Colombo Wetland Guardians

Introduction
Colombo Wetland Guardians is a youth-focused initiative that engages young leaders living around Colombo’s wetlands to deepen their understanding of these vital ecosystems while providing a platform to share ideas and take action to protect and conserve them.

Key Activities & Highlights

The project engaged youth through hands-on, experiential learning activities that brought wetlands to life. Participants joined guided wetland trails, observing birds, animals, trees, and aquatic plants in their natural habitats while also collecting garbage and litter—actively contributing to conservation efforts. 

Interactive learning sessions at Beddegana Wetland Park, led by expert wetland educators Narmadha Dangampola and Dr. Chethika Gunasiri, helped participants understand how wetlands function and why they are vital for both people and nature. A key highlight was a collaborative session where youth explored major wetland threats, examined their root causes, and identified practical solutions. Many proposed innovative approaches such as social media awareness campaigns and gamification to encourage environmental action. 

Throughout the project, educators and facilitators fostered curiosity, discussion, and reflection, creating a supportive space for youth learning and leadership. 

Impact & Outcomes

All four planned workshops were successfully completed, engaging 126 youth leaders through surveys and interactive sessions. Participants shared their perspectives, ideas, and experiences related to wetlands and conservation. Notably, 93.2% reported that they now understand Colombo’s wetlands much better than before. 

Alongside enhancing knowledge and capacity, the project revealed key ways to actively engage youth in wetland conservation. 

Next Steps
Building on this momentum, a social media campaign aligned with World Wetlands Day 2026 will be launched in February. The Love a Tree Foundation website, also launching in late February, will feature a youth blog section to amplify young voices in wetland conservation. In addition, survey findings are being developed into a practical toolkit to support wetland managers and educators in designing more youth-centered, engaging education programs.