Green Legacy

 Green Legacy is a joint project organized by the Rotaract clubs of University of Peradeniya, University of Kelaniya, and University of Moratuwa. In the years since its launch in 2015, the focus of this joint undertaking has been on contributing to afforestation and reforestation efforts. The project committees have conducted numerous tree-planting campaigns throughout the years and the participation in these campaigns has been restricted to Rotaractors from the three clubs. This year however the Green Legacy project committee could not organize its annual tree-planting campaign due to restrictions imposed on in-person events following the spread of Covid-19. Instead, the Green Legacy project committee sought to launch an online public awareness-raising programme titled “Green Legacy Insight” whilst maintaining the Green Legacy Facebook page. The sessions under this awareness-raising programme were organized as open events, allowing all interested parties to join the discussion; unlike in the previous years where participation in events had been limited to solely club members.

Accordingly, the committee conducted two webinars under the “Green Legacy Insight” initiative on the topics of “Imperilled Ocean Ecosystems and reversing the downward trend” and ”Sea Turtles as a flagship species for marine conservation in Sri Lanka” via Zoom and Facebook live. The first webinar was held on the 13th of November and the second one on the 3rd of December. The two resource persons were Ms. Irushinie Wedage and Ms. Chathurika Munasinghe for the first and second webinars respectively.

Both of the sessions were well-attended where there were more than 250 attendees for the first webinar and more than 400 for the second.  Moreover, a recording of the second webinar was posted on the Green Legacy Facebook page. 

In addition to organizing the two webinars, the committee also maintained the Green Legacy Facebook page by taking turns among the three joint clubs. Each week was allocated to one of the clubs. The page was maintained by putting up new posts during the weeks allotted to the club to manage the page. The committee kept encouraging the public to send in their submissions for posts as well.  

This year’s Green Legacy project events were organized to further raise public awareness on topics related to environmental protection, conservation, and pressing environmental issues plaguing communities at present. Out of the myriad of topics to choose from, the committee decided to select the theme of marine biodiversity conservation for the webinars, a subject that does not get much public attention.

The direct project beneficiaries of this year’s Green Legacy project include the general public, Rotaract club members, and of course the resource persons invited to share their experiences and insights into marine biodiversity conservation in Sri Lanka.

The two webinars spotlight two very unique themes, supplying a long-felt need in the work of raising awareness on marine biodiversity conservation amongst the general populace of the country. The public was able to gain useful insights into imperiled ocean ecosystems, what actions are taken to reverse its downward trend, risks facing the turtle population, and actions taken to reduce or eliminate risks, turtle reservation centres in Sri Lanka, and the procedures followed within them and much more.  They were inspired to get involved, to be vocal about threats to marine biodiversity, and equipped with the necessary knowledge to contribute meaningfully to stimulating and intriguing conversations and possibly deliver innovative and practicable solutions to issues at hand.  

The speakers were also benefitted through the “Green Legacy Insight” initiative because it had created the platform for them to carry out their work in raising awareness on various aspects of Marine biodiversity conservation and getting such powerful messages across to the general public and especially the youth of today who are the future custodians of the environment. This new experience also allowed committee members to hone their communication, organizational, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.  

Furthermore, the important work done in maintaining the Green Legacy Facebook page contributed immensely to benefit the public and Rotaractors alike. This page creates the space for anyone to share their take on various environmental issues, share their stories on environmental conservation, or simply showcase nature's beauty through their work, which includes poems, stories, and photographs, all authentic content that resonates better with audiences. It also brings together those who share a common interest in protecting the environment and allows them to inspire others to be aware of threats to biodiversity, to rally against environmental destruction, and to love nature.