NDB partners WNPS to educate youth on nature conservation

NDB, along with the youth wing of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) recently conducted a number of programmes to increase awareness of nature and the natural world among students in various schools.

The aim of this project launched by WNPS and sponsored by NDB, is to interact with schools, both in Colombo and beyond; to work with the students and teachers on specific conservation projects.

In addition, where possible, the WNPS would organise a field trip for a selected group of students from these societies to visit a National Park, Forest Reserve or other place of conservation importance as for some, this would be their first experience of the ‘wild’.

In line with the bank’s corporate social responsibility agenda, NDB pledged funds for the enablement of such programmes in a minimum of 18 such schools where at least six of the schools chosen will be out of Colombo, in areas subject to human-animal conflict.

The project was launched on March 16th at the Hambantota/ Abhayapura Junior School, Lunugamvehera and the Hambantota/vidyartha College, Weerawila. The response from the children was astounding. Living in areas that are prone to human-animal conflicts they, nevertheless, had an impressive understanding of the causes of these confrontations, were sympathetic to the needs of the animals concerned, and were enthusiastic about the possible solutions available to them. They both had active environmental societies who were involved in dynamic projects of their own. At the Vidyartha Vidyalaya, in particular, each child in the society had adopted a sapling and were responsible for its care. In addition, they had developed an organic composting system, bagging and selling the final product to earn funds for their school’s other environmental activities. When asked about the present essential needs of the school, they unhesitatingly referred to the necessity for a tube well so that their precious saplings could be watered during the drought too. An important factor in both schools was the energy and enthusiasm of the two principals and teachers-incharge who were active drivers of these societies and of their projects.

A selection of the students from both schools, 69 in all, along with the two principals and a selection of teachers (11 jeep loads) were taken to the Bundala National Park, for the first time for many. The park obliged them with close viewings of elephants, a myriad birds, bustling troupes of monkeys, gargantuan crocodiles and even turtles, viewed from the cliffs at Pathiraja Point.

The Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) also made an important contribution to the whole experience by allocating a seasoned Ranger to accompany the children in the park. He shared of his knowledge and experience with them of the wealth of the park’s fauna and flora, and gave them essential lessons in keeping it pristine, especially when a couple of children disposed of their toffee wrappers from out of one of the jeeps. It is something they will not do again, not through fear, but by understanding.