Protecting 50 Kilometres of Sri Lankan Coasts while Empowering Livelihoods
The Beach Caretaker programme is a breakthrough local conservation effort that inspires communities to act to protect their environment from coastal pollution while leading to socioeconomic gains. Begun in 2019, under the collaborative direction of Dilmah Conservation and Marine Environment Protection Authority, this year, the programme increases its waste collection coverage to 50 kms of coastal area with the help of 50 beach caretakers. Dilmah said in a news release last week.
“Sri Lanka’s coastline supports an array of precious and fragile ecosystems requiring stronger protection. As a related effort, Dilmah’s Marine Conservation program includes various initiatives that focus on conserving coastal habitats and marine species, eradicating plastic pollution, and empowering coastal communities. What’s more, one of Dilmah’s key marine conservation achievements has been to support the Department of Wildlife in gazetting and changing the conservation status of Kayankerni Reef in the East, as the 18th marine sanctuary in Sri Lanka,” it said.