Nov

Reduce improper waste dumping in Hirikatu Oya River bank near bathing area

The Hirikatu Oya Waste Dumping Reduction Project aims to minimize littering along the Hirikatu Oya riverbank, which has become polluted due to waste from a nearby salon and litter from local bathers. To raise awareness, the project employs a multifaceted approach that includes seminars, leaflet distribution, social media campaigns, exhibitions, and plant distribution. Additionally, it organizes cleanup initiatives in collaboration with the university’s Geography Association and installs waste collection bins for proper garbage disposal. Key challenges encountered during the project include obtaining permission from the local council to collect waste from the bins and managing time effectively amid a strike by non-academic staff and the final exam schedule. The project’s anticipated outcomes include cleaning the riverbank, enhancing its aesthetic value, improving environmental protection through proper waste management, and increasing climate change awareness within the Pambahinna community. Ultimately, these efforts contribute to reducing the impacts of climate change in the area.

The main impact created through our project is clean the river bank, protect aesthetic value and through proper management improve environmental protection in the specific area, reduce the climate change impacts and increase the climate change awareness of the local community in Pambahinna area. Through the knowledge production projects, we increased the climate change awareness of local community of Pambahinna area. A seminar about the climate change was held for the grade 6 students of the Karagasthalawa school to improve the awareness of the future generations of the country and the area. It help to the behavior change of people, Educated individuals are more likely to adopt sustainable behaviors such as reducing waste, conserving water, using energy more efficiently, and supporting eco-friendly policies and practices. It was also possible to increase the awareness of people about climate change through leaflet distribution, social media campaign. Shramadana campaign help to the impact of climate change, shramadana project aims to improve water flow, reduce methane emissions, increase resilience to climate impacts, and stabilize soil erosion. It also supports local biodiversity by removing organic waste and sediments, which can lower emissions. Additionally, cleaner rivers support healthier ecosystems, which are more resilient to climate change. Finally, cleaner rivers reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions associated with water treatment processes.

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