Endangered to Enchanted Environment
Jaffna/ Yāḻppāṇam(Tamil) is the capital city of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. Jaffna’s suburb Nallur, being as the capital of the four-century-long medieval Jaffna Kingdom. Before Sri Lankan Civil War took place, it was Sri Lanka’s second most famous city next to Colombo. The city is surrounded by the Jaffna Lagoon, on its west and south the place called Kokkuvil is situated and Thirunelveli to the north, and Nallur to the east. The soil of Jaffna peninsula is consists of limestone as it was submerged under sea during the Miocene period. The entire land mass is flat and lies at sea level. Within one mile (1.6 kilometres) of the city center is the island called Mandaitivu which is connected by a causeway. Palmyra groves can be seen where in baren lands.
The 1980s the war started and made extensive damage, many palmyra trees were pierced with shell pieces and damaged. The palmyra and coconut trees were cut down for several purposes such as making bunds. Since the end of civil war in 2009, refugees and internally displaced people began returning to homes, while government and private sector reconstruction started taking place. Historically, Jaffna has been a contested city.
Geography and climate
Jaffna has tropical grassland climate with a dry season between February and August, and a wet season between September and January. Jaffna’s temperature goes to peak in the months of April – May and August – September and then the temperature get coolest in December – January. Jaffna Peninsula is low (max 11 m) and flat, with coastal landforms, and soils a mixture of marine. The peninsula has no permanent rivers because of the flat terrain and limited rainfall, and there are no land forms suitable for reservoir development. These days even though there are plenty of tree planting activities, drainage cleaning, awareness programs happening, people still have to give more individual focus in their routine to reduce use of plastic. Individual act is the most powerful one to save not only their district but also the country and the world.
Climate change
We heard and watched in TV and read articles about the climate change which is taking place for several years in global wide. We can see the massive changes in rainfall season. The most obvious signs of climate changes that are taking place globally are higher temperatures, droughts, wilder weather, change in rainy and winter seasons, melting glaciers, shrinking sea ice, and thawing permafrost.
The 2020 Climate Risk Index was presented in Madrid during the last United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP25 Chile) and determines the 10 countries presently most affected by climate change — based on facts from 2018. Those countries are: JAPAN (Climate Risk Index: 5.5) , PHILIPPINES (Climate Risk Index: 11.17), GERMANY (Climate Risk Index: 13.83), MADAGASCAR (Climate Risk Index: 15.83) , INDIA (Climate Risk Index: 18.17), SRI LANKA (Climate Risk Index: 19), and KENYA (Climate Risk Index: 19.67) .
Sustainable development should be taken to reduce these environmental issues by having and promoting green services and green products with eco labels. Make green cities and buildings with proper eco-friendly technology. Waste management and energy efficiency should be highly observed, and operations and maintenance of green transport should be implemented properly. By introducing fuel-efficient vehicles and improve road network can strengthen eco-friendly public transport system. It will help to lower carbon emissions and create less pollution. Green industries, green agriculture, water efficiency, organic farming technique will lead gradual transformation of existing plantations and other farmlands into eco-friendly farms and lands. Also, the general public should be made aware of the negative impacts of uncontrolled disposal of e-waste and more vigilant with green system as it is our duty to preserve mother earth. Begin with your district and mother earth’s hands will join with us for healthy environment automatically!!
Bavvatharani R
Nallur
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