Sowing Seeds of Stewardship: Sri Lanka's Children Pledge to Protect the Mangroves

In a world grappling with the immediate effects of climate change and ecological degradation, the most profound impact comes from educating the next generation. That’s why we took the community engagement part of ProClime’s East Coast Mangroves project to the school children of Eastern Sri Lanka. We did this by organizing an informative and interactive session to educate children on the importance of mangroves. Thus, engaging the very communities that live alongside these vital ecosystems to be its champions.

Language as a Tool for Change

On a humid afternoon, amidst the lull of the swaying mangroves, a group of schoolchildren discovered the true nature of the ecosystem they call home. It was a transformative moment, moving beyond a textbook lesson to a personal connection.

One boy, captivated by the story of the mangroves, articulated the projects's entire purpose:

"I never knew I was living in such a beautiful environment. These saplings will grow with us, won't they? I will never let anyone cut them."

This innocent pledge was a powerful reminder. Conservation goes beyond just planting trees; it's about planting the roots of responsibility in the next generation. This is where the power of language and storytelling comes in. When children see mangroves not as swamps, but as "living shields," "providers," and "guardians" that protect their villages from storms, and fight climate change by storing carbon, they begin to see these plants with a fierce sense of belonging.

A Mascot to Inspire

To further cement this newfound connection and ignite their creativity, we launched a Mascot Naming Contest among the schoolchildren. This contest was a simple but effective way to grant them ownership of the project's identity. Students were encouraged to submit names that resonated in their local communities. The overwhelming participation showed that a friendly, relatable symbol could transform an abstract conservation goal into a personal mission for every child. That's how we got to meet "Mittu", the official mascot for the East Coast Mangroves project, a friendly face that will champion these mangroves for the years to come.

The Power of Community-Driven Conservation

Our mangrove restoration project is fundamentally a nature-based, community-driven one. The goal isn't merely to increase mangrove cover; it's to fundamentally change the institutional and individual mindset to be protective of the ecosystem.

That’s why the true success of this project lies in the Community Awareness Programmes. These sessions focus on educating the key stakeholders—those who rely on the mangroves for their livelihoods and safety. The aim of these sessions is to answer critical questions such as:

• What are mangroves and what are the crucial ecosystem services they provide (fisheries, coastal protection, clean air)?
• What are the local consequences if this ecosystem is degraded?

• How can the community actively participate in the restoration of degraded areas?

The overwhelmingly positive response from these meetings confirmed to us that the more the participants learned about the benefits of these ecosystems, the more they started viewing mangrove restoration as an investment in their own safety and prosperity.

This project is a powerful example of how conservation, anchored in local education and community buy-in, becomes a multi-generational safeguard. When young voices say, "I will never let anyone cut them," is not just a statement — it’s a powerful pledge to protect the world they will inherit.