Media must use ink to protect natural resources: Wilpattu National Park Warden

Thursday, 22 October 2020 00:08 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

“Media must use ink, while the Government and the Department of Wildlife Conservation uses laws and regulations, to protect natural resources,” stated Wilpattu National Park Warden Chamath Lakshman during an environmental training workshop for journalists from Puttalam, Anuradhapura, Vavuniya and Mannar Districts.

The two-day training program was held on 28 and 29 September with the aim to enhance the knowledge about the Wilpattu National Park and create a dialogue between journalists and the park authorities.

Journalists representing different media institutions had the opportunity to learn and exchange ideas about the highlights and challenges faced in the Wilpattu National Park. The training program included theoretical and practical sessions, covering topics related to environmental journalism, including the importance of the Ramsar wetlands, wildlife theft and law enforcement, ecotourism trends, management of protected areas and outreach.

The training program was part of the ‘Supporting Wilpattu National Park and Influence Zone Management in Sri Lanka’ project, implemented jointly by the Department of Wildlife Conservation of the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH shared activities that will be implemented by the ‘Supporting Wilpattu National Park and Influence Zone Management in Sri Lanka’ project in the Wilpattu National Park and influence zone.

The project aims to improve the infrastructure, visitor services and assist the operation and environmental program of the park. Furthermore, the project will improve conditions for the more resource-friendly use and conservation of the marine resources in the national park’s influence zone and promote better access to resource-friendly income generation for the local population.

Focal Point of the Department of Wildlife Conservation Chandani Wilson, Outreach Officer Prasanna Nilame, GIZ Technical Advisor Sampath Bandara and Consulting GOPA Team Leader Bernhard Mohns contributed to sessions.

Organisers and participants acknowledged that this training marked the beginning of a continuous dialogue between the mass media and conservation actors to work together towards improved management of the Wilpattu National Park and its influence zones. The environmental journalism training included a tour through the park.