Title: Why human development model is going wrong and what has to be done for a paradigm

shift - By C.P. Gunasena

Introduction This document is prepared without having any intention to downgrade present values and norms

of ourselves live today experiencing the present technological advancement and the beauty of the

planet. This article has no nay bias towards any religion, philosophical thinking or any doctrine.

First let us look at the human philosophical thinking process and its development. Philosophy has

developed to explain things experienced by man with respect to the nature surround him. Basically,

It could be categorized in to two major streams namely, god given philosophy which explain how

to live harmony with the nature and manmade Philosophy. Manmade philosophy could be

categorized in to another two sub categories. First category developed to explain things that are

unexplainable to him. Most of the religious thinking comes under this category. Second category

was developed to explain ways and means of sharing natural resources with other colleges. Most

of the political theories and philosophies comes under this category. Today we are gradually

realizing that manmade philosophical thinking has its own shortcomings and course present

environmental crisis. Even religious misinterpretations aggravate the situation leading to even

wars.

Let us look at God given philosophy first

Hinduism

God has created everything and he himself given ways and means to live meaningfully and happily

within this world and pathway to reach him at the end of the life. If we do not obey him, has given

the consequences also.

Example: “Do not cut trees, because they remove pollution.” (Rig Veda, 6:48:17), “Do not disturb

the sky and do not pollute the atmosphere.” (Yajur Veda,5:43), Destruction of forests is taken as

destruction of the state, and reforestation an act of rebuilding the state and advancing its welfare.

Protection of animals is considered a sacred duty. (Charak Sanhita)

Crestinism

God has created everything and he himself given ways and means to live meaningfully and happily

within this world and pathway to reach him at the end of the life. If we do not obey him, has given

the consequences also.

Example : Psalm 96:10-13. The Lord reigns... Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad, let

the seas resound and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the

trees of the forest will sing for joy, they will sing before the Lord for He comes, He comes to judge

the earth. Isaiah 43:20-21. The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide

water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen.

Islamism

God has created everything and he himself given ways and means to live meaningfully and happily

within this world and pathway to reach him at the end of the life. If we do not obey him, has given

the consequences also.

Example:

The Qur’an also recognizes that people take pleasure in experiencing variety, particularly in their

food, while again, warning against being wasteful: It is He Who has brought into being gardens,

the cultivated and the wild, and date-palms, and fields with produce of all kinds, and olives and

pomegranates, similar (in kind) and variegated. Eat of their fruit in season, but give (the poor) their

due on harvest day. And do not waste, for God does not love the wasteful.(6:141)

Curiosity and ego of the man In early days of his evolution, man might started to worship Lightning, thunder, large trees, and

rocks to get rid of his sufferings and had a belief something supernatural to him. But after he

invented the fire and tools, things has changed. Then he tied to question about god philosophy. For

that they developed philosophical thinking to ease their own thinking and work.

Manmade Philosophy As I discussed earlier his philosophical thinking could be categorized in to two sub streams.

Philosophical thinking to explain which are unexplainable to him and philosophical thinking to

explain ways and means of sharing natural resources with other colleges.

Things that are unexplainable With the advancement of the technological knowhow and thinking patterns, man wanted to define

god, recognize him, and to see him. Earlier he worship trees and rocks but now he need to cut and

flat rocks and mountains for his own good. Then he developed god as different personalities like

him but with some super natural features. To understand these concepts of his own creations he

developed a philosophical thinking named as Metaphysical thinking.

Further to this he wanted to fight with his colleges to get more natural resources to his own group

as a group leader. Then he create a god with arms and weapons who help them to conquer their

own colleges and developed ethics for that. He rewrote the philosophy which was given by god to

him giving opportunity to kill his own colleges for his own benefit.

Sharing natural resources with other colleges From slavery, to imperialism, to capitalism to communism to socialism to democracy, man has

developed various philosophical thinking to share resources and manage it sustainably. In order to

discuss these issues man has developed other branches of philosophy. Epistemological thinking

was developed to study about vast knowledge gathered by his own colleges form various parts of

the world where he was able to spread his own community with in the planet.

Furthermore, he developed the axiological thinking to explain the way and means of sharing

resources identified as politics, developed ethics to follow to govern his followers, added aesthetic

values when using those natural resources.

Now he is working his own philosophies without considering the god asked to do for his own

survival. He developed scientific method of understanding to explain the natural phenomena

happening around him. According to the god philosophy life is created on this planet and he was

not satisfied with it and developed evolution theory to explain how life was evolved in this planet.

But he is still trying to figure out what is reality behind this. He is investigating whether life has

arrived from outer space and trying to communicate with outer space to find any other life forms.

Catastrophe He was able to increase the life span and was able to live more comfortably and healthy. After

conquering the outer space he came to know that it is mightier than he thought. Then he invented

the latest highest speed which is greater than light. In future he will develop space ships to travel

outer space with this speed and another technological revolution will happened.

With all these technological advancement and the knowledge in hand, he is now experiencing the

consequences of the so called scientific development. Nature is trying to regain balance which is

lost due to anthropogenic activities. Man identifies this as a crisis situation and trying to find

solutions. Now day by day he is realizing the course of this crisis situation where manmade

philosophy has no solution to rebalance it.

New Philosophical thinking Now he is trying to develop new philosophical thinking to address to this crisis situation. He

develops new protocols to act globally as a one community to save the planet. It is very funny to

say that protocol has given by the god earlier and he is trying to rewrite it again with his own

words. Now he is going as a common man and trying to share natural resource as a global citizen

which has been asked by the god from him very much earlier prior to this catastrophe.

God given and Manmade religions Hinduism, Crestinism and Islamism have god given philosophical thinking. Buddhism, Jainism,

Taoism, etc. are manmade religions. Except Buddhism, other religions explain how to live

harmony with the environment and achieve higher spiritual states other than Nirvana.

Endless suffering God has asked to live as what he said and come to him where you can get the eternal life. What I

feel about this eternal life is that if there is any life form in that eternal state, that should not be

made up of body like ours or materials like ours. Because, we are getting older day by day, and

with time getting sick and our body confirmation is degenerating where god has not given any

solution to this problem.

Buddhism and man Buddhism is a manmade philosophy where Load Buddha has born as a man. He has developed his

own path to somewhere identify him as Nirvana where anybody could achieve it by Skanda

Prarinirvan. In this situation man can get rid of any form of physical body after death. Then you

will be able to eliminate all kind of sufferings due to degeneration of physical body and fluctuations

of mental status. Furthermore, he has explained the way of living harmony with the environment.

Example: In Karaniya metta sutra, Buddha has preached to extend our compassion to all living

beings both born and unborn. It is as follows. “Whatever breathing creatures here may be, No

matter whether they are frail or firm, Or middle-sized, or be they short or small, Or whether they

are dwelling far or near, Existing or yet seeking exist, May beings all be of a blissful heart. "

Now it is clear, that human development model is no longer valid with respect to the global

catastrophe we experience today.

Human development model and its consequences Having said that let us see what we are doing for our day to day living and how we define quality

of life and its consequences.

Human habitat and its incompatibilities I would like to first discuss about the human habitat and how we use it today. We have started so called

development in early stages of human civilization as a set of activities at micro scale. Now development is

at macro scale and impacts are also at the same scale. Today we are finding ways and means to improve

the resilience of our global eco systems which has been disturbed since where development started.

We have two options for this. We could go for micro scale or for macro scale interventions. Before we

think of policies strategies, plans and programs, let us look at the way we interact with the natural eco

systems and how we consume goods and services provided by these natural eco systems.

We talk about improvements of livelihood of mankind and our habitat in this beautiful living drop of the

universe. We are very keen on habitats of other living beings and health of eco systems. But we do not pay

enough attention to our own habitats. Simple comparison shows this contrasting issue. Let us take honey

bee as an example with respect to the basic needs of a living being namely, food, shelter and medicine.

Honey bees, collects food from the environment and they do not add chemicals or fertilizers, to increase

the flower yield, do not use genetic engineering principles to increase the honey yield. Instead they produce

nectar, which is a universal medicine and a healthy food for them and others who need. Habitant of a honey

bee could be easily defined. Within that environmental limits they live collectively and happily. They do

not have individual food supplies and produce food collectively.

Individual and collective destruction procedures adopted for the human production

process In contrast human habitat and its environmental limits cannot define precisely. Simply it can be defined as

places where we live. Are these places environment friendly? Are we using our habitats as a source of food

or place for shelter?

Individual destruction This could be one of the ridicules things one could observed in this beautiful planet. We clear the natural

forest cover and build permanent control structures to keep away from the nature and grow inedible,

invasive plant species considering only the beauty of it within the vicinity and we call it as homes and

gardens. This could be identified as individual or family level destruction of the nature.

Collective destruction We allow somebody else to produce food for us and we buy foods from those producers. Producers use

heavy machinery to do this and increase the carbon foot print. They ignore the consequence of having mono

cropping and the destruction of bio diversity. This could be identified as the collective destruction

performed by a one living being for their existence.

Agriculture and consequences Soil is disturbed seasonally and it is not allowed form naturally. Soil is no longer a living being, we need

to add fertilizer to get the desired so called economical yield. Varietal selection and acclimatization leads

to a situation where plants lost their natural vigor cannot survive without our fertilizers. Man use chemicals

to control other living beings identified as pests with increment of population density and we identify this

process as AGRICULTUR. These chemicals pollute surface and ground water resources and we identify

these as ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS. We clear the natural forests in highlands for our habitats and

agricultural purposes and we complain about CLIMATE CHANGE, diminishing of water resources and

pollution of ground water.

Research and Development The funniest thing is that we developed methods and procedures to study about these problems and

identified as RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. We justify our results using statistical procedures by

identifying unexplainable natural variation (under rich bio diversity) as experimental errors and we

minimize this error by ignoring it using statistical models. We develop confidence intervals and justify our

results and we ignore the impacts of outliers as experimental errors. We do not wanted to study the nature

of these experimental errors and we forget and go ahead with our results with limited accuracies and now

experiencing the global catastrophe.

We develop equipment to measure air quality but we are unable to measure the medicinal properties added

by the plants to the air and how we get natural medicinal breathing, but we practice Yoga breathing without

even looking at what ancient Gurus or “Rishies” told us not to do and how to live harmony with the nature.

Similarly we have equipment to measure water quality and still we do not know what medicinal properties

are added by roots of thousands of plant species to water in streams in virgin forests. We bottle this water

and sell as mineral water.

Food and consequences Food becomes an industry. Since everybody need foods producers get the support of scientists to increase

the food production and scientists develop new high yielding verities by various technologies namely,

varietal selection, breeding, and they alter and narrow down the natural genetic variability of our eco

systems. Therefore, we lose natural nutrient profile and we buy vitamin supplements. We consume more

calories than required and receive non communicable diseases as a natural gift and go for synthetic

medicines.

Food, medicine and bio diversity We have hundreds of native medicinal plant verities, but we do not grow them at our home gardens or

identified as human habitats. If we could grow these medicinal plant verities in our home gardens we can

increase the bio diversity and the natural nutrient profile we receive. If one could make a glass of fresh juice

by getting one leaf from each of these plant verities could access the full scale of natural nutrient profile

including anti-oxidants, volatile vitamins, required as day to day medicinal requirements as well. But we

do not do this and go for synthetic medicine or traditional medicine when we get ailments due to lack of

appropriate micro nutrient balance.

Food and energy We cook our vegetable curries for more than twenty minutes and we talk about the volatile vitamins, anti-

oxidants and energy saving principles. We suffer nutritional deficiencies and go for artificial vitamin

supplements. We develop energy saving cook stoves and try to reduce the fuel input for cooking, but

ignoring the loss of nutrients due to overheating.

Food and gut microbial population in humans Due to alteration of genetic composition of plants, cooking procedures, food processing technologies, we

narrowed down the diversity of gut microbial population and lost our natural digestive capabilities to digest

raw foods. Hence we lost natural macro and micro nutrients, antioxidants, volatile vitamin compounds we

receive from raw foods. Fast food industry developed and non-communicable illnesses spread among us.

Natural production process ( Eg. Bee Honey) vs Human production process (Eg. Tomato souse)

Honey bee and honey production Honey bees get nectar from flowers belong to hundreds of species and lots of nutrients are added. Bee

honey is a universal medicine. Humans cannot produce it artificially. Production process helps to improve

the bio diversity and product quality has a cyclical dependency on bio diversity.

Example: Human production system for tomato Genetically engineered verities cultivated as mono crops considering only the quality of sweetness from

one species. Production process reduces the bio diversity, increase pest and disease problems, and heavily

depends on agro chemicals. Mono cropping reduces the ability to accesses nutrients from different species.

Bees are totally depend on bio diversity to get their foods and humans narrow down the bio diversity for

their foods and loose diverse natural nutrient profile. They suffer malnutrition and get artificial vitamin

supplements and treat with synthetic medicines for ailments. Hence, collectively experience climatic

change and global warming.

Philosophy and education gone wrong In order to control this whole chaos we develop administration and political ideologies, philosophies, and

theories to share the resources among countries and within countries and drag the same human development

model along the time line. We modified teachings of our religious teachers and did what we need

considering only the comfort of our selves ignoring the nature. But we just chant those teachings to get

blessings from the god. We teach these things to our younger generation and we identify it as education.

Real vicious cycle We must understand that we practice individual and collective environmental destruction. This is the real

viscous cycle which should be addressed in totally different philosophical platform.

Micro scale production systems and macro scale value addition systems Production and value addition could be started at micro scale as well as macro scale interventions. Micro

scale intervention is very clear and that is we have to re define the human habitat with respect to the goods

and services we receive from it. Macro scale is to link the micro scale primary production system with

macro scale value addition without going for mass scale mono cropping followed by necessary micro and

macro scale technological interventions. In order to do this we have to change the present production

system, consumer behavior and the livelihood of our people.

Stage 2

Title: Human Development Model – Paradigm shift by linking micro scale production and macro scale

value addition

By C.P. Gunasena

Background

Since the early stages of human development we have achieved unbelievable wonders in all sectors of

development spending renewable and nonrenewable natural resources. We are now capable of exploiting

these resources with latest technological advancements and nature is trying to gain the lost ecological

resilience in many ways. Hence, we experience the global environmental catastrophe.

Evolving and awakening human conscious become aware of the mismatch of the way we use goods and

services provided by the natural ecosystems and struggling to find ways and means to reestablish a better

negotiation with the nature. With this background we understand that human development must include

the social and environmental considerations to become sustainable. Chemistry of sustainability is mainly

depend on eco conscious technological approaches and a human society with advanced spiritual

development to avoid the today’s consumerism which leads to unhealthy livelihood and ecosystems.

Presently, we humans use over forty percent of the primary production of the lands globally. More than

sixty percent of the global population is under or over the poverty line and we expect doubling the

population in the middle of the century.

In order to cater to this burning issues, we need to improve the land productivity as well as the livelihood

of the people. As we discussed earlier, we must avoid the individual or family level destruction and

collective destruction we practicing today for our existence. Therefore, paradigm shift must address these

main destructive forces. This concept paper discusses several approaches to find a pathway to shift the

existing human development model in to a more sustainable and eco conscious paradigm.

Objectives

To prepare a hand book of all edible fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants of Sri Lanka with their nutritive

values, cooking preparations, and medicinal aspects.

To develop a policy addressing the need of incorporating basics of Yoga and Ayurvedic lifestyle in to school

curriculum

To develop a policy to get the fullest corporation of school community to increase the gross domestic

production and encourage people to avoid individual or family level destruction by encouraging them to

grow fruits, vegetable and medicinal plants in their home gardens monitored as an academic activity.

To develop a new land policy where land owners could share their underutilized lands with land less

people for production purpose and share the produce in trustworthy manner and link micro scale

production systems with macro scale value addition production systems to avoid mono cropping

Methodology

In order to achieve above objectives following methodologies could be adopted.

Preparation of hand book of fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants is not very easy task where lots of

research and development work is needed. Identification of all edible fruits, vegetable and medicinal plant

varieties have to be carry out with the help of the all faculties of Ayurveda, Ayurveda department, and

traditional village Ayurveda doctors and senior citations in Sri Lanka. Initially this could be conducted as

a survey through the “Samurdi Niyamaka” or “Grama Niladari” network under the supervision of the

development offices in AGA offices in Sri Lanka. Collected information from “Grama Niladari” divisions or

from “Samurdi Niyamaka” divisions could be further processed by AGA divisional level and finally district

level to avoid the information redundancy. Finally district level information could be processed to

formulate the name list of all edible fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants in Sri Lanka.

Survey should get the information related to locations where planting materials available and necessary

technology to cultivate these plants. Island wide necessaries have to be put up to distribute the planting

materials to all home gardens in Sri Lanka to increase the bio diversity in home gardens.

Details of the survey results could be handed over to the university system for further processing and

analysis. Laboratory analytical work could be achieved by very easily with university research community.

Annually, most of the agricultural universities produce student thesis to full fill their graduation.

Nutritional profile analysis could be carried out as student research components in all agricultural

universities with pre-determined experimental standards approved by the Sri Lanka standards to

eliminate the procedural errors.

Compiling information could be easily performed by each and every student by entering their results in to

a web based database. This will facilitate the publication of the book and book could be published by the

governmental press.

Second objective is to popularize Yoga and Ayurveda lifestyle among the school community. This could be

easily achieved through the ministry of education and the ministry of traditional medicine. This will

eliminate the overconsumption of calories and could avoid the non-communicable diseases from the

society within ten years providing additional savings from the health sector to the government. Students

must trained to identify the importance of the fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants for their day to day

requirements as foods, medicines etc. at home garden level highlighting the ancient proverb “Prevention

is better than cure”

Third objective is formulated to minimize the individual or family level destruction process by getting the

contribution of school community to improve the gross domestic production of the country. This has to

be conducted as an academic exercises which has to be evaluated and marks should be given to students

based on their contribution.

Class room based productively measurements have to be carryout as an academic activity. Each student

must be considered as one producer. Land availability for the cultivation at home garden level must be

estimated by summing all available land extent in individual basis. Students or the producers must guide

according to the hand book to cultivate large number of fruits, vegetables and medicinal plant varieties

as much as possible to increase the plant diversity of the home garden. In this case they have to convert

their garden fence in to an edible fence with potential plant varieties. Cultivation has to be monitored

with the assistance of Agricultural Instructors of the Department of Agriculture. All must be grown

organically. Student having higher number of plants could be graded as “A” grade garden. They have to

keep records of how they use these plants for their day to day requirements namely, as foods, drinks, or

medicinal purposes. This will enhance their knowledge about plant diversity and how they could depend

on the diversity to full fill their day to day requirements. Consumption of large number of fruits, vegetables

and medicinal plant varieties will increase their access to natural nutrient profile and help them to keep

away from fast foods and over consumption of excessive calories and eliminate the vulnerability to non-

communicable diseases, over weight etc.

Productivity charts must be prepared for each class where, planting dates, harvesting dates could be

displayed for production planning. They must be able to consider the class room as a large family unit and

individual food requirement must be calculated for each family member. Some students or producers may

do not have enough land parcel to cultivate and family members of these students must be fed by others

who have enough land. A land index could be developed by dividing the land area of individual student by

the total class room land area to grade students based on land availability. Another land index could be

developed to estimate the cultivated land area with respect to the individual land availability. This will

indicate the land utilization for the production. This will help them to understand how much they use and

how much they do not use. At the same time they will understand the number of family members they

could feed if they grow these land extent.

Similar exercise could be carryout for the entire school with a properly managed database using

computers. Friday one hour after school could be used to share individual production with others.

Individual producers could bring their harvest each Friday and harvest could be kept at one place in the

school to be carried out by needy students for their families free of charge. This will help them to save

some amount of money spending for foods. This kind of savings at national level will have great influence

in development sustainability in many ways. This will enhance the bio diversity at national level, use of

large number of fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants will increase the macro and micro nutrient

consumption leading to healthy nation.

Education then will become not only a service provided by governments but a diverse production system

of the country. Students those who follow these instructions will understand the nature in a productive

way and learn to share their resources efficiently and collectively.

Forth objective facilitates the land owners to share their lands in a trustworthy manner with land less

people for production purpose. A policy has to be developed and implement via agricultural instructors

of the department of agriculture. This policy should facilitate land owners those who have fertile but

unproductive lands to share with land less people only for the production purpose. Memorandum of

Understanding must be signed between both parties to begin activities and it must be signed front of a

lawyer. In this MOU it must be clearly stated that lands are only shared for cultivation and not for any

permanent or temporary settlements. Furthermore, MOU could be canceled ant any point of time by

compensating the cultivation.

Those who cultivate under this policy could be identified as micro scale producers, must agree to cultivate

organically and these producers must maintain a minimum level of bio diversity with prescribed plant

varieties as a base plantation which will again increase the national level bio diversity with traditional and

uncommon fruits, vegetables and medicinal plant varieties.

Their products must be certified by the department of agriculture. Size of the one land parcel must not

exceed one acre which could be the ideal land parcel to be cultivated under organic practices and

principles.

Linking micro scale production systems with macro scale value addition systems

Micro scale production units must be linked with macro scale producers to carry out value addition and

further processing. Any Middle man, corporative societies, farmer organizations, other community based

organizations, and any type of social network could be used as harvest collecting and distribution agency.

Growers must agree to supply the harvest with desired quality parameters to the local collecting centers

and these centers have the responsibility to deliver good quality raw materials to the ultimate macro scale

producer. Value addition or further processing could be carry out with organically grown with less

postharvest losses. With this micro scale production system necessary of mono cropping in large

farmlands could be minimized. Even exporting organically grown products could be started with this out

grower production system. Furthermore, these products could be sell at governmental sale outlets

namely, “Sathosa”. Products could be delivered to other canteens restaurants guest houses run under

government departments and private organization.

Case studies

Three case studies have been discussed to establish productive linkages between micro scale producers

and macro scale value additions.

Title: Ecotourism as a micro scale intervention mechanism to empower rural women and improve

ecosystem resilience

By C.P. Gunasena and Palitha Gurusinghe

1 Background

World tourism arrivals have grown by 23% and are forecast to double by 2020. Ecotourism is an emerging

human interaction with the global ecosystems with an Eco concusses approach. Ecotourism could be

defined as a form of tourism involving visiting fragile, pristine, and relatively undisturbed natural areas,

intended as a low-impact and often small scale alternative to standard commercial (mass) tourism. Its

purpose may be to educate the traveler, to provide funds for ecological conservation, to directly benefit

the economic development and political empowerment of local communities, or to foster respect for

different cultures and for human rights. Since the 1980s ecotourism has been considered a critical

endeavor by environmentalists, so that future generations may experience destinations relatively

untouched by human intervention.

Ecotourism is defined and principles are discussed by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) in 1990.

According to that, ecotourism is defined as a Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the

environment and improves the well-being of local people.

1.1 Characteristics of ecotourism

Conservation of biological diversity and cultural diversity through ecosystem protection

Promotion of sustainable use of biodiversity, by providing jobs to local populations

Sharing of socio-economic benefits with local communities and indigenous peoples by having their

informed consent and participation in the management of ecotourism enterprises

Tour to unspoiled natural resources, concerning minimal impact on the environment

Minimization of tourism's own environmental impact

Affordability and lack of waste in the form of luxury

Local culture, flora and fauna being the main attractions

Local people benefit from this form of tourism economically, often more than mass tourism

1.2 Code of conduct established by the TIES for members

"We agree that ecotourism is responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and

improves the well-being of local people, and further agree that we will undertake to adhere to the

principles of ecotourism as outlined below: - Minimize impact - Build an environmental and cultural

awareness and respect - Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts - Provide direct benefits

for conservation - Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people - Raise sensitivity to host

countries' political, environmental, and social climate"

The Global Ecotourism Conference 2007, held in Oslo, Norway, from 14-16 May, summarize some of the

challenges faced by the ecotourism as an emerging industry and made several valuable comments to

governments, the private sector, NGOs, international agencies and local and Indigenous communities.

During the conference clearly identified that, the consequences of the human impacts on global natural

resources. Climate change has increasingly become a major threat affecting the very resources on which

ecotourism depends namely, natural ecosystems, and local and Indigenous communities around the

world.

Awareness about the current degradation triggers the necessity of positive intervention through current

and future ecotourism operations heading for combating global climate change. In order to have a

sustainable and greener future for the tourist industry, stakeholders must aware about the socio-

ecosystems and their interactions. In general socio-ecological systems could be defined as a set of critical

resources (natural, socioeconomic, and cultural) whose flows and uses are regulated by a combination of

ecological and social systems.

2. Ecosystems and their components

An ecosystem could be defined as a system where biological communities lives along with non-living

environment having ecological processes such as physical, biological chemical geological, geochemical etc.

There are many examples of ecosystems such as - a pond, a forest, an estuary, a grassland etc. The

boundaries of ecosystems are not fixed in any objective way, although sometimes they seem obvious, as

with the shoreline of a small pond.

2.1 Composition of an average ecosystem

Ecosystem is composed of biotic and abiotic factors. Biotic factors include primary producers, herbivores,

carnivores, omnivores and detritivores while the abiotic factors includes sunlight, temperature, and

precipitation, water or moisture and soil or water chemistry.

2.3 Ecosystem Processes

The Water Cycle, mineral cycle, plant and animal succession and the energy flow, could be identified as

major ecosystem processes. Stakeholders of the ecotourism industry must have basic knowledge about

these processes for better intervention to improve the ecosystem resilience.

The Water Cycle: it is cyclic movement of water from earth to atmosphere and then back to the earth

precipitation. The processes of precipitation, transpiration, evaporation, surface and subsurface runoff,

infiltration, percolation and ground water flow are incorporated in water cycle. The effectiveness of the

water cycle and its overall functioning are directly influenced by land management practices.

The Mineral Cycle: The mineral cycle describes the nutrients follows and their used and re-used by all

living organisms. Functionality of the mineral cycle depends on mineral oxidation, degradation of minerals

and organic matter in the soil by the solar energy, mechanical breakage, fire, and actions of wind and

water. The manner and rate at which nutrients are cycled play and important role for ecosystem

dynamism, which are directly influenced by land management practices. Soil is also considered as complex

bio geo chemical system where biological and mineral cycles are involved.

Plant and Animal Succession: Populations of plants and animals change continually in response to all sorts

of environmental pressures and ecosystems change accordingly. This phenomenon is identified as the

plant and animal succession.

Energy flow

Sun acts as the primary energy source in a terrestrial ecosystem and energy receiving from the sun is links

to carbon cycle where carbon is involved in all energy trapping, storage and transferring process. Energy

flow is also closely related to the other ecosystem processes such as water cycling, mineral cycling, and

succession. All four processes work together to create a healthy or unhealthy ecosystem and provide

goods and services to the mankind.

2.4 Goods and services provided by these ecological systems

Services provided by ecosystems could be identified as range of conditions and processes happening

within ecological systems with the assistance of living and nonliving resources. These services helps to

fulfill human life in a sustainable manner and regulate the production of ecosystem goods or the natural

products harvested or used by humans such as wild fruit and nuts, forage, timber, game, natural fibers,

medicines etc.

Ecosystem services have been categorized in a four ways namely, provisioning services which includes

vast range of food products derived from plants, animals and microbes as well as materials such as wood,

jute, hemp, silk, natural medicine, shells and flowers, and many other products derived from the

ecosystems. Fresh Water is an example of expressing linkages between provisioning and regulating

services.

Regulating services includes, air, water quality regulations, water quantity regulation (the timing and

magnitude of flooding, runoffs, and aquifer recharge, waste water regulation, pollination, pest and

diseases). These regulations could be strongly influenced by the changes in land cover such as conversion

of wetlands or replacement of forests with croplands or croplands with urban areas.

Cultural services could be identified as the nonmaterial benefits that people obtain from ecosystems

through spiritual enrichment, cognitive development, reflection, recreation and aesthetic experiences.

These systems are developed as knowledge systems within different cultures having different social

values. Many societies place high values on the maintenance of historically important landscapes. Cultural

services are tightly bound to the human values and behavior as well as to human institutions and patterns

of social, economy and political organization.

Supporting Services:

These are the services that are necessary for production of all other ecosystem services. They differ from

provisioning, regulating and cultural services in that their impacts on people are either indirect or occur

over a very long time whereas in other categories the changes are direct.

3.Resilience

Resilience could be defined as the interplay between disturbance and reorganization. This interplay is

formulated by hard or tangible aspects such as machines, materials, money, people and soft or intangible

aspects such as morale, policies, processes, structures of a given situation.

The main approach of the eco-system resilience could be identify as activities are happening in the face

of change in systems such as agricultural communities, watersheds, or cities, and moving to a more

desirable state. Ecological resilience or robustness could also be used in management of ecosystem

services. Such services include the provision of food, feed, fiber, fuel and fertilizer, natural landscaping for

hiking, bicycle riding, wild life habitats for safaris, wetland for bird watching, native cultural sites for

visiting etc. Other than these services, ecosystems provide plants for traditional medical treatments and

pharmaceutical drug development, mediate climate, remove toxic materials from environmental

reservoirs.

The resilience of social-ecological systems lost due to climate change, inappropriate land use (unplanned

agricultural activities, sand and gem mining, industrial wastes and effluents), negative human values

(unawareness of the importance of ecosystem services, dumping wastes on wetlands, landfills) and

policies (support excess use of agro chemicals, allow land clear in upstream areas), loss of biodiversity,

toxic pollution, subsidies that encourage unsustainable use of resources etc.

Capacity of natural ecological systems to cope with disturbance or the resilient capacity can be degraded

due to anthropogenic activities. There is a possibility of enhancing the resilient capacity of degraded

ecosystems. The key to resilience in social-ecological systems is diversity of its flora and fauna. Ecotourism

could play vital role in this context where selected sites and ecosystems could be improved with the

participation of stakeholders namely, local resource users, research scientists, community members with

traditional knowledge, government representatives, etc.

4. Agro-Ecosystems and livelihood of rural community

The agro-ecosystem can be defined as an ecosystem managed with the intention of producing,

distributing, and consuming food, fuel, and fiber. Its boundaries encompass the physical space dedicated

to production, as well as the resources, infrastructure, markets, institutions, and people that are

dedicated to bringing food to the plate, fiber to the factory, and fuel to the earth. The agro-ecosystem

operates simultaneously at multiple nested scales and hierarchies, from the field to the globe via home

gardening systems to complex farming systems.

4.1 Degradation of traditional agro ecological systems and rural livelihood

Globally, traditional agricultural systems are demand driven, largely depends on agro chemicals and

machine inputs. Authentic livelihoods of the rural people have changed drastically, where they tend to

get agricultural inputs as loans. At the end of the season they repay loans and live with marginal returns.

It is clearly identified that most of the males abuse their income due to drug addiction and smoking habits.

Agricultural community tends to grow few selected food crops for their consumption as well as for

commercial purposes leading to loss of bio diversity in rural ecosystems. Hundreds of traditional fruits and

vegetable verities are neglected and vanishing form the gene pool. This is the total nutrient profile

neglected by the rural community. They tend to consume, very few food items for their day to day living.

Hence they cultivate few selected planting materials narrowing down the bio diversity of ecosystems.

Most people tend to consume wheat flour and its products like bread; short eats etc. and they have

forgotten traditional drinks and refreshments and tend to use commercially available beverages having

high sugar content. Due to lack of proper cultivation and marketing urban people also depends on artificial

nutrient supplements.

They have lost their traditional value systems inherited form their ancestors namely, their self-sufficient

home gardening system, traditional medical treatment systems, ecosystems maintained around reservoir

networks with water purification systems, sediment control systems, and biological pest control systems,

spiritual beliefs systems, traditional yoga and recreational and self-defense systems etc. These trends

drive rural population in to health risks like non communicable diseases, malnutrition, poor growth,

increase infant mortality etc. Poverty leads exploitation of near by natural ecosystems at alarming rates.

Therefore, there is an ethical need for an intervention to increase the livelihoods of rural community and

ecosystem resilience at micro scale in home garden level and macro scale at associated ecosystems.

Ecotourism could be practiced as one of the intervention mechanisms to address these issues and improve

the livelihoods and ecological resilience in these areas.

4.2 Poverty elevation and ecotourism

Poverty alleviation via tourism has recognized in the millennium development goals as a critical industry

responsibility. Ecotourism which is an emerging industrial possibility is following the principles of

sustainability and applying in the travel and tourism sector shows promising results in rural community

empowerment and restoration of ecosystems. This approach helps the industry to become popular in

global investing community as a new business venture.

5. Planning interventions with ecotourism to improve the resilience of rural ecosystems and livelihood

Humans tend to clear natural forest and exploit other natural ecosystems for their livelihood

improvements namely, home studs, commercial agricultural and plantation purposes, destroying the

natural biological diversity. Traditionally, conservation practices tend to preserve existing species within

particular designated places, such as reserves and parks having serious limitations when considering the

biodiversity restoration in areas affected with anthropogenic activates.

5.1 Intervention mechanism

Interventions are intended either to maintain a system in a current desirable state or to move a system

away from a current undesirable state. Interventions can be categorized as reactive, active, or proactive

and can occur primarily at a local, regional, or global scale. Reactive interventions are attempts to maintain

a current ecosystem state or to halt a process thought to degrade ecosystem values. Active interventions

are positive steps taken to change ecosystem properties in a particular direction. Proactive interventions

are designed to limit the human drivers of processes that assault eco- systems. Ecotourism could play vital

role in these three interventions with appropriate policy and good governance.

It is increasingly recognized that local interventions have to be conducted within a broader landscape and

regional context, and that regional interventions may be required to address many issues such as

hydrologic imbalance, connectivity, and maintenance of key ecosystem services.

6. Challenges faced by the ecotourism as an emerging industry

Ecotourism is having challenges to develop and identify natural ecosystems for visiting, sites to get hands

on experience in authentic local living, observation of native cultural heritage, and development of

sustainable industries to market rural talents in arts and crafts with best management practice. More

governments have developed ecotourism strategies, but not all have been well integrated into

mainstream tourism and environmental policies, or supported by action.

Even though, number of ecotourism projects designed to enhance sustainable livelihoods and ecosystem

conservation, many remain economically fragile due to lack of adequate access to markets and market

oriented research and development activities.

6.1 Resent development in the ecotourism industry

In order to rectify these issues many countries developed their own national and regional ecotourism

associations and continue to establish links between governments, NGOs, businesses and citizens and

strengthening ecotourism in the global context. Globally there is a trend of developing innovative

approaches including active mobilization of Indigenous communities, women, and local professionals and

designers for a sustainable greener approach for the future of the ecotourism.

7. Sri Lanka Women Empowerment in Tourism/Ecotourism

In Sri Lanka, a good number of women are engaged in tourism businesses in diverse capacities ranging

from different categories as referred below;

1. Owners of Hotels, Villas, up-market Restaurants, Travel Agencies, Ayurvedic SPAs, Tourist Souvenir

shops etc. Mostly, they are the owners of family businesses which had been created to serve the

mainstream tourism. They are mainly representing middle or upper middle class societies. Generally, they

are educated and have capacity for investment, marketing, promotion of their products and service

2. Women managing small souvenir shops such as batiks, handicrafts, eating houses, food and fruit stalls,

beach vendors in the tourism generating areas of Sri Lanka, again they are mainly active in the mainstream

tourism areas such as coastal areas. This category mainly belongs to middle and lower middle class

3. Women, who are the members of Community Based Ecotourism Enterprises, catering to foreign and

domestic ecotourists. They assist their male counterparts (Male Community Tourism Activists) in

preparation of food and beverages for the guests, guiding and interpretations, communication etc. This

category represents women in remote rural areas such as protected areas, national parks, cultural sites,

coastal areas which are rich in biodiversity and marine resources. It is important to uplift the living

standards of these women as they are very poor and living below the accepted poverty line. Therefore,

ecotourism could play a major role in reducing poverty level, creating employment opportunities etc. but

this must be done within an ecologically sensitive framework.

Present paper discusses the possibility of integrating all stakeholders involved in ecotourism industry with

other expertise in universities, research institutions and development organizations. Furthermore, paper

explore the possibilities of developing home stay, eco-lodges and associated ecosystems as locations

where tourists get hands on experience on authentic day to day local living, while exploring the

ecosystems with many outdoor activities. Ways and means of marketing rural talents will also be

examined with a view to empowering rural women community for better livelihood via ecotourism.

8. Objectives

Identification of new potential sites to promote ecotourism

Identification of diverse ecotourism packages to cater to different tour requirements

Build up coordination among stakeholders and other expertise in universities and research and

development organizations

Empower rural women as a catalyst to boost livelihood of the rural community with small and medium

scale investments and linking with existing supply chains

Provide carbon crediting facilities to investors in other sectors

9. Methodology

It is strongly decided to follow code of conduct developed by the International Ecotourism Society (TIES)

in 1990 as guide lines when developing tour packages, promoting industries, dealing with native people,

cultural norms, and political values and exploring virgin ecosystems.

New potential sites will be selected based on the following criteria.

Potential sites for bird watching, hiking, bicycle riding, wild life observation, available in rural areas based

on climatic variability, attractive terrain features with ecosystems including wetlands, estuaries, river

deltas, marshy lands, streams, and potential hilly areas. Stakeholder analysis will be conducted for each

site to identify the potential stakeholders and build up awareness programs to educate the opponents

and get the fullest support for the activities allowing them to experience the benefits.

Different eco-tour packages will be developed by analyzing the incoming tourist profile. This exercise will

be carryout using a questioner survey interviewing native tour operators, examining existing tour

packages and getting feedbacks from tourists.

In order to initiate the research and development component of the ecotourism, Department of

Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna will be identified as the initial entity.

Presently, Department of Agricultural Engineering is working with the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center

(ADPC) which is dealing with the improvements of ecosystem resilience in degraded ecosystems with the

participation of stakeholders. This program could be directly coupled with the ecotourism as one of the

intervention mechanism to improve the livelihood of the stakeholders in the south Asian region.

Necessary negotiations will be carryout to build up the understanding and develop action plan for the

necessary intervention.

Collaborative work will be carryout with the BioFilms Pvt Ltd to utilize their organic fertilizers to improve

the degraded soils and productivity of the agro based industries. Project is proposing BioFilms Pvt Ltd to

establish a supply chain to market organically grown agro based products produced by the rural

community with eco-labeling or green labeling having accreditation provided by the faculty of Agriculture,

university of Ruhuna.

9.1 Empowerment of rural women community will be carryout with following intervention strategies.

Awareness programs will be carryout to build up awareness of the ecosystems, their processes and the

way they provide goods and services to improve livelihoods of rural communities. Necessary technology

packages will be introduced with the collaboration of ADPC and the Department of Agricultural

Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna.

In order to initiate the work in south Asian countries, pilot projects will be carryout in Sri Lanka. Project

proponent identified as Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation (SLEF), mainly focusing in empowering women

who are the members of Community Based Ecotourism Enterprises, catering to foreign and domestic eco-

tourists. Presently women community assists their male counterparts (Male Community Tourism

Activists) in preparation of food and beverages for the guests, guiding and interpretations, communication

etc.

These women category represents women in remote rural areas such as protected areas, national parks,

cultural sites, coastal areas which are rich in biodiversity and marine resources. SLEF has already

established Community Based Ecotourism Projects at Arugambay, Panama (Yala East), Ambalantota,

Heeloya in Kandy with a view to empower women and in the process creating livelihood opportunities

through Sustainable and Ecotourism Enterprises.

At present, they are either managing their own small businesses or actively helping to manage the

following activities initiated by the Community Based Ecotourism Projects; namely, Home stay/Eco-lodges

, Community Camping, Agro-tourism/Agriculture and organic farming plots, Ayurvedha and spiritual

tourism/ Indigenous Medical Practices, Guiding and interpretation, Open-fire cooking demonstrations and

making Handicraft items.

9.2 Issues and Challenges of the Community Based Tourism confronts during its operations could be

listed as follows;

Community expects immediate financial benefits

They might try to cut down cost of tour package at the expense of providing low grade services to the

visitors

No transparency in spending money entrusted to them by the supporting organizations

Handling funds/difficult to trust/no proper book keeping

Burden the visitors with personal requests/money etc

Internal disputes/rivalries among the CBE/adjoining villages

Personal Agendas of the Community Leader and trying his best to support his own family, friends and

relations

9.3 Proposed methodologies to overcome the challenges

It is essential to conduct regular training and awareness programmes, review sessions, once the

Community Based Ecotourism Project has launched for the tourism business

Not to expect immediate financial benefits – Do your part well, first.

No short-cuts to earn money through CBEs

Proper understanding about ‘Hospitality Skills’ and ‘providing quality services to the visitors’

Proper supervision and auditing needed when providing money and materials to the CBE Regular auditing

at least once in fortnight

Importance of TEAM WORK: No individual agendas when performing Community activities

Since the income generated through CBEs are at marginal levels, barely sufficient to sustain the extended

families. This is mainly due to mismanagement of profits by male partners. SLEF is planning to upgrade

these business entities in to medium level business entities and networking with similar projects operating

in other regions of the country. It is also planning to establish trade agreements with existing well

established supply chains.

Model proposed by the SLEF to empower the rural women community those who are engage in

ecotourism activities describes the way of establishing long term eco-tourism entities which would be

much useful to generate much needed alternative income for the communities.

9.4 Functionality of the model proposed by SLEF

This model works as a Community Based Ecotourism Enterprises, owned and managed only by women

and assisted by their family members. This will eliminate the mismanagement of profits and proper

utilization of the income to improve the livelihood of the family. Nature of the Project will be Agrotourism.

This tour package will facilitate tourists to get hands on experience on organic farming in ecological

sensitive areas and code of conduct established by the International Ecotourism Society will be strictly

followed for these interventions. Well planned monitoring program will be established to maintain the

code of conduct. Farm lodges and Eco-lodges will be created with fields organically maintained by selected

rural families. Tourists are allowed to take part in these activities and harvest these products and cooked

with the help of the local families. With this manner tourists will have the opportunity to interact with the

native community and experience the authentic livelihood patters.

9.5 Infrastructure and construction

Model proposed to use locally available natural resources as construction materials to maintain the native

and natural cultural unity in buildings and other infrastructure facilities without threatening the

environment or endangered species following sustainable building and operating principles. Traping solar

wind energy will be practiced when and where necessary. Rainwater harvesting will be adopted in rural

areas where water shortages exists. The environmental codes of responsible tourism of World Travel and

Tourism Council (WTTC) and the PATA's Green Leaf program, the lodge’s green policies include thoughtful

dealings with water, electricity, trash disposal, cleanliness and noise as well as education and local

community participation will be adopted to avoid any hazards. http://www.ecotourism.org/news/best-

practices-borneo-eco-tours-sukau-rainforest-lodge

Farmers are encouraged to cultivate as much as verities of native fruits vegetables and medicinal plants

in their home gardens. Their fences will be converted in to edible form by cultivating edible fruits and

vegetable vanities including traditional plants which are prone to extinction along their fences. Forest strip

will be allowed to grow in each of these home stay or eco-loges. This will improve the bio diversity of the

area and helps to protect the vanishing traditional plant verities due to mono cropping practices.

Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna take part in research

and development activities in this area.

Technology interventions to combat tourism’s impact on climate change will be addressed by proposing

new travel patterns e.g. increase length of stay per trip, promoting more energy-efficient, alternative or

non-motorized transport options, utilizing reduced and zero-emission operation technologies, and

increasing participation in reliable high-quality carbon offsetting schemes will be considered and

monitored by the Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna

BioFilms Pvt Ltd will be invited to promote their soil conditioners and bio fertilizers among the project

community, and establish supply chain to purchase farm fresh organically grown agro based products and

establish sales outlets in urban areas to get better prices for the rural production with a good profit margin

for their intervention.

9.6 Carbon crediting

Since these home stay and eco-lodges are maintained using organic farming principles, establishment of

such lodges could be placed in the carbon market where establishment of these eco-lodges increase the

green cover globally and could be considered as one of the geo engineering process. Investors could

establish these eco-lodges in world wide. Global policies could be developed to facilitate investors to earn

carbon credits for their work. http://www.ecotourism.org/news/carbon-offsetting-effective-tool-

sustainable-tourism

9.7 Global resource sharing

Generally tourist those who are interested in ecotourism may have common intention to save global

ecosystems. This particular global community could be drive further to share resources globally. Resource

sharing could be practiced voluntary basis within the proposed model. Tourists those who are willing to

share their used resources with the local rural families where they stay for a vacation could be supported

by the project. In order to transport these resources, global free cargo system could be introduced to sea

and air cargo carries while enabling to purchase carbon credits for their free space. Tourists could bring

their stuff under this free cargo system for free of charge and could be distributed among the rural

community.

9.8 Management of web based database

Model proposes to create a web based database where all information about locations facilities could be

listed and easily accessed by the interested community. Model suggests upgrading the existing web page

developed by the SLEF for this purpose. This could be linked with many other research and development

organizations to popularize the research and development activates in relation to ecotourism and

ecosystem resilience.

9.9 Suggested project activities

• Managing of Home stay/Ecolodges

• Community Camping

• Agrotourism/Agriculture and organic farming plots

• Ayurvedha and spiritual tourism/ Indigenous Medical Practices

• Guiding and interpretation

• Open-fire cooking demonstrations

• Making Handicraft items

• Study of traditional agricultural practices/Hydraulic Civilization of Sri Lanka

• Bird watching

• Wildlife watching

• Fishing/angling

• Trekking and hiking

• Cycling

• Canoeing and kayaking

• Conduct Heritage Cultural/Nature Tourism Programmes

• Traditional lifestyles and games

• Boating (using non-motorized water crafts)

• Promoting Voluntourism

9.10 Human resource development work

Model suggests having following Human Resource Development Training and Awareness Programs to be

conducted with a view to increase the capacity building of women;

• Organizing skills

• Pubic Relation skills

• Leadership qualities

• Decision making under pressure

• New product development

• Coordination skills

• Finance handling

• Marketing/sales skills

• Communication skills

• Customer handling

• Interpersonal skills

• Innovative skills

• Eco-friendly practices

• Solid Waste management

• Micro –finance management

• Knowledge on appreciation of biodiversity and the environment

As explained before, in rural Sri Lanka ‘Urban Drift’ is a big problem. Rural communities whose people

are living in abject poverty, invariably find their young people migrating to urban centers, because of the

decline in traditional industries such as agriculture, fishing handicraft etc.

Ecotourism could act as a catalyst to mitigate the above setbacks and to assure economic justification to

the communities living around the protected areas, agricultural, cultural and heritage zones of Sri Lanka.

Ecotourism is often seen by the poor communities as one of the few alternative livelihoods which are

open to them. Ecotourism can prevent this ‘urban drift’ and provide the communities with an essential

alternative income.

9.11 Model itself identifies followings to become globally successful exercises

• Funding/financing mechanism/micro finance

• Methodology/planning

• Stakeholders involved

• Marketing and promotion

• Training of the women entrepreneurs

• Management of the project

• Administration of finance/accounting

Model suggest to connect with other local, national and regional and global ecotourism associations, and

their links to TIES, in order to create an even stronger network that will serve as the nucleus of the global

ecotourism community. http://www.ecotourism.org/oslo-statement-on-ecotourism

10 References:

http://www.ecotourism.org/climate-change-and-tourism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecotourism

http://www.ecotourism.org/oslo-statement-on-ecotourism

Draft training module developed by the Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture,

University of Ruhuna, Climate change and eco system resilience in 2014.

Case study two

Concept paper – Integration of Global School Community with Gross Domestic Production Process via

Home Gardening - A Green Approach

By C.P. Gunasena, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna

Abstract- With the increment of population land area under home gardens are increasing. Still little

interest has been shown to quantify the contribution of home gardens for the National GDP. On the other

hand bio diversity of the environment has been reduced drastically due to selective cultivation of few food

crops over large farm lands. Furthermore, it is observed that due to various man made environmental

conditions the micro climatic conditions are highly varying even within identified agro climatic zones.

Home gardening has the possibility of promoting and educating people to consume higher number of food

varieties instead few selected varieties where people tend to grow higher number of edible food items

including neglected traditional food and medicinal plants. This facilitates the regeneration of degraded

bio diversity and reestablishing lost food chains within the biosphere, atmosphere and the lithosphere.

Present concept paper discusses the procedures and strategies which could be adapted to integration of

global school community with Gross Domestic Production Process and a database to facilitate the

monitoring procedure of the home garden development project using latest WEBGIS technologies.

Furthermore, a procedure for monitoring micro climatic data also discussed. Students will be selected to

represent home gardens and selected places will be geo-referenced and an identification number will be

assigned. Crops will be organically grown. Planting dates and harvesting dates will be pre defined based

on the agro-climatic zones. A market dates will be fixed and students will be asked to bring their harvest

to the school. Special quality controlling, purchasing and packaging procedures will be adapted

considering the requirements of pre identified buyers. All crop data and microclimatic data will be

uploaded in to the web using the georeference number. Collaborative approach for monitoring is

proposed between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Education.

Index Terms—Home Garden, WEBGIS applications, Schools in development, Organic Farming, Gross

Domestic Production, Micro climate monitoring, Carbon Sequestration

INTRODUCTION

Introduction and significance of the project

With the increment of population land area under home gardens could also be increased. Still little

interest has been shown to quantify the contribution of home gardens for the National

Fig. 1. Schematic diagram of the proposed concept and the decision making process

GDP. On the other hand bio diversity of the environment has been reduced drastically due to selective

cultivation of few food crops over large farm land. Home gardening has a possibility of promoting and

educating people to consume higher number of food varieties instead few selected varieties where people

tend to grow higher number of edible food items including neglected traditional food and medicinal

plants. Under this cultivation program fences around the home gardens could be re designed to have

edible plants. Thus, there is a possibility of increasing bio diversity and reestablishing lost food chains

within the biosphere, atmosphere and the lithosphere with home garden cultivation approach.

Maintaining a well equipped database powered by WEBGIS technologies could be developed to upload

cultivation data. This will build up an interest among the global school community to grow home gardens

as globally coordinated program. This will be a practical example for information technology applications

in agriculture. Database has to be developed country wise for the entire planet. Therefore, Ministry of

Agriculture, Agriculture Instructor, Ministry of Education, and Faculty of Agriculture are common for all

countries.

OBJECTIVES

1. Integrate School Community with Gross Domestic Production with home gardening

2. Create and establish a database to manage home garden resources and micro climatic data using

WEBGIS applications.

3. Build up awareness about information technological applications among agricultural communities

namely, farmers, landowners, students industrial people, and the global research community.

Agriculture Instructor

Student

Student

Student

Principle and Teachers

School

Field Monitoring

Faculty of Agriculture

Collaborative monitoring Via Policy decisions

Collaborative monitoring Via Policy decisions

Database

RESEARCH METHOD

Target group

School academic and non academic community

Location – Students will be selected based on the agro climatic map of each country and considering the

existing home garden condition. In order to have reasonable representation of each agro climatic region,

appropriate sample size will have to determine by each country. This will help to cover up crop growth

and production with respect to the climatic and soil conditions.

Implementing agency for the cultivation program– Since Universities and schools are not implementing

agencies. Therefore, Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Education of each country could be

selected as the implementing agency.

Crop selection – Crops for home gardening will be selected based on the interest of implementing agency

of each country, selected Faculties of Agriculture of each country, Home garden owner and agro climatic

and soil conditions.

Allocation of planting materials – Initially existing diversified successful home gardens will be monitored

and the traditionally used crop plants will be allocated per student per each variety selected subject to

constrains by the resource availability.

Selection of students

Interested students will be selected at school level based on the recommendation made upon by

responsible Agricultural Instructor of the area who is under the direct supervision of the Ministry of

Agriculture. This will eliminate the mismanagement of planting materials at the field level. Each of the

students will give a geo-referenced number structured as shown bellow.

Province/District/Division/AgroClimatic Zone/ School /Student (Eg. 01/01/01/01/001/0001). Since this

number is geo-referenced at the home garden level, whatever the data enter in to the database using this

number could be treated as geo-referenced data, therefore, could be analyzed with downloadable web

GIS applets.

Distribution of planting materials – planting materials will be distributed among the school community

with the help of Agricultural Instructors of selected areas. This activity will be a collaborative effort of the

Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Education.

Planting and harvesting date – One planting date and the harvesting date will be set for each agro climatic

region

Crop management – Cultivation process should be monitored as an academic activity and that has to be

evaluated by allocating some marks to the work done by students. At least twice a weak, one period

should allocate to discuss the progress of the home garden. Initially organic crop production could be

encouraged to minimize the application of agro chemicals. In order to record the crop data, specially

designed formats will be provided to students by the Faculty of Agriculture of each country. Based on

these simple formats relevant crop data will be recorded by students and data will be collected weekly by

Agriculture Instructor. Required crop data and the format details will be finalized after considering the

views of Agriculture Instructor, Students, Teachers, and other interested people.

Harvesting and commercializing the products

Harvesting should be done based on the date scheduled for each climatic zone. In this date student has

to harvest what ever the edible crop parts from their micro farm field early in the morning and should

bring the harvest to the school same day. This will minimize the contamination and physical damages

during the harvest and the transportation compare to mass scale production process.

School market

During the market date, purchasing will be done at the entrance of the school. Amount brought will be

recorded using the geo-referenced registration number given by the project. Harvesting date will be

informed to super markets and interested export companies. In order to avoid bulk storage with in the

school premises, instant packing will be arranged using the packaging materials provided by interested

merchants, synchronizing the time of arrival of students to the school. This will avoid unnecessary

delaying of time table of the school. Students can hand over what they bring to the relevant authority at

the entrance under the supervision of a student representative. A student representative will be selected

form each school and they will be trained to purchase the harvest considering the quality control aspects

provided by each merchant In order to avoid the discarded crop parts students will also be educated to

produce good quality products. Whatever remains could be handover to the local hospitals to reduce food

charges.

Payments

Payments will be made via cheques drawn in favor of the school account. Income generated by this could

be given back to students or could be used to develop the school resources.

Micro Climatic Management – It is observed that the micro climatic conditions are highly varying even

within identified agro climatic zones. This paper proposes an alternative strategy for monitoring micro

climatic conditions with respect to the spatial distribution of climatic parameters. Each and every Agro

Climatic Zone will be divided in to areas having 500 meter radius.

A student will be selected for each circular area and he or she has to record daily rainfall wind direction

and the visible clouds at the first phase of the project. Specifications will be provided to prepare a simple

home made rain gauge and the anemometer to record rainfall and the wind direction. Spatial distribution

of the wind direction, clouds and the rainfall within an area having 500 meters will give clear picture of

annual climatic conditions. Daily data will be collected weekly by responsible Agriculture Instructor.

Database construction and management

A database will be prepared using latest WEBGIS applications facilitating two way data communication

and downloadable applets. Server based and client base technologies will be adapted to improve the data

communication among different scientific communities. Data base will be prepared and managed by the

expertise in the Faculty of Agriculture. Location of the home garden of each student will be geo-referenced

to facilitate the development of digital Elevation models with respect to crop data and the micro climatic

data.

Agriculture Instructors are the ground level data collectors and up loaders. Facilities will be provided to

Agriculture Instructors to upload data form their residence. Policy decision should be taken to provide

computer facilities to all Agriculture Instructors and internet facilities should be provided with an

affordable tariff.

Responsibilities and activities of active participants

Student base activities

Students are responsible for better crop management and achieve optimum harvest. Furthermore,

they have to record crop data and micro climatic data using formats provided by the Faculty of Agriculture.

Principle and Teacher based activities

Project should be considered as an academic activity and should be evaluated and graded for their end

term exams. This will eliminate the risk of mismanagement at field level. Progress should be discussed

with students weekly by allocating time slot in the time table. At least one period per week should be

allocated.

Agricultural Instructor based activities

Distribution of seed materials, monitor planting date and harvesting date, conduct awareness programs,

data collection and feed in to the Database could be identified as responsibilities of these Agriculture

Instructors.

Faculty based activities

Develop and maintain the database, coordinate planting dates, harvesting dates and market dates,

organize bulk sales when and where necessary by contacting export companies and super markets,

Provide technical and other facilities, develop interest for Scientific Farming blend with traditional

knowledge among the school community etc.

DISCUSSION

In order to explain the application of the concept one hypothetical example for one country could be

discussed as follows. Ten schools from hypothetical division could be selected and hundred students from

each school could be taken for the project. Tomato seeds could be distributed among the students.

Students could be asked to maintain ten organically grown tomato plants for the project purpose. Pre

defined planting date and harvesting date could be introduced and monitored. First harvest could be

collected and marketed with the help of Super markets in that division. In order to maintain the micro

climate data, selected division could be divided in to areas having 500 meter radius and one student could

be appointed to that area and could be asked to collect micro climatic data.

Income generated could be forecast as follows

Assumption – Number of students participated = 1000

Number of Plants grown by them = 10000 (30000 plants per Ha)

Average tomato harvest per Ha = 30 tons

Expected harvest per 10000 plants = 10 tons

Price per Kg = 100.00 Money units

Income for the AGA division = 100 x 10 x 1000 = 1000000.00 Money

Units

Digital Elevation models and forecasting

Since the all collected data are geo-referenced, digital elevation models could be developed to illustrate

the spatial distribution of crop data, spreading of deices, market information, price fluctuations, wind

direction, cloud formation and the rainfall distribution. Data could be used to forecast micro climatic

conditions.

Other benefits

Spatial distribution of the crop growth with respect to different agro climatic regions, micro climatic

analysis with respect to spatial distribution of climatic data, E marketing, furthermore, this provides an

access to large extent of land area belonging to different climatic zones to researchers and academics.

Proper coordination of the information network and the players, could conduct research activities via

virtual participation in anywhere of the world. Research out come or the progress could be seen or

observed with a view to spatial distribution of independent and dependent variables of the research even

without field visits. Furthermore, properly coordinated global home garden cultivation program, will add

millions of hectares of edible fruits vegetable and medicinal plants globally.

Conclusion

As discussed under the objectives, proposed concept could be a naval approach to integrate global school

community with Gross Domestic Production via organic farming concept. Furthermore, properly

coordinated global home garden cultivation program could add millions of hectares of edible fruits,

vegetables and medicinal plants with in a short period of time and this will be another geo engineering

approach to reduce atmospheric CO2 as one option of carbon sequestration. However further

investigations are needed in student involvement in data recording where these critical points control the

quality of the entire database.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This project was initially formulated by the author with the help of one agriculture graduate named Mr.

Upali Kithsiri, and one Agricultural Instructor Mr. M.M. Zaneer way back in 1995.

Several other officials namely, Mr. Wijesena, Assistant Director of Agricultural Extension in Hambantota

District, Assistant Government Agent of Tangalla Division Mr. D.A.L. Nimal, Assistant Director Mr. Siripala

were also helped to implement this as a pilot project in the division of Tangalle Assistant Government

Agent in Hambantota District in Sri Lanka. Therefore, author would like to acknowledge all people those

who contributed to formulate and bring up to this level to share with the global community.

Finally I would like to acknowledge my Mother Sugala Kumarasena and Farther Victor Perera Gunasena

and my wife Lalani Priyanka Jayawardane for their invaluable guidance throughout my life.

REFERENCES

[1] C.P. Gunasena, C.M.Navaratne, “Development of working interface for

the Nilwala river basin to enhance resource mobilization”,Third Academic Sessions, University of Ruhuna,

Matara, Sri Lanka January2006.

[2] Thai Long Tran, Internet-Based Applications: Analysis and Security, The Canadian Tourism Commission

Research Division Ottawa, Canada April 2003.

[3] D.J. Power, 1998, Web-based decision support systems: part 1

Ihttp://www.tgc.com/dsstar/98/0818/980818.html.

Case study three

Title: Development of a green business plan – link micro scale produces with macro scale buyers

By C.P. Gunasena

Background

Today entire globe is facing multiple crisis situation and humans are trying to find solutions while

accelerating the growth of their so called gross domestic production with the expenses of the global eco

systems and maintaining continuous power struggle among them.

Multiple crisis

Pollution as a crisis

Pollution could be considered as a phenomenon having a long history. Wastes generated by humans and

its management could be identified as one of the main environmental issues. Problems were aggravated

with the population increment. Widespread industrial production and the use of new technologies

introduced new pollutants and brought new risks to human health and the environment. Contamination

initially was confined to a city, river, waste dump or mine, with the technological advancement, in late

twentieth century pollution had increased to an unprecedented scale, affecting industrial regions, oceans,

entire continents and even global regulatory mechanisms. Waste disposal technologies and control

measures always tended to lag well behind the release of pollutants into the environment. Humans today

having multiple views on pollution namely, acceptance of pollution as an inevitable fatalistic consequence

of human activities, lack of foresight and technical understanding, the problem of allocating responsibility,

a preference for short-term local fixes rather than long-term solutions and a failure of individuals or

companies to take responsibility for their actions. Attempts to control pollution are as old as the problem

itself but the response has usually been delayed and inadequate with a poor record of co-operation and

enforcement. At first cars and buses were welcomed as less polluting than the horses that fouled city

streets during the nineteenth century. Later, large-scale effects of vehicle pollution were first noticed in

the United States, the first country with high levels of car ownership. [2].

Now human beings as a single community, attempts to address these issues by shedding all indifferences

namely, religious, ethnical, financial, etc. for the sake of protecting existing natural eco systems while

fulfilling day to day requirements.

Financial Crisis

In 1930s, people faced a financial catastrophic due to war situations. Today, we are facing another crisis

emerging from bank failures, a credit crunch, private defaults and massive layoffs and effect is very much

greater than 1930s. In the new, globalized world of closely interdependent economies, the crisis affected

almost every part of the world. According to the article, capital accumulated in US came from the Asian

countries especially China. The availability of easy credit in US, caused people to buy properties that they

could not afford. The bankers bundled up these loans and sold them to investors that could not

understand the complexity of these bundles and the risks inherent in them. Once US borrowers started

defaulting on their mortgages, they lost their houses and investors all around the world, including banks

and hedge funds, lost their investments. Root of the economic depression might very well lie in one

fundamental human instinct: greed. [3].

Article says that the world has experienced the greatest destruction of wealth since summer 2008 and

paper losses measured in the trillions of dollars. The financial powerhouses of Bear Stearns and Lehman

Brothers have gone bankrupt and mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had to be bailed out.

Attempts by the US government to save industries led to an increased budget deficit, making some experts

predict that the global power epicenter might shift away from the US before the crisis ends.

Furthermore, article summarized, that the need of Asian countries to restructure their domestic

economies to encourage consumption where Asians cannot continue to rely on credit-fueled American

consumption to promote growth. Some poor countries, insulated from foreign finance, suffered from

reductions in tourism, remittances and foreign aid. What began as a local problem of excess credit in the

United States is likely has affected every member of the global community. All crises in the twentieth

century have had world-wide consequences but the crisis of 2008 will go down in history as the first full-

blown global crisis. [3].

Article clearly illustrates the increment of Chinese trade revenues, savings and purchases of US debt over

the past decade. Low interest rates encouraged consumers to spend and housing prices soared in US.

Such imbalances could not be sustained and financial instruments containing mortgages for homes that

have lost their value, and again that scenario is having negative impact on entire world. In conclusion

article suggests that after governments succeed in restoring consumer and investor confidence, they

should focus on designing regulations that encourage responsibility and a long-term outlook.

Furthermore, it suggests that the need of policymakers to recognize the global oversight of the banking

industry, either by strengthening existing institutions or by creating new international authorities. In

addition to that article describes the uncertainty of timing of the rescue and the questionable certainty of

its efficacy. Article identifies one certainty for this crisis. According to that there are no localized solutions

for a problem that extends throughout the world [3].

Urge from America and other European countries are very clear that Asians need to produce for

themselves for their consumption. In order to realize this goal there must be new philosophical thinking

pattern which allow mankind to interact global eco systems in a new technology platform putting forward

conservation before consumerism and any form of capital accumulation with a new definition for the

wealth accumulated by humans.

Climate and food crisis

Article takes a suicidal case of a Tunisian street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi who set himself on fire Dec.

17, 2010 to explain the Arab spring was due to food insecurity [4]. Article emphasizes on rocketing bread

prices and food and water shortages due to prevailing drought conditions of the Middle East. According

to the article one analyst highlights the combination of food shortages and other environmental factors

are exacerbating the tensed politics of the region. Furthermore, illustrating an unpublished U.S.

government study article emphasize the need of preparation for much more of the same as food prices

spiral and long-standing disruption of agricultural practices by climate change.

This clearly shows that existing agricultural practices and land use techniques are no longer valid upon

approaches defined for conservation of natural eco systems. Mono cropping in large farm lands destroys

the natural bio diversity and add large amount of agro chemicals to cop up with loosing nutrients, decease

epidemics and pest out brakes. Unfortunately certain part of the economy of agro chemical producing

countries depends on those productions and they promote these products without considering the

ecological balance.

Furthermore, areas under home gardens are increasing with the population increment. People are

replacing home garden bio diversity with inedible ornamental plants. This is where new way of

philosophical thinking to be developed to address these issues considering the sustainability of natural

eco systems and their bio diversity.

Highlighting a speech made by Richard Choularton from policy officer in the U.N. World Food Program’s

climate change office, article points out the political destabilization of countries in future and describes

the difference of living areas from 20 years ago and now. According to the article more people are living

in places with a higher climatic risk where, 650 million people now live in arid or semiarid areas where

floods and droughts and price shocks are expected to have the most impact [4].

Africa and climate change

Article discusses the recent crises in the Horn of Africa and Sahel and commented on population

increment by the year 2050. According to that anything up to 200 million more food-insecure people could

be expected by 2050 or an additional 24 million malnourished children. Furthermore, article adds

comments from a speech made by Ireland’s first female president. She identifies that the climate change

having a domino effect on food and nutritional security for the world’s poorest and most vulnerable

people. She predicted that child malnutrition could be increased by 20 percent by 2050.

In the Middle East and North Africa, declining yields of up to 30 percent are expected for rice, about 47

percent for corn and 20 percent for wheat. Egypt expects to lose 15 percent of its wheat crops if

temperatures rise 2 degrees Celsius, and 36 percent if the increase is 4 degrees. Morocco expects crops

to remain stable up to about 2030, but then to drop quickly later on. Most North African countries

traditionally import wheat and are therefore highly vulnerable to price shocks and droughts elsewhere

[4].

A new study of 11 West African nations expects most to be able to grow more food as temperatures rise

and rainfall increases. But demand from growing populations may double food prices. Climate change

may mean Nigeria, Ghana and Togo can grow and export more sorghum, raised for grain. Temperatures

are expected to rise several degrees in regions close to the Sahel. In Burkina Faso, the sorghum crop is

expected to decline by 25 percent or more, but corn yields may improve. Other studies by IFPRI suggest

crop yields across sub-Saharan Africa may decline by 5 to 22 percent by 2050, pushing large numbers of

people deeper into destitution. A new U.N. study suggests climatic conditions in southern Africa will

worsen. Climate models mostly predict an increase in annual maximum temperatures in the region of 1

to 2 degrees by 2050. This will favor some crops but shift others to higher ground or further north.

America and climate change

According to the article, U.S. population is expected to grow by 120 million by 2050. Government scientists

expect more incidents of extreme heat, severe drought and heavy rains to affect food production. The

warming is expected to continue without undue problems for 30 years, but beyond 2050 the effects could

be dramatic and staple crops hit.

Article summarize a latest report and comment on increasing negative impacts of weather extremes on

crop and livestock productivity and highlights present exceed of critical thresholds.

Many agricultural regions of the U.S. will experience declines in crop and livestock production. “Climate

disruptions have increased in the recent past and are projected to increase further over the next 25 years

[4].”

Article further elaborated about devastations of crops in California’s Central Valley where, sunflower

crops, wheat, tomato, rice, cotton and corn expected to lose 10 to 30 percent of their yields, especially

beyond 2050. Fruit and nut crops, such as cherries, grapes and groundnuts, which depend on having a

certain number of “winter chilling” days, may have to be relocated. Animals exposed to too many hot

nights are increasingly stressed. Many vegetables crops will be affected when temperatures rise only a

few degrees above normal. Because nearly 20 percent of all U.S. food is now imported, climate extremes

in countries that supply the country will affect the price of food in American stores. In 2011, 14.9 percent

of U.S. households did not have secure food supplies and 5.7 percent experienced very low food security

[4].

Because few crops can withstand average temperature rises of more than 2 degrees, Latin America

expects to be seriously affected by a warming climate and more extreme weather events. Even moderate

temperature rises of 1 to 2 degrees would cause significant damage to Brazil, which has emerged as one

of the world’s biggest suppliers of food crops. Brazilian production of rice, coffee, beans, manioc, corn and

soy are all expected to decline, with coffee, a mainstay of many other Latin American economies,

especially vulnerable because it is so sensitive to heat and disease. Other studies suggest Brazil’s massive

soybean crop, which provides animal feed for much of the world, could slump by more than 25 percent

over the next 20 years. The knock-on effects would mean higher meat prices in Europe. But two major

crops should do well: quinoa and potatoes, which have hundreds of varieties and can be cultivated from

sea level up to 4,000 meters, have been developed over hundreds of years to adapt to extreme climatic

conditions [4].

In these countries people still do not understand the destruction made by humans with their agricultural

practices especially mono cropping over large farm lands. Also they do not want to change their food

habits and consume more fruits and vegetable verities where they could grow more fruits vegetable and

medicinal plants in their home gardens for the sake of protecting bio diversity and the existing natural eco

systems.

Asia and climate change

Article commented on China’s relative resilient to climate change due to expected population decline by

400 million people in this century easing demand on resources. In contrast Chinese people become more

and more richer and tend to consume more meat based diet which again face challenge to access more

land and cattle feed. Crop losses are increasingly being caused by extreme weather events, insect attacks

and diseases. According to the article wheat is becoming increasingly difficult to grow in some northern

areas of China as the land gets drier and warmer.

In southern provinces, droughts in recent years have replaced rainy seasons. The National Academy Of

Agricultural Sciences expects basic food supplies to become insufficient around 2030 [4].

Article also commented on temperature rise between 4 and 6 degrees by 2050 in most of Vietnam,

Cambodia, Laos and Thailand based on a new study conducted by U.S. Aid. The Lower Mekong region,

which is home to 100 million people and is prone to weather extremes, could also see rainfall increase 20

percent or more in some areas, reducing the growth of rice and other staple crops. Many provinces will

see food production decline significantly. The number of malnourished children in the region may increase

by 9 million to 11 million by 2050 [4].

Article discusses about extreme events which will increasingly affect agriculture in Australia. Key food-

growing regions in the south of the country are likely to experience more droughts in the future, with part

of Western Australia having already experienced a 15 percent drop in rainfall since the mid-1970s. The

number of record-breaking hot days in Australia has doubled since the 1960s, also affecting food output

[4].

Europe and climate change

Article describes Climate change on agricultural production through its effects on the timing, intensity and

variability of rainfall and shifts in temperatures and carbon dioxide concentrations. According to the

article, climate change shows positive impacts on southern Europe where extent of the farm lands could

be increased further north and allow more sweet corn, grapes, sunflowers, soy and corn to be grown in

Britain, while in Scotland, livestock farming could become more suitable. At the higher latitudes, warmer

temperatures are predicted to lengthen and increase the intensity of the growing season [4]. According

to the article, latest projections of the European Union suggest the most severe consequences of climate

change will not be felt until 2050. But significant adverse impacts are expected earlier from extreme

weather events, such as more frequent and prolonged heat waves, droughts and floods. Many crops now

grown in Southern Europe, such as olives, may not survive high temperature increases. Southern Europe

will have to change the way it irrigates crops.

According to the article in Europe’s high and middle latitudes, global warming is expected to greatly

expand the growing season. Crops in Russia are expected to be able to expand northward but yields will

be much lower because the soils are less fertile. In the south, the climate is likely to become much drier

which will reduce yields. In addition, climate change is expected to increase the scarcity of water resources

and encourage weed and pest proliferation. Many Russian regions were hit by an extreme heat wave in

2011 that forced the government to ban exports of wheat and grains. Warming will increase the number

of forest fires by 30 to 40 percent. This will affect soil erosion and increase the probability of floods [4].

Environmental Crisis

Article summarizes the anthropogenic activities which caused transformation of ecosystems and

describes the difficulties of marinating biosphere’s favorable conditions using existing technologies due

to complexities of interconnected natural ecosystems. Article emphasize this critical reason, and

commented on five global-scale conservation actions which expand the level of protection currently

afforded to wild life and wild places through monumental conservation action [5].

Action one: Protect and Restore Natural Landscapes and Seascapes

At least forty percent of the planet’s surface needs to be more "natural" than "developed" (or "heavily

exploited"), balanced between the terrestrial (~26% of the planet’s surface with ice caps covering ~2.6%

; 50% of the land recommended managed as "natural" to achieve biodiversity and biosphere function

goals), freshwater (~2.75% of the surface; ~50%+ managed as "natural"), and marine realms (~71% of the

Earth’s surface; ~33% of seas managed as "natural"). A half is likely impractical given current human

abundance, explosive increase (a 40% increase by 2050 is projected), ubiquitous distribution, exploitative

efficiency, and sky-rocketing resource demands. But oft-deliberated protection goals near 10% will

inevitably fail to sustain biospheric processes or conserve much at all of the Earth’s complex tapestry of

diverse life forms [5].

At least a third of all seas and coastlines require strict protection, even on the high seas where reserves

should shift to track dynamic productivity hotspots and wildlife aggregations. Restoring resilient marine

ecologies and balanced fisheries will require no-take Marine Protected Area (MPAs) networks protecting

at least a quarter of all coastlines along continents, archipelagos, and islands, coral reefs, and trawling

bottoms (shallow water benthic habitats) around the world. All remaining natural habitat on land must

receive long-term protection and restoration, with an initial emphasis on larger, well-connected natural

landscapes, remaining habitat in biodiversity hotspots, and vanishing habitat types and biomes.

Restoration on land and expanded reserves will be necessary to reach the goal of a half of the Earth’s land

surface in "natural" condition [5].

It is imperative to protect all old-growth habitats, whether they be unlogged forests, ungrazed deserts,

untrawled seafloor, or unfished seamounts, as these remnants are ancient repositories of rich and

vulnerable biodiversity and optimal arenas for life-sustaining processes. A bet-hedging strategy to assist

as many terrestrial species as possible to persist in the face of changing climates is to protect larger natural

landscapes that encompass diverse habitats, complex landforms, and strong environmental gradients;

and emphasize protection of habitats that can function as climate microrefugia (for example, old-growth

forests, shady slopes, riparian habitats) for local adaptation and persistence of vulnerable species [5].

Action two: Ban Harvesting Larger Marine Species

All commercial harvesting of larger marine species (for example, cetaceans, sharks, giant clams, billfish,

groupers, Bluefin tuna) should be banned for several decades to allow species and populations (and

fisheries) to rebound and regain their ecological roles. A range of species with foundational roles in

ecosystems, such as pollock, squid, clupeids (fish like sardines, anchovies, herring), and krill, will inevitably

require a generous level of protection to sustain fisheries and associated marine communities [5].

Action three: Banning International Trade in Wildlife

All international trade in vulnerable and threatened wildlife―large and small, terrestrial and aquatic,

plant or animal, edible or inedible―must be immediately halted to stem the global hemorrhaging of

wildlife populations and biodiversity that is leaving us a very lonely and dysfunctional planet. Vulnerable

species require strict protection everywhere, whether they are traded or not [5].

Action four: Remove Dams

Healthy rivers must flow again accomplished, in large part, by the worldwide removal of obsolete and

poorly-considered dams and barrages coupled with the restoration of riparian, wetland, and headwater

habitats at watershed scales [5].

Action five: Protecting Our Atmosphere

Compounds that damage the Earth’s fragile and essential ozone layer must be immediately banned and

we must strive towards good progress in reining-in greenhouse gas production [5].

In conclusion article emphasizes the requirement of a committed global community within the next two

to four decades to avert biospheric disaster to run global programs empowered by the support and

compliance of all nations and people. Furthermore, it emphasize the requirement of rapid and well

organized and funded functional biosphere stewardship program and manage it into the future, vigilant

crimes against the Earth, co-option by economic interests, bureaucratic quicksands, and misguided

nationalism. Grueling necessity will inevitably spur a measured or panicked response from an increasingly

desperate humanity [5].

Even though these five actions are definitely enhance the conditions of the global eco systems, experts

have missed the capacity of home gardens to deliver a better solution. For an example: five actions

emphasis to keep untouched forest resaves, landscapes and seascapes as it is and details are lacking how

people are using existing landscape as home gardens where most of the beautifully organized landscapes

are not edible even for other animals. Productivity of home garden landscapes is not counted for GDP

calculations.

Fuel Crisis

Article describes the financial crisis with a statement delivered by a professor named Lord (Nicholas) Stern

at the London School of Economics. Professor commented on possible implications when risk accumulated

unnoticed and that almost all investors and regulators were failing to address it [6]. Article summarizes

one of the famous current issues named "carbon bubble" which is the result of an over-valuation of oil,

coal and gas reserves held by fossil fuel companies. It emphasize the condition which humans must

maintain by keeping at least two-thirds of these oil reserves underground to meet existing internationally

agreed targets to avoid the threshold for "dangerous" climate change. On the other hand if the

agreements hold, these reserves will be in effect unburnable and so worthless leading to massive market

losses. Article mention about the comment made by the Bank of England that collapses in the value of oil,

gas and coal assets as nations tackle global warming is a potential systemic risk to the economy, with

London being particularly at risk owing to its huge listings of coal [6].

According to the article James Leaton, from Carbon Tracker and a former PwC consultant has described

short-termism in financial markets as one of the major reason for the carbon bubble. Another expert

named Paul Spedding an oil and gas analyst at HSBC mentioned that the business as usual is not a viable

option for the fossil fuel industry in the long term

Article summarizes the world's currently indicated fossil fuel reserves equate to 2,860bn tonnes of carbon

dioxide. Furthermore, commented that the possibility of burning just 31% for an 80% chance of keeping

below a 2C temperature rise and 38% could be burned with a 50% chance of keeping the global

temperature increment at a range of 2C or less [6].

In this article discuss about latest technologies available for carbon capture and storage categorized under

geo engineering technologies, which buries emissions underground which could play a role in the future.

Article emphasize that even an optimistic scenario with this geo engineering technology, which sees 3,800

commercial projects worldwide would allow only an extra 4% of fossil fuel reserves to be burned. Article

commented on statement made by the International Energy Agency and highlights that a major part of

fossil fuel reserves is unburnable. Future challenges which could be faced by Australian coal industry also

discussed in this article and it says that little could be done to avoid the future loss of value in the face of

action on climate change [6].

Increase of global green cover will help to absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide. Other than keeping

untouched forest covers and landscapes, people could go for a globally coordinated home garden

cultivation program to increase the green cover. Selecting diverse fruits vegetable and medicinal plants

for cultivation could increase the global food security as well as the green cover within a decade. In this

case everybody has to grow and contribute to the growth of gross domestic production in a very

sustainable manner.

Towards a green economy

This was developed by UNEP as a working definition of a green economy. According to the definition green

economy results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing

environmental risks and ecological scarcities. In its simplest expression, a green economy can be thought

of as one which is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive [7].

Article further discussed the green economy as one whose growth in income and employment is driven

by public and private investments that reduce carbon emissions and pollution, enhance energy and

resource efficiency, and prevent the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. These investments need

to be catalyzed and supported by targeted public expenditure, policy reforms and regulation changes.

This development path should maintain, enhance and, where necessary, rebuild natural capital as a critical

economic asset and source of public benefits, especially for poor people whose livelihoods and security

depend strongly on nature [7].

Sustainability and green economy

According to the article sustainable development has been defined as “development which meets the

needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” It

gained international attention in the late 1980s following the Brundtland Commission’s landmark report,

“Our Common Future”, and further prominence at the 1992 Earth Summit where it served as a guiding

principle for international cooperation on development. Achieving sustainable development requires the

advancement and strengthening of its three interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars:

environmental protection, social development, and economic development [7].

Article emphasizes the way of understanding the environment under the green economic concepts. The

environment in a green economy is seen as a determining factor of economic production, value, stability,

and long term prosperity, as a source of growth and a spur to innovation. In a green economy, the

environment is an “enabler” of economic growth and human well-being. Additionally, since the poor are

most dependent on the natural resource base for their livelihoods and least able to shield themselves

from a degraded environment, movement towards a green economy also promotes equitable growth [7].

Furthermore, article justifies the shifting to a green economy could be seen as a pathway to sustainable

development, a journey rather than a destination. The nature of a ‘green economy’ sought after by a

developed or developing nation can vary greatly, depending on its geographical confines, its natural

resource base, its human and social capital, and its stage of economic development. What does not

change however are its key tenets – of targeting improved human well-being and social equity, whilst

reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities [7].

Measurements of green economy

Article summarizes wide range of indicators developed by UNEP which could be used to measure the

transition towards a green economy under three groups:

Economic indicators: for example, share of investments or the share of output and employment in sectors

that meet a sustainability standard, such as green GDP.

Environmental indicators: for example, resource use efficiency or pollution intensity at either the sectoral

or economy-wide level, for example, energy use/GDP, or water use/GDP

Aggregate indicators of progress and well-being: for example, macroeconomic aggregates to reflect

natural capital depreciation, including integrated environmental and economic accounting, or broader

interpretations of well-being beyond narrow definitions of per capita GDP.

Protect bio diversity

Article identifies the loss of biodiversity has caused some people to experience declining well-being, with

poverty in some social groups being exacerbated. If that loss continues it may also compromise the long

term ability of ecosystems to regulate the climate and could lead to additional, unforeseen, and

potentially irreversible shifts in the earth system and changes in ecosystem services. Furthermore, article

identifies the ecosystem as a prime provider of a number of raw materials that serve as an engine for

economic development. For these reasons, the preservation and protection of ecosystems is at the heart

of the green economy agenda and green investments also aim at reducing the negative externalities

caused by the exploitation of natural capital [7].

Green economy and developing countries

Article describes the way to use green economic policies in developing countries to attain economic and

social gains on several fronts, such as through the deployment of cleaner energy technologies and

improved access to energy services; improved resource efficiency through investments in cleaner

production approaches; increased food security through the use of more sustainable agricultural

methods; and access to emerging new markets for their green goods and services. Article further

emphasizes on improvements in resource efficiency and in diversifying the energy matrix can reduce

import bills and protect a country from price volatility in energy markets, while reducing the

environmental footprint and associated health costs of economic activity.

Of course, each country must assess and evaluate its own resource endowment to determine how to best

optimize its opportunities for sustainable economic growth [7].

Governments and green economy

Article summarizes number of policies that national governments might consider adopting or

strengthening in order to stimulate green investment and enable a green economic transition, ranging

from regulatory and economic instruments to public-private partnerships and voluntary initiatives.

The relevance and efficacy of a particular policy is often highly dependent on the unique endowments and

capacities of the country considering the policy. One of the most direct ways for governments to promote

a green economy is through public finance and fiscal measures. For instance, public expenditure on

research and development can be an effective means of stimulating the innovation necessary to transition

to a green economy. In many developing countries where access to capital is limited, public investments

in a green economy are particularly important. Governments can also lead by example through the use

sustainable public procurement efforts that stimulate demand for green products and services [7].

According to the article governments can correct for negative externalities by ensuring that prices reflect

the actual costs of goods and services, including the environmental costs which are often not captured by

the market. The reform of harmful subsidies, such as many of the fishery and fossil fuel subsidies, and the

use of taxation instruments, such as levies on pollution, are key policy interventions available to many

governments. A legal framework that facilitates green economic activity and regulates harmful forms of

production and consumption is also necessary. Building the capacity of governments and other

stakeholders, as well as promoting actions that increase public support for change, may also be required

in the transition to a green economy [7].

Principles for a Green Economy

1. Equitable distribution of wealth

Promote the equitable distribution of wealth within nations and among nations, to reduce disparities

between rich and poor, and achieve social and economic justice, within a sustainable and fair share of the

world’s resources and leaving sufficient space for wildlife and wilderness.

2. Economic equity and fairness

Guided by the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, create economic partnerships that

would transfer substantial financial and technological assistance to less developed countries, to help

minimize the gap between the developed and developing world and support the environmental

sustainability of both.

3. Intergenerational Equity

Environmental resources and ecosystems must be carefully managed and safeguarded so as to enhance

the value of environmental assets for future generations, thereby equitably meeting their needs and

allowing them to flourish.

4. Precautionary Approach

Science should be utilized to enhance social and environmental outcomes, through the identification of

environmental risk. Scientific uncertainty of environmental impacts shall not lead to avoidance of

measures to prevent environmental degradation. The ‘burden of proof’ should lie with those claiming that

there will not be significant environmental impacts

5. The Right to Development

Human development in harmony with the environment is fundamental to the achievement of sustainable

development, so that individuals and societies are empowered to achieve positive social and

environmental outcomes.

6. Internalization of Externalities

Building true social and environmental value should be the central goal of policy. To this end, market

prices must reflect real social and environmental costs and benefits, so that that the polluter bears the

cost of pollution. Tax regimes and regulatory frameworks should be used to ‘tilt the playing field’, making

‘good’ things cheap and ‘bad’ things very expensive.

7. International Cooperation

The application of environmental standards within nation States must be undertaken in a cooperative

manner with the international community, based on an understanding of the possible impact on the

development potential of other States. Environmental measures [8]

Digital Home Garden - a cluster of small farmer groups with a group based management system

Group based business management system is currently recognized as one of the sustainable agricultural

approach for developing green business. This management structure provides structure for shared

governance, legal means to shield individuals, framework for managing the investments cash flows and

profits of new income generating production or market related enterprises. Group based management

forms to consumer direct marketing and the extension of farm enterprises in to value added processing.

Furthermore, being a part of group based business allows farmers to access appropriate expertise in

diverse areas of need. Organization could enjoy most of the tax benefits of a corporative without all of

the red tapes by forming a limited liability corporation (from class notes).

As discussed earlier with the increment of population land area under home gardens could also be

increased. Still little interest has been shown to quantify the contribution of home gardens for the

National GDP. On the other hand bio diversity of the environment has been reduced drastically due to

selective cultivation of few food crops over large farm lands.

Home gardening has a possibility of promoting and educating people to consume higher number of food

varieties instead few selected varieties where people tend to grow higher number of edible food items

including neglected traditional food and medicinal plants. Under this cultivation program fences around

the home gardens could be re designed to have edible plants. Thus, there is a possibility of increasing bio

diversity and reestablishing lost food chains within the biosphere, atmosphere and the lithosphere with

home garden cultivation approach. Digital Home Garden is formed with a group based management

strategy to utilize home garden land area efficiently for eco conscious farming and to improve the

livelihood of mankind while safeguarding the natural eco systems for future generations. System

administration will be conducted based on ecopreneureshp initiatives [9].

Ecopreneureship

Ecopreneureship could be simply defined as putting purpose and the planet before profits. In the

emerging restoration economy people are realizing the unsustainability of free market or the global

economy where 5% of the world population uses 25% of global resources and produces 40% of global

waste and pollution. In order to address this scenario new sense of value is immerging based on fair trade

and ecological senility. Ecopreneureship identifies environmental innovations and markets and

contributes towards sustainable society.

Vision Statement

To apply system thinking approach for maximize profits and utilize home garden natural recourses

optimally.

Mission Statement

Practice green economic principles and maintain quality standards by reducing toxic dispersion, material

intensity of goods and services, energy intensity of goods and services, enhance material recyclability to

provide high quality home grown fruits vegetable and medicinal resources for pre defined customers

while improving bio diversity within the home garden to safeguard eco systems locally as well as

internationally.

Profile

Administration

Administration work of the Digital Home Garden will be based on seven principles of the green marketing.

Products of the Digital Home Garden are designed considering the impact of nature, vendors and

employees. When pricing products, premium goes to nature considering the return on environment. Place

of the business will be the showcase of the business to the society. Promotion and advertising programs

scheduled to spread the uniqueness of the business via customers. Purchasing will not be just another

transaction with green marketing principles adapted by the Digital Home Garden and it will be a different

experience of service where any time consumer could question about the product and services.

Digital Home Garden builds up partnership with other non profit organizations for related marketing

exercises and letting consumers to feel the passion and purpose of the business with authentic and

performing real deal (Class notes).

Action committee

Action committee of the Digital Home Garden will be formed by putting open advertisement on national

and international papers. Expertise will be recruited for green business management, crop production and

processing, energy management, waste management, eco tourism, transport and logistics, information

and telecommunication, disciplines considering the educational and industrial experience in relevant

fields.

In order to build up awareness of eco conscious approach and green development approaches several

meetings will be conducted using video conferencing technology with interested personnel. Those who

agree upon terms and conditions of the Digital Home Garden will be recruited for the action committee.

Memorandum of understanding will be signed with the action committee for profit sharing and other

administrative issues.

Virtual Office concept

Digital Home Garden will not have conventional office space and day to day routine work. Instead it will

have a web space where everybody works at home connected to a target oriented and progress

monitoring system. This will reduce the building rental cost, energy cost, most of the paper work,

transportation cost and Digital Home Garden will have very low carbon foot print compared to similar

business ventures. All meetings and discussions will be carryout via video conferencing technology.

Monthly action committee meeting will be held at randomly selected place belong to a consumer or a

producer and opportunity will be granted to the action committee to meet some of the consumers and

producers to discuss their problems and expected solutions. This approach will help business to be more

social and sensitive to needs of the consumers and producers rather than the action committee.

Fixed and mobile asserts

Digital Home Garden will have five purchasing and packaging centers at five exit points along the high way

with cool room and fruits and vegetable processing facilities. All buildings will be designed by considering

energy efficient aspects. Five container vehicles having GPS vehicle tracking system with refrigeration

facilities will be purchased for transporting fresh fruits and vegetables.

Maintenance of fixed and mobile assets

For five packaging centers, one watcher, five laborers and two quality controllers will be recruited. Two

out of five laborers will be trained to construct bio gas plants and other waste management techniques.

Parking facilities for five container vehicles will be given at each packaging center. GPS based vehicle

tracking system will help to manage vehicles effectively with minimum abuse.

Drivers recruited for these vehicles are responsible for maintenance of these vehicles. Facilities will be

arranged for drivers to do their routine maintenance works at Digital Home Garden approved service

centers. All transactions will be electronically managed. Every worker will receive a code of ethics to work

and this code of ethics will be developed after consulting the workers and getting contribution form them

to have a sustainable business while improving their livelihood.

Area of interest

Digital Home Garden will be operated along the Gale Colombo high way with an intention to expand along

proposed network of high ways in Sri Lanka.

Internationalization

International collaboration will be exploited having same area of interest with similar administrative setup

in selected countries based on the interest shown by expertise from other countries.

Consumers

Consumers will be selected based on the purchasing power and interest shown over the Digital Home

Garden package initially from highly urbanized areas in Sri Lanka. Every consumer must have computer

with internet facility and will be registered in the Digital Home Garden database with a geo referenced ID.

Consumers are classified in to different market segments based on their purchasing power and similar to

one another and device marketing strategies that appeal to the segment (class notes). Purchasing orders

have to place two days prior to the delivery date via internet to the Digital Home Garden database.

Consumers will be trained to have eco sensitive lifestyles and to practice green consumerism to re think

of true value of health, recognize the importance of environmental protection to the sustainability of

humans, improve the surrounding environment, re think of consumption ways of natural resources (class

notes).

Producers

Producers or home growers will be selected within three kilometers from the Gale Colombo high way,

based on the land availability, location, and interest shown over the Digital Home Garden package.

Producers must have computer and internet facility at their homes.

They will also registered in the Digital Home Garden database with a geo referenced ID. Producers are

trained to produce environmentally sensitive products under green marketing concept.

Product delivery system

A survey will be carrying out to identify convenient locations for consumers to collect their stuff and

delivery will be planed accordingly. Based on the consumer request, individual production plan will be

sent to producers via electronic mail. Producer will receive electronic mail when and where necessary to

harvest requested amount from requested crops from their home garden. Producers will have to bring

their products to the nearest purchasing and packaging center. Digital Home Garden will provide

necessary packing materials with the producer ID to the producer and he or she has to pack quantities as

instructed by the Digital Home Garden. Consumers will have powers to question directly form the

producer about the quality of the staff delivered to them. Individuals having excess space which could be

used as temporary storage maximum for one day will be recruited for the marketing program. Appropriate

remuneration will be arranged for the service provided by them. Consumers will be informed via

electronic mail about the delivery. Internet based credit transfer system will be introduced to consumers

with the collaboration of leading banks. With this method pre paid delivery system could be easily

arranged. Consumers will have to feed back the receipt of their order via electronic mail.

Producer Ecosystem management

Digital Home Garden identifies the producer home gardens as the basic production unit of the system.

Producers will be trained to have eco consciousness and produce organic products from their home

gardens. Eco labeling concept will be introduced to them and encourage them to produce quality products

to have better prices while contributing to the sustainability of the natural eco systems.

Crop production and planning

Identification of producer segments – Producer home gardens will be categorized in to production zones

based on the consumer requirements and the capacity of production

Crop selection – Crops for home gardening will be selected based on the interest shown by consumers,

climatic and soil conditions of the home garden.

Crop management – Fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants are organically grown. Based on the consumer

requirements production plan is developed for each and every producer zone by the director board

matching the consumer requests and producer capabilities.

Number of producers will be determined considering the number and requirement of produce from

consumer zones. Producers will train to use computer with internet facilities, and will be asked to up load

crop data in to the database for planning purposes. Since producer locations are geo referenced with ID,

production planers could visualized the spatial distribution of crops that are grown, maturity stage of the

crop, harvesting date and expected harvest etc. Furthermore, spatial distribution of amount of organic

fertilizers added, dieses out brakes, extent grown, could also be visualized and data could be used for

product optimization.

Planting and harvesting dates – One production zone will receive common planting and harvesting dates

to synchronize with the consumer requirement.

Harvesting packing and delivering – Manual harvesting will be practiced and harvested products will be

directly collected to Digital Home Garden provided harvesting packs. After the harvesting, products will

be packed again according to given instructions from the Digital Home Garden in to retail level packets

(250g, 500g, and one kilogram) provided by the Digital Home Garden . Appropriate hygienic conditions

will be maintained through out the harvesting and packing procedures. Produce will have to transport to

the nearest purchasing and packaging center by the producer.

Purchasing and packaging center – Individual consumer level packing will be done at the purchasing center

using producer packs under the supervision of the quality controller. Considering the delivery route,

consumer packs will be stored inside the delivery container vehicle. Producers will have to assist this work

and team work approach will be practiced to complete the task. Fruits that have been purchased to

prepare jams and fresh fruit juices will be processed at the purchasing center under the supervision of a

food and beverage quality controller and consumer orders will be incorporated in to individual consumer

packs.

Credit transferring system

Electronic credit transferring system will be introduced to every purchasing center and operation

responsibility will be given to quality controllers. With the completion of purchasing, credit will be

transferred to producer accounts. Credit card facility will be introduced with the collaboration of reputed

banks to all producers for their personal use.

Indigenous technology applications

Action committee will be looking to exploit all possible indigenous technology applications to improve the

home garden production process and selection of crops based on traditional nutritive values with a view

to Ayurvedic living stile. Awareness programs will be conducted via video conferencing with consumers

about today fast food culture over traditional food consumption patterns and health benefits.

Energy management

Energy management – In order to have flexible, diverse and mix of energy supply, solar power, bio gas

technology and wind power will be used as alternative energy sources in all consumer and producer

locations including purchasing centers. Awareness programs and assistance will be provided to all

consumers and producers to have alternative energy sources. This will ensure the system approach to

design a soft energy path and build up eco sensitive business development approach from both producer

and consumer ends.

Waste Management and recycling

Appropriate waste management and recycling techniques will be introduced under the supervision of the

action committee for both consumer end and producer end levels. Digital Home Garden laborers trained

for bio gas technology and other water management techniques will be used to introduce the technology

among producers and consumers.

Resource sharing

With the supervision of the action committee, awareness programs will be conducted to build up

awareness about the importance of redefining wealth for the betterment of the future generations.

Awareness among consumers and producers will be developed about importance of well being and

contribution to regeneration of natural eco systems. Furthermore, consumers having high income levels

will be introduced to low income level producer families to share resources among students to upgrade

educational background of the low income level producer families.

Digital Home Garden will run a special program to share land resources with producers. Under this

program a consumer who has unutilized lands could be handover to producers under the supervision of

the Digital Home Garden. Digital Home Garden will sign a memorandum of understanding between

consumer and the producer for this purpose to avoid any legal disputes over profits and release back of

lands under cultivation when it is requested by the owner.

Research and Development

Action committee will conduct field level research and development activities to find new crop production

programs with a view to Ayurvedic life style which will introduce back to consumers to avoid over

consumption of selective crops and promote consumption of large number of food verities in small

quantities.

This trend will drive producers to grow large number of food crop varieties rather than few selected crops

and this approach will enhance the bio diversity of the natural eco systems. Furthermore, research will be

conducted to find appropriate waste management techniques and recycling techniques to enhance the

quality of consumer eco systems and producer eco systems. Research and development work in energy

sector will also be conducted to introduce appropriate energy management techniques for both

consumers and producers.

Business ecology and Information and telecommunication

Business ecology initiative has a mission to move the industry to successfully developed state by delivering

actionable architecture for optimizing the industry. Business ecology initiative recognizes the Information

technology which helps to optimize the business process in an every approach (class notes). A database

will be prepared using latest WEBGIS applications facilitating two way data communication and

downloadable applets [10]. Server based and client base technologies will be adapted to improve the data

communication among consumers, producers and the Digital Home Garden. Database will be prepared

and managed by the action committee of the Digital Home Garden.

Placing orders by consumers, sending production information to producers, requesting products, crop

production and planning, money transactions via internet banking facilities, conducting awareness

programs, action committee meetings, group discussions will be done based on the internet and the

database facilities.

Consumer Ecosystem management

Digital Home Garden will consider the consumer living areas as an eco system which has to be

continuously upgraded and maintained for the betterment of urban eco systems. Awareness programs

will be conducted about precision agricultural techniques, energy management techniques and waste

management and recycling techniques to manage and utilize available resources optimally. Separate

purchasing program will be carryout to purchase urban home garden production and marketing.

Eco tourism

Digital Home Garden will look in to possibilities of conducting eco tourism program to cater to local and

foreign tourists. Hotels buildings will be constructed following green building construction procedures.

Tourists will be allowed to get first hand experience about village life and organic farming. Self cooking

facilities will be provided at cottages with harvesting fields.

Case study for one single operation

Consumer location – Bambalapitiya

Producer location - Gale

Based on the observations about consumer orders and positive producers made by responsible action

committee member, product requirement will be prepared and send to positive producers directly.

Producers will have to confirm the possibility of supplying the requested order with the delivery date to

the purchasing center. When the date is fixed, quality controllers and laborers will arrive early in the

morning and start purchasing at each purchasing centers. Simultaneously, individual customer orders will

also packed and prepare for transportation. Consumer packs will be stored in the container vehicle

considering the unloading order. Delivery route will also be sent to container drivers for delivery and

delivery will be done same day to the temporary storage providers allowing consumers to collect their

packs at any convenient time.

Advantage of the system

Postharvest losses could be minimized with the present harvesting, packaging and delivering system

where attention is given and maintained through out the production and delivery line.

Low carbon foot print could be visible in all activities starting from the producers end to consumer end.

Produces do not use any form of agro chemicals for their cultivation purposes and they practice waste

management and recycling processes with energy management strategies for their day to day lives as well

as production processes.

Consumers also concern about the well being of them selves and practice eco consciousness and help to

safeguard the eco systems by avoiding excess consumption.

Administrative system is based on the internet based virtual office concept. This approach also helps to

maintain a low carbon foot print by minimizing energy waste, paper waste, rental cost etc. workers are

given full freedom and trained them to work for a target with progress monitoring system. Money

transactions are electronically handled to avoid any delay and misuse.

Produces are growing large number of fruits and vegetable verities in their home gardens contributing to

increase bio diversity of the natural eco systems.

Reference:

1. Gunasena. C.P. 2012, My philosophical thinking, unpublished data.

2. Keefer. J.E 2013, Professor Julia Evergreen Keefer's Multidisciplinary Web Sites,

http://www.nyu.edu/classes/keefer/nature/green.html , Visited on May 23, 2013,

3. Yale, 2013, Global Financial Crisis, Publication of Yale Center for the Study of Globalization,

http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/global-economic-crisis ,Visited on May 23, 2013,

4. The Japan times news, Climate change feared to create global food crisis Price shocks, swelling

populaces may bring political destabilization, 2013,

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/04/20/world/climate-change-feared-to-create-global-food-

crisis/#.UZ3MyqKnyDk ,Visited on May 23, 2013.

5. Olson. D, 2013, Biosphere conservation: monumental action is critical to avert global

environmental crisis, http://news.mongabay.com/2013/0520-olson-biosphere-conservation.html,

Visited on 23 May 2013.

6. Carrington D., 2012, Carbon bubble' could cause next global financial crisis, The Guardian April 22,

2013, http://news.mongabay.com/2013/0422-gen-carbon-bubble.html, Visited on May 23, 2013.

7. Green Economy, 2013, United Nations Environment Program,

http://www.unep.org/greeneconomy/AboutGEI/FrequentlyAskedQuestions/tabid/29786/language/en-

US/Default.aspx Visited on May 25, 2013 2013.

8. Stoddart. H, 2012, Principles of green Economy,

http://www.stakeholderforum.org/fileadmin/files/Principles%20FINAL%20LAYOUT.pdf Visited on May

25, 2013.

9. Gunasena C.P. 2012, Concept paper – Integration of Global School Community with Gross

Domestic Production Process via Home Gardening - A Green Approach , Unpublished data

10. Gunasena C.P, Navaratne C.M., 2006, “Development of working interface for the Nilwala river

basin to enhance resource mobilization”, Third Academic Sessions, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri

Lanka