(Cover Photo taken by Danushka Senadheera)
For my CAS project, I had decided to team up with Luca to initiate a relationship between OSC and the Bellanwila-Attidiya Sanctuary. This sanctuary is located in the Bellanwila-Attidiya marshland and is home to many species of birds, insects, and mammals. The sanctuary is part of the WNPS (Wildlife & Nature Protection Society) focused on Sri Lanka. The organization was established in 1894 as a game protection society that prevented the action of game hunting. The organization has since grown to branch out and become a wildlife and nature conservation society of Sri Lanka. The organization is currently working on reforestation programs, field reports and animal conservation programs such as the animal real estate in which they raise funds to support animals suffering from habitat loss which can be seen in their Sunday Times article: (http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/giving-back-life-to-the-green-isle-353723.html). Further information on their organization and what they do can be found on their website under the link of: https://wnpssl.org/
With the help of Mr.Lockwood, we were put into contact with one of the staff members there, Mr.Lakdas and plan to meet sometime during November in order to understand in which ways that we can use our skills to help the sanctuary in any way. It is already established that the sanctuary has no need for additional funds so we do not plan to start a fundraiser for this cause. Therefore, the main form of helping this sanctuary would be through the use of our already existing skills and being readily available to provide help in any area that the sanctuary would require.
The current plan is to go meet Mr.Lakdas and get a tour of the facilities on the 30th of November. This will give us the opportunity to talk to the staff there and gain some insight into the goals and necessary aid that the sanctuary requires. Currently, the plan is to map out the sanctuary grounds and use satellite imaging software to create a detailed map of the current space and then provide the sanctuary with some additional details such as thermal imaging, elevations, and vegetation. The meeting will already get us familiar with the sanctuary grounds as well as possibly provide a few helping hands with any activities/actions they are busy with while we are there.
Hopefully, this will initiate collaboration and future projects together with the wnpssl and OSC as our school has a very strong service and action component I believe many students would be willing to continue working with the wnpssl once Luca and I have left OSC.