas, in order to enjoy and appreciate nature and accompanying cultural features both past and present that promote conservation, have a low visitor impact and provide for beneficially active Socio-Economic involvement of local people .. >>

Most tourism in natural areas today is not Eco Tourism and is not therefore, sustainable. Eco Tourism can be distinguished from nature tourism by its emphasis on conservation, education, traveler responsibility, and active community participation. Specifically, Eco Tourism possesses the following characteristics :

* Conscientious and low impact visitor behavior
* Sensitivity towards and appreciation of local cultures and biodiversity
* Support for local conservation efforts
* Sustainable benefits to local communities
* Local participation in decision making
* Educational components for both the traveler and local communities

It is becoming evident that increased tourism to sensitive natural areas in the absence of appropriate planning and management can become a threat to the integrity of both Eco Systems and local cultures. Increasing numbers of visitors to ecologically sensitive areas can lead to significant environmental degradation. Likewise, local communities and indigenous cultures can be harmed in numerous ways by an influx of foreign visitors and wealth. Additionally, fluctuations in climate, currency exchange rates, and political and social conditions can make over dependence upon tourism a risky business.
However, this same growth creates significant opportunities for both conservation and local community benefit. Eco Tourism can provide much needed revenues for the protection of national parks and other natural areas, revenues that might not be available from other sources. Additionally, Eco Tourism can provide a viable economic development alternative for local communities with few other income generating options. Moreover, Eco Tourism can increase the level of education and activism among travelers, making them more enthusiastic and effective agents of conservation.

16 July 2009

::: Green Standards | Gamini s Greener Globe :::

Environmentally responsible living at Home :

Anyone can start environmentally friendly living by doing simple things at home such as switching off unnecessary lights and appliances, repair broken taps, saving water by turning off the tap while brushing your teeth etc.

Think before you buy ( Do not purchase unnecessary things ) :

Reducing the amount that we consume is the first step in reducing waste.

Use of Reusable goods such as reusable bags :

Find constructive uses for W A S T E materials. You can make a fashion statement and design your own shopping bag. A small investment saving money and environment in the long term.

Use a compost bin to recycle kitchen waste :

Recycling will reduce the amount of garbage you dispose as a municipal waste. About 85% of what we throw out from households are easily biodegradable waste which will provide us a fertilizer for our gardens at no cost passively. A compost bin takes up maximum one square meter from your garden space. These are available in plastic, concrete, or metal in many sizes and to suit your budget.
By following R E D U C E >> R E U S E >> R E C Y C L E in that order of importance will reduce the waste that you generate.

Green living in the digital age :

Use both sides of papers in printing or photocopying documents, print only the portion that is essential after editing. Replace Email for normal mail wherever possible. Going digital saves time, paper, storing space, and so much more easy to access past records and it is trendy .. too.

Buy local products ( Consume local products ) :

This will reduce the foreign exchange, promote local industries, and also will reduce the CO2 emissions involve in logistics.

Give only Eco Friendly gifts :

Make sure the gift you give will get used. Avoid unnecessary packaging and give green gifts, consumable gifts such as fruits, local gifts, and rechargeable batteries.

Use CFL bulbs :

Compact fluorescent, spiral light bulbs are 75% more efficient than standard light bulbs.

Use Solar Power :

Now easy to use solar panels are available for lighting and also solar chargers are available for for electronic appliances.

Energy saving on the road :

Walking, cycling, using a car pool, fuel efficient cars, keeping the car well maintained, driving at a lower speed, or taking public transport, all produce fewer CO2 emissions.

Green buildings :

Improve natural daylight, ventilation in workspace, home environment. Offices that are designed for air conditioning create a sick environment since often these are not maintained. It is very much more economical, healthy, and sensible to consider designs to optimize the use of natural lighting and ventilation.

Switch off electrical appliances rather than keep them on the standby mode :

Computers, Monitors, Printers, Photocopy Machines, Televisions, VCRs, DVD Players, and Microwave Ovens should be properly switched off to save energy.

Conserve soil :

Do not expose soil in land development.

Plant a tree :

Trees absorb CO2 which will reduce global warming and it provides other benefits such as shelter, conservation of soil, retaining water, supply food, wood, and fuelwood.

Harvest rain water :

Put a barrel on your downspouts and use this water for watering plants, washing etc.

Save water in the garden :

Retain rain water in the garden by facilitating infiltration and reducing the surface flow. If you have to water the garden, do it during the coolest part of the day or at night to minimize evaporation.

09 July 2009

::: The Eco System Need Them | Gamini s Greener Globe :::

How much of celebrated Sri Lanka Wildlife will we have left 25 years hence ? Today, a herd of wild elephants coming to quench its thirst at a tank is a common sight in Yala, Minneriya, or many such places in the island. However, if the dangerous trend of encroaching on the natural habitat of these animals continues, the next few decades could see some of Sri Lanka's most majestic animal species becoming E X T I N C T.
The Sri Lankan Elephant ( Elaphas Maximus ) is listed as vulnerable and it comes as no surprise given that the death of a wild elephant is reported every two days.
It is also alarmingly in the vulnerable category are the Sri Lankan Leopard ( Panthera Pardus ) and the Wild Buffalo ( Bubalus Arnee ) while the Sloth Bear ( Melursus Ursinus ) is listed as E N D A N G E R E D.
1 in every 2 species of Mammals and Amphibians, 1 in every 3 species of Reptiles and Freshwater Fish and 1 in every 5 species of Birds in the country are currently facing the risk of becoming threatened in the wild.
The alarming statistics are revealed in the 2007 National Red List of Threatened Plants and Animals in Sri Lanka compiled by The World Conservation Union ( IUCN ), in collaboration with the Biodiversity Secretariat of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources. The list was prepared by gathering information on the Indigenous Flora and Fauna of Sri Lanka and assessing their conservation status, taking into consideration the Global Red List criteria developed by the IUCN.
The Red List is both an important and powerful tool in the conservation cause, says Dr. Channa Bambaradeniya, Coordinator, Regional Species Conservation Program, IUCN Asia. It is a good indicator of the current status of wildlife, and it focuses our attention on the seriousness of the threats to the unique and rich biodiversity of Sri Lanka. Species were considered as Nationally Threatened when evaluated as one of the following :

- Critically Endangered ( CE ),
- Endangered ( EN ), or
- Vulnerable ( VU ).

The state of Indigenous Species in Sri Lanka was determined by the rate of population reduction, restricted geographic range, small population size and very small or restricted population. Most species were evaluated using their geographic range.
( Extent Of Occurrence | EOO and Area Of Occupancy | AOO )
The process of compiling the National Red List began in 2004. Facts were assembled selecting certain taxonomic groups for evaluation. Species information was then fed to a digital database, and the distribution of each species plotted in a 5×5 km² grid map using GIS technology. The result is what is considered the most comprehensive document concerning the environment and its conservation.
The previous National Red List was compiled in 1999, and the findings of the current assessments suggest that although steps have been taken to mitigate the threat of extinction, this effort is far from enough, explained Ms. Shiranee Yasaratne, the country representative of IUCN.
Sadly, the animals on the previous Red List are in much the same or in a worse situation than they were eight years ago. Climate change induced by rapid global warming, deforestation, and pollution are some of the main threats to wildlife. Poaching is also a serious threat although steps have been taken towards restricting this activity, and it continues regardless. Aquatic habitats and endemic fish species are in grave danger due to excessive use of agrochemicals. Sri Lanka ranks high among the top ten countries that make use of these chemicals. Deforestation, mining of minerals, improper land use, and so forth have led to heavy siltation in streams and rivers affecting aquatic life.
According to the National Red List, 223 ( 33% ) Inland Indigenous Vertebrate species are classified as nationally threatened. Of these, as many as 138 species ( 62% ) are endemic to Sri Lanka. Local extinction has already been happening due to urbanization. 84 Vertebrates and 74 Invertebrates have been classed in the near threatened category. Many of these reside in the wet zone of Sri Lanka. Only 4% of the wet zone is forested, and these forests too are severely fragmented. The implication of habitat loss, particularly in the wet zone, is that 21 species of
Endemic Amphibians and 72 species of Plants have become E X T I N C T over the past two centuries. In the past fifty years, we have lost approximately half of the country's total forested area. As of now, only 23.5% of the island's forests remain. The loss of forests averages as much as 30,000 hectares per year. Plant life in Sri Lanka too faces similar dangers. Of the island's total number of plant species ( 1099 ) evaluated, a staggering 61% are threatened. Of these, a further 61% are endemic to Sri Lanka. 37% of these endemic plants are in the critically endangered category. Unfortunately, the full implications of the extinction threat are unknown. In the case of plant life, only 30% of indigenous plants have been evaluated due to problems related to the lack of access to recent taxonomic publications and inconsistency in published data to name a few. Thus, some species have been put into the Data Deficient category. It is possible that many of these species are already threatened and in need of conservation action.
The 2008 National Red List, along with the new digital database launched by IUCN should be of some help to conservationists. With these tools, conservation planning and monitoring of protected areas, the creation of more public awareness and finally minimizing the threat of extinction could be achieved. Much remains to be done, both by the public and environmental organizations. In a bid to enlarge the size of wildlife reserves, efforts are being made to regenerate forests and link protected areas together by way of what are known as habitat corridors. So far, these steps have been undertaken on a small scale, but even a small effort is a significant contribution to this cause, said Dr. Channa Bambaradeniya. We all want the promise of a better tomorrow. For a large section of our wildlife, there could well be no tomorrow. Children in the 2020s may have to look up encyclopedias and visit museums to see animals that we are familiar with today. It is time to put things right. Not too far from now, it could be too late.

- Special Thanks To IUCN | Sri Lanka.

02 July 2009

::: Thought Of The Era | Gamini s Greener Globe :::

Current Global Economic Downturn helps the mankind to think differently as well as collectively to overcome the dependency over Fossil Fuel Based Technologies. Even though Environmentally Sound Technologies, known as ESTs, are often considered more expensive than the existing Fossil Fuel Based Technologies, the transition to EST driven manufacturing and service industries can become a platform for a new economic growth for sectors such as agriculture, forestry, and even tourism.
Climate Change is a universal issue and it has to be dealt collectively. ESTs know how sharing policies between developed and developing countries, will be needed on an unprecedented scale. Those who degrade the environment insanely are accountable for their act and they have a moral responsibility to contribute back to the environment. In other word, Environmental Cost. Thus, ESTs are able to provide Win Win solutions, allowing the Greener Global Economic Growth and Climate Change Mitigation to proceed hand in hand.
Existing fossil fuel dependency will be diminished with the supporting deployment of mature renewable energies as biomass, geothermal, solar, wind, and hydro energy as well as providing public awareness on efficient utilization of energy.