Sri Lankan coastal zone has very limited land compared to acres of bare coastal lands in South India. Establishing a coastal Bio shield has been of the key objectives of the SRTAC project. Learning from the experience of our International partner, M.S. Swaminathan Foundation, we have established coastal bio shields of non-mangrove and Mangrove species in the project sites. But it has been a challenge to plant trees in private owned lands, while ensuring the suitability, community maintenance of the present bio shield has also been a challenge. As a solution we planned to introduce coastal home gardens to private land owners living along the coastal belt. This initiative was proposed by the Village Developmental Committee. Such an initiative not only indicates improvement in the community’s attitude towards Bio shields, but also shows a progress at a behavioral level. Costal home gardens have multiple functions. They will not only provide food and sustenance for the people as normal home garden but also will be a source of income generation for the people. A full grown home garden will function as a secondary bio-shield as well, where the non-mangroves and mangroves will be the primary bio shield. Home gardens will be provided with tall species of fruit baring trees that has a strong physical structures as well as a direct economical value. This is an example for the effectiveness of the Community Bases Costal Resource Management, Bottom to Top approach Sri Lankan coastal zone has very limited land compared to acres of bare coastal lands in South India. Establishing a coastal Bio shield has been of the key objectives of the SRTAC project. Learning from the experience of our International partner, M.S. Swaminathan Foundation, we have established coastal bio shields of non-mangrove and Mangrove species in the project sites. But it has been a challenge to plant trees in private owned lands, while ensuring the suitability, community maintenance of the present bio shield has also been a challenge. As a solution we planned to introduce coastal home gardens to private land owners living along the coastal belt. This initiative was proposed by the Village Developmental Committee. Such an initiative not only indicates improvement in the community’s attitude towards Bio shields, but also shows a progress at a behavioral level. Costal home gardens have multiple functions. They will not only provide food and sustenance for the people as normal home garden but also will be a source of income generation for the people. A full grown home garden will function as a secondary bio-shield as well, where the non-mangroves and mangroves will be the primary bio shield. Home gardens will be provided with tall species of fruit baring trees that has a strong physical structures as well as a direct economical value. This is an example for the effectiveness of the Community Bases Costal Resource Management, Bottom to Top approach
"Building inner spiritual resilience is the primary coping mechanism to external disasters "
Dr A T Ariyaratne, Founder President, Sarvodaya
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