7/21/2017 Connecting people to nature:A need of the hour for Sri Lanka - Ceylontoday.lk

http://www.ceylontoday.lk/print20170401CT20170630.php?id=22539 1/6

By: Kanchana Wickramasinghe

This year's World Environment Day – 5 June – is celebrated under the theme 'Connecting People toNature'. People are reliant on numerous benefits or ecosystem services offered by the nature. The ecosystemservices range from provision of food for sustenance to provision of cultural services such asrecreational experiences. However, a long lasting connection between people and nature requirescareful and responsible behaviour of humans in all activities that involve nature. The responsibility lieswith all sects of the society, ranging from the individuals, corporates, civil society and the government.There is enough evidence to show that lack of true connectivity between people and nature causesnegative implications for development. A meaningful connectivity between people and nature leads toinformed decisions regarding the human activities that involve nature. This avoids unsustainableactivities that destroy nature, and contributes effectively towards sustainable development.

No or lack of connectivity Nature-based tourism is one of the activities which indicate people's desire to experience the nature.On the other hand, tourism businesses are undeniably dependent on the recreational services offeredby the ecosystems. Therefore, a vital role has to be played by the visitors to minimize their impacts onthe nature. As a concerned villager who serves as a local committee member in promoting nature-based tourism in a rural area in Kurunegala pointed out,"managing the local tourists is the mostchallenge able thing for us. They leave polythene and bottles that destroys the beauty of theenvironment. They only think about their day of enjoyment". This has been the case for nature tourismsites in many parts of the country.

An IPS study based on the Bar Reef in Kalpitiya revealed the negative implications of the ongoingtourism activities on the ecosystem. The Bar Reef has become a polluted area due to irresponsibleactivities of tourists. A tour operator who owns a small scale boat service noted "it's our people whopollute the environment most, not the foreigners". The real aesthetic value of nature sites decreasesdue to pollution. Evidently, a substantial problem faced by the tourism industry in Sri Lanka is localvisitors' responsibility to keep the natural environment intact.

Furthermore, people's connectivity with the environment is important in every aspect of tourism, notonly in nature sites. Patrons of hotels can also contribute by being mindful of their water and energy

PRINT EDITION

News

There is a method in China’s DoklamStand 👤 3827 🕔 2017-07-21

Indonesia Ban On Civil Society BodiesSpot on or overreach? 👤 4461 🕔 2017-07-21

IS THE PRESIDENT SENSING ANAPPROACHING DOOM? 👤 4835 🕔 2017-07-21

Water shortage on islands reaches crisisproportions 👤 3467 🕔 2017-07-21

Military hands over 189 acres inMullaitivu 👤 3475 🕔 2017-07-21

Two Indians nabbed with gold worth Rs2 M 👤 3450 🕔 2017-07-21

Community media platform launched 👤 3453 🕔 2017-07-21

BAFTA fame film director meetsMangala 👤 3453 🕔 2017-07-21

IIESL sessions on 21, 22 July 👤 3445 🕔 2017-07-21

Sarana fined Rs 2,000 👤 3447 🕔 2017-07-21

Corruption causes Rs 3 M daily loss –Customs DG 👤 3455 🕔 2017-07-21

Govt slow in implementing reforms 👤3465 🕔 2017-07-21

Kovind elected India’s 14th President 👤 3449 🕔 2017-07-21

Cocaine ‘escaped’ detection atOrugodawatta Yard 👤 3468 🕔 2017-07-21

Connecting people to nature:A need of the hour for Sri Lanka 👤 3478 readers have read this article !

By2017-06-05

Custom Search

HOME LOCAL FT POLITICS INTERVIEWS WORLD SPORTS COLUMNS ▾ SCI / TECH ENTERTAINMENT BIZARRE FEATURES ▾ PRINT EDITION ▾ E-PAPER

7/21/2017 Connecting people to nature:A need of the hour for Sri Lanka - Ceylontoday.lk

http://www.ceylontoday.lk/print20170401CT20170630.php?id=22539 2/6

consumption and using these resources responsibly. A recent IPS research highlighted that certainpractices to increase the efficiency of water usage will work better if users extend their cooperation byconserving water.

The recent tragedy in the Meethotamulla garbage dump is an ideal example of the devastatingconsequences caused by the public. Citizens are aware of the impacts of improper waste managementbut only a few households are making an effort to convert waste into environmentally-friendly compost.While there can be certain constraints that limit such attempts by individuals, households can contributetowards waste segregation and responsible management of waste.

Environmental literacy The issues posed by people's lack of connectivity to nature call for the promotion of environmentalliteracy in Sri Lanka. Knowledge about the natural environment and related issues only form a part ofthe concept of environmental literacy. An environmentally literate person should be able to makedecisions using this knowledge and be willing to contribute towards environmental sustainability. Thus,while environmental literacy begins with knowledge, it is completed only with behavioural aspects whichare vital for environmental sustainability.

It is unlikely that many individuals are unaware of the environmental impact of certain activities. Theproblem occurs when it comes to responsible behaviour. Therefore, though environmental educationand awareness have always been an important element in environmental policies, the ultimate policygoals are yet to be achieved.

The UN Sustainable Development Goals also recognizes the importance of environmental awarenessunder Goal 12, which deals with sustainable consumption, and production, and under Goal 13 whichdeals with climate change. The Target 12.8 says "by 2030 ensure that people everywhere have therelevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature".The Target 13.3 says "improve education, awareness raising and human and institutional capacity onclimate change mitigation,adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning".Organization for EconomicCo-operation and Development (2012) which highlights directives for policy makers in developingcountries, considers the "shifting science, research, educational and training priorities to support thetransition to a green economy" as one of the six enabling conditions for green growth in developingcountries.

Important Promotion of environmental literacy among the various groups, ranging from individuals to corporatesand policy makers, is a crucial requirement in achieving connectivity to nature and sustainabledevelopment. Ad hoc awareness programmes helps to get rid of certain issues in the short term.However, to bridge the connectivity gap between the people and nature, a far-sighted comprehensiveprogramme should be in place. Certain elements of environmental literacy are already embedded in theschool curricula. The formal education system should not be limited to enhance awareness onenvironmental issues but also should effectively contribute to behavioural changes. The environmentalliteracy plans should be comprehensive and go in line with other sustainable development objectives tomake them feasible in practical applications.

The most common cause for many environmental problems is considering negative environmentalimpacts as an after-thought. Improved environmentally literacy can guide the policy makers andplanners to make informed decisions considering nature as an integral part of sustainable development.

The latest developments in sustainable tourism aim to encourage the visitors to contribute towardsconservation, without limiting themselves to simply minimizing their impact on the natural environment.This is a critical element of ecotourism activities. Tourism itself can be used as a tool to nurture greenthinking among the visitors, and make them actively contribute towards conservation and preservationof environment.

Enhancement of environmental literacy at all levels should be undertaken as a long-term plan. Untilenvironmental literacy delivers its intended benefits, it is important to have an effective law enforcementsystem to minimize negative environmental impacts in the short term. Effective enforcement ofregulations can also lead to change in behaviour of citizens towards environmentally friendlyapproaches.

(Kanchana Wickramasinghe is a Research Economist at the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka(IPS). To view this article online and to share your comments, visit the IPS Blog 'Talking Economics' -http://www.ips.lk/talkingeconomics/)

COLUMNS

CEBEU Demands PUCSL Power Planover CEB’s plan 👤 3459 🕔 2017-07-21

PUCSL Approves CEB’S LTGEP 👤3453 🕔 2017-07-21

Missing Persons Bill Gazetted 👤 3460 🕔 2017-07-21

Student Leader escapes arrest at HealthMinistry 👤 3449 🕔 2017-07-21

Govt will soon lose two-thirds majority –Dullas 👤 3444 🕔 2017-07-21

7 arrested in Rs 3.2B Coke bust 👤3450 🕔 2017-07-21

JVP will shoot down new InlandRevenue Act 👤 3444 🕔 2017-07-21

JO mulls quitting ConstitutionalAssembly – Dinesh 👤 3445 🕔 2017-07-21

US Presidency and country have sunkto new lows 👤 3562 🕔 2017-07-20

Australia, policing and terrorism 👤3522 🕔 2017-07-20

We cannot handle too many thingstogether 👤 4269 🕔 2017-07-20

Read More

Columns

LAW OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE 👤3454 🕔 2017-07-21

Founding fathers of Indian journalism 👤 3194 🕔 2017-07-21

A Better Future for the State Sector 👤3490 🕔 2017-07-21

Separate state is ruled out 👤 2578 🕔 2017-07-21

SDIG Jayasinghe interdicted 👤 2576 🕔 2017-07-21

Read More

Sport

Martis leaves Royal for St. Peter’s 👤2983 🕔 2017-07-21

India will not take any team lightly 👤2930 🕔 2017-07-21

What’s happening to SugathadasaStadium 👤 3047 🕔 2017-07-21

Southern register second win 👤 2928 🕔 2017-07-21

TODAY CARTOON

GALLERIES

Ideal Vision & LifeStyle Show 2017 atNelum Pokuna

View all photos