World Environment Day Celebration 2008
Webnews coverage by Nepalnews.com
Save the Environment Foundation (SEF), a Nepalese NGO completely run by women
under the leadership of its executive chairman Chanda Rana,, is trying to
contribute to reducing the use of carbon dioxide, which is a major component
causing global warming.
SEF is launching a campaign to encourage people
to use the energy saving bulbs. "As this year's slogan of World Environment Day
is the need to reduce the carbon dioxide emission, we have planned to generate
awareness on the use of energy saving light bulbs," said Chanda Rana. "This will
contribute to reduce the emission"
"By using one energy saving light
bulb, we can save 26 kilogram of CO2 a year," said Rana. "As the world is
heating up, there needs to be a collective effort from round the world to reduce
the CO2," said Rana.
SEF has also launched a program against the invasion
of killer weed Mikania Mikrantha, a plant that kills others in Chitwan National
Park, buffer zones area and entire Chitwan district. SEF also carried out
campaign against Air Pollution, industrial pollution, wetland preservation
(Bishhazari Tal) Garbage Pollution and many others.
Save
Energy Save Earth
As the world
community is expressing concern over the global warming, a Nepalese NGO makes
efforts to minimize use of CO2
By A CORRESPONDENT
At
a time when there are worries about the global warming which will inevitably
shorten the life of liveable earth by inviting many natural devastations, Save
the Environment Foundation (SEF), a Nepalese NGO, is trying to contribute to
reducing the use of carbon dioxide, which is a major component causing global
warming.
Unlike
organizing a high profile function, SEF, an organization completely run by
women under the leadership of its executive chairman Chanda Rana, is launching
a campaign to encourage people to use the energy saving bulbs.
"As
this year's slogan of World Environment Day is the need to reduce the carbon
dioxide emission, we have planned to generate awareness on the use of energy
saving light bulbs," said Chanda Rana. "This will contribute to
reduce the emission"
Every
one can make a difference to the global environment by making a small
contribution. This is what Chanda Rana has been doing.
Since
last fourteen years, SEF has been making its best efforts to keep the greenery
of the valley intact. From fast growing trees to managing the garden, the SEF
also planted trees along the road.
From
taking up the role of making Kathmandu green to renovating the historically
important places, SEF has made tremendous contribution in making Kathmandu
valley clean.
In
its quest to fight against the carbon dioxide emission, SEF is leading a new
campaign to encourage the local population to use the energy saving bulbs.
"By
using one energy saving light bulb, we can save 26 kilogram of CO2 a
year," said Rana. "As the world is heating up, there needs to be a
collective effort from round the world to reduce the CO2," said Rana, who
is also the online active member of Green Peace and member of Earth day
Network, Washington.
"SEF
will distribute stickers for vehicles and pamphlets to general
public highlighting the benefits of use of energy saving lights bulbs which
consumes less electricity for same light release," said Rana.
Designed by
Green Peace and sponsored by Himalayan Bank, the SEF will go to the
people to generate awareness on the energy saving bulbs.
"SEF
has been taking air pollution issue seriously since
its establishment in 1994. I have already prepared a case
study on air pollution and its impact on
health of general public," said Rana who has received
Environmental Preservation Awards by the government, Gorkha Dakshin Bahu,
Toyota Excellence Awards for Green Campaign, Samantha Award and various other
rewards.
"My
aim is to make a little difference to the global environment by devoting a
small time to preserve the world environment," said Rana.
SEF
has also launched a program against the invasion of killer weed Mikania
Mikrantha, a plant that kills others in Chitwan National Park,
buffer zones area and entire Chitwan district. SEF also carried out campaign
against Air Pollution, industrial pollution, wet land preservation (Bishhazari
Tal) Garbage Pollution and many others.
SEF
has proved that one does not require foreign funding to launch such programs.
By A Nepalnews.com CORRESPONDENT
SEF draws attention of invasion of Chitwan Park by wild
weed
Concerned by the invasion of wild climber weed called Mikania
micrantha or banmara lahara, the Save the Environment Foundation (SEF) has drawn
attention of local authorities and international conservationists "to act
immediately towards elimination of this killer weed."
Speaking
at a press meet, Sunday, organised on the eve of World Environment Day,
executive chairperson of SEF Chanda Rana said that the wild weed has been
invading the flora community of the Chitwan National Park.
She
said that SEF team recently visited the national park and observed the situation
of infestation.
"This
weed which is scientifically known as Mikania micrantha. It is an extremely fast
growing, sprawling, perennial vine and one of the world's most notorious
invaders. Mikania micrantha rapidly colonises disturbs habitats, retarding the
growth of crops or natural vegetation by competing and producing plant
inhibitors," Rana said.
Mikania
climbs up other plants to reach the canopy for better sunlight. At the same
time, its leaves cover up the host plants and reduce the sunlight reaching the
host plant for photosynthesis. Mikania sprawls out rapidly in the spring and
summer which is the reason for its name 'mile-a-minute weed'.
Rana
quotes buffer zone chief, wildlife resort owner and the villagers as saying that
in Chitwan National Park, this wild climber is witnessed to have been expanding
at a very alarming rate since 1994.
"Its
present infestation is estimated to have affected over 20% of the entire
national park area. The invasion is showing severely damaging effects on young
trees, shrubs, grasses in mostly mixed and reverine forests and grass lands. It
smothers shrubs and small trees which are important source of food and bedding
for most of wild animals in the park. It is now gradually spreading out towards
buffer zone area as well. Since it has been one of common weed in agro-forestry,
this wild climber is going to threaten the livelihoods of the local people in
buffer zone," she added.
She
expressed alarm that one of the world's worst weed is risking the whole
ecosystem of the Chitwan National Park area endangering the very survival of
entire floral and faunal community. "If immediate action is not taken to control
this weed or climber, Chitwan National Park which stands today as a successful
testimony of nature conservation in South Asia may collapse tomorrow," Rana
warned. This national park is home to the rare one-horned rhinoceros, apart from
Bengal tigers and many more flora and fauna.
At the
press meet, Rana said that in order to save the ecosystem of Chitwan National
Park, a long-term and short term actions are required. She called for detail
study of the situation, raising of public awareness, media coverage, and
development of long-term project with viable control measures and ways for
complete elimination of this climber vine.
The
SEF is an NGO entirely run by women. Established in 1994, the SEF has been
celebrating the World Environment Day each year focusing on the theme "from
confrontation to co-existence with nature for future generations".
The
SEF has been involved in various environmental campaigns including garbage
management, afforestation, case study on air pollution, greenery promotion,
hospital waste management, white draft preparation, green belt movement in
Kathmandu and so on and can be contacted at chandarana@mos.com.np. nepalnews.com sd Jun 03
07
