Save Sri Lanka & Invest in Human Potential

Hello Friends, Nature Lovers, Birders & World Travelers --

I’m reaching out today with an impassioned request and a simple opportunity to make a global impact by fighting climate change in a very personal way. With a $25+ donation, you can help transform the ecological future of an entire country. Give more if you can, less if that works better for you. Every gift of any amount will make a difference.

Why This Matters To Me

In 2018 a friend recommended I book a trip to Sri Lanka, and I did so with little idea of what the country offered. Upon arrival, I was mesmerized by the vast array of natural habitats spread across this island country half the size of New York. In two weeks, I experienced mountains with stunning waterfalls, jungles with roaring rivers, desert savannas filled with birds and elephants, and the deep-blue sea where I literally swam with sharks.

My primary goal was to see leopards and elephants (which were superb), but I unexpectedly fell in LOVE with the birds. From Painted Storks to the Crested Serpent Eagle, from Bulbuls to Kingfishers, the beauty, diversity, and the sheer number of birds just blew my mind. I experienced Sri Lanka as the wonderland it is, and in turn, it changed my life by inspiring my passion for birding and ecological activism.

Climate Crisis

During this trip, I learned that Sri Lanka is under serious threat due to a combination of deforestation, pollution, overfishing, and coral reef destruction. What’s worse are the massive development projects led by foreign countries promising aid and infrastructure in exchange for rights to remove and export precious natural resources. As a result, Sri Lanka is currently ranked the second-worst country affected by climate change by the Global Climate Risk Index 2019.

There is Hope, But Not a Lot of Time

While I was traveling in Sri Lanka, I was fortunate to meet Nithan Aloysius. Nithan is an excellent guide, a deeply informed naturalist, and one of the most passionate locals working to save Sri Lanka. Nithan works in eco-tourism to earn enough money to pursue his real passion, stopping deforestation. He has been tireless in educating people, coordinating conferences, hosting workshops and events, organizing exhibitions and public meetings, and leading campaigns to build a local and global appreciation of risks associated with the current ecological trajectory. In his words:

My interest in the climate crisis grew when I looked back at the forest of my childhood. In my lifetime, the “Wilpaththu National Park” has been shrinking due to the continuous destruction of forests, unsustainable forest resource management, and the change of traditional shifting cultivation. Within a short period from 1990 to 2000, Sri Lanka deforestation has reached 26,800 ha of forests per year. It has accelerated to 1.43% per annum between 2000 and 2005. If the situation continues, the future generation will face severe consequences.

Education & Leadership is Crucial

Nithan aims to become an even more influential leader in forest resource management and climate-resilient ecosystem development. Building on a Master’s degree in Ecotourism & Environment Management, he plans to study forest resources management and climate-resilient ecosystem development. After acceptance into several European Universities, Nithan identified the German University of Georg-August-Universität Göttingen as the best program to earn a second Master in Forest and Ecosystem Sciences. A specialization that Nithan will leverage to make a significant impact towards reversing the countries human-made climate crisis. In his words:

During my prior Graduate studies, I came to learn how unscientifically the Sri Lankan Forests were being managed. The modernization of the forest management system in the country has not been possible to date as we have no technology and technically sound professionals in the forest department. The knowledge I will gain from this additional program can be utilized to control or stop this deforestation and find solutions to sustain and make the forests useful to my people.

What Can You Do?

The environmental crisis is a universal problem, and each country needs to implement regional programs to contribute globally. Studies have repeatedly shown that the best approach to international aid is to train and empower local change agents to implement culturally attuned programs to solve local problems.

As you can imagine, it is almost impossible to fund a European education on a Sri Lankan salary. Over the past three years, Nithan has searched for grants and supplemental support to no avail. As we have strategized about turning his commitment into a reality, it has become clear that he requires direct support to cover his educational costs. He is starting the program in the fall and needs help now to meet his first-year upfront costs.

Please Donate Today!

I believe the direct impact of supporting this ambitious and passionate individual is far more significant than donating to a large NGO. That is why I’m asking you to donate what you can to preserve the beauty and biodiversity of Sri Lanka for generations to come. When you go visit Sri Lanka Nithan will show you around!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Kristin