Sri Lanka is known as a global biodiversity hotspot for its high number of species in a relatively limited area. However, this biological richness is highly threatened since over the past 15 years Sri Lanka has had one of the highest deforestation rates of primary forests in the world which has lead to soil erosion, destruction of wildlife habitats and alteration of water sources.
Main environmental challenges in the Southern Province are related to deforestation, loss of biodiversity, pollution and inadequate solid waste disposal measures. Since the coastal areas of the province were affected by the tsunami, the loss of bio diversity and the negative effects on the coastal habitats still continue to be an issue.
In Uva Province, waste management is also a major issue: improper waste management leads to pollution, causing much detriment not only to the lush biodiversity of the region but also adversely affecting human health and activities. The other main challenge is poor accessibility to energy. 36% of households in Uva Province are not connected to the national grid, with 6% not being able to be connected to it in the foreseeable future because they are marginalised because of their very remote location. Access to electricity is a major step in bettering quality of life, bringing with it considerable improvements in health and social life of the people of Uva. Committed to ecologically-friendly solutions to these challenges, AGSL, in line with provincial and national strategies to diversify energy sources, is encouraging the use of renewable energies.
AGSL’s interventions in Southern Province provide support to local authorities in establishing model local waste management systems, alternative energy units, promote environmental awareness within school children and the population at large and promote small initiatives for sustainable energy usage. In Uva, they involve the construction of alternative energy units, mainly dendro, biogas and mini-hydro.
AGSL activities are currently underway in three prioritised areas:
