‘Conservation and Development’: All-island poster competition and exhibition

Wednesday, 30 October 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

In youth and wilderness rests the preservation of the world

Celebrating its 125th year, the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka (WNPS) has been a pioneer of conservation activities in the country. With the establishment of the Youth Wing in 2018, the WNPS aimed for a ‘bottom up’ strategy, hoping to encourage and facilitate conservation among the youth of the nation.

The Youth Wing has since been on a mission to raise awareness on environmental issues and biodiversity amongst schoolchildren all around the island. With the support of NDB bank, the team engaged with schools from the Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, Hatton, Gampaha and Wasgamuwa regions this year. In 2018, the team worked with schools in Colombo, Galgamuwa, Wilpattu, Lunugumvehera and Udawalawe.

The program is threefold; the first step is a lecture and discussion on the topics of biodiversity, climate change, deforestation, pollution and human-animal coexistence. The second step is a field trip to a national park. Students have been taken to Wasgamuwau, Wilpattu, Horton Plains and Udawalawe national parks for a first-hand experience of Sri Lanka’s protected areas. The final step is a poster competition titled ‘Colouring Our Future’, for students to showcase their artistic talents and further the message of conservation.

This year’s theme is ‘Conservation and Development’. Winners of the regional poster competitions from 20 schools will present their posters at the all-island poster competition in Colombo. This is scheduled to be held at the Western Province Aesthetic Resort, Colombo, on 3 November from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Entrance is free of charge and they invite everyone to witness the talents of these students.