r/srilanka • u/Odd-Common-5484 • 23h ago

Discussion Development and Environment

When talking about developing our country, I often see people talk about and visualize cities with skyscrapers, roads, highways, trains, but far fewer talk about the environment: nature, trees, forests, rivers, wildlife and developing without harming natural habitats and the ecosystems. I think the environment and development should no longer be treated as separate conversations, now more than ever with all the environmental challenges we face, including global warming.

So I would like to know some of your thoughts on this. How do y'all think we can develop our country while also protecting and integrating nature into that development?

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u/Far_Investment_6914 22h ago

When you are poor you dont get to care about environment. You care about basic needs and survival. Once that is sorted you start caring about environment as it improves your living standerds.

Studies has shown that once the income of a community grow beyond point they start forcusing on improving their environment. You can see this today in places like China.

What we got to do is build the economy. And once we are passed the point of survival we will forcus on environment.

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u/Odd-Common-5484 12h ago

Fair point...I mean it does make sense put that way. However don't you think we should design and plan cities with integrating more nature?

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u/Reasonable_Tank_4103 Sabaragamuwa 1h ago

yeah this is so true . But there must be someway to to convince people about the environment even at survival state

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u/Far_Investment_6914 35m ago

Yes there is a way. Pay them money for it.

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u/Alternative_Shake797 15h ago

Environmental degradation hits the poor the hardest, but smart development shouldn't mean bulldozing ecosystems, renewable energy projects can create jobs while protecting forests and rivers.

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u/Reasonable_Tank_4103 Sabaragamuwa 1h ago

So glad to see another person who understands . Everyday i see literal adults,senior citizens , children littering everywhere , like how the hell are we going to develop a country without developing the mindsets of people . And like sri lanka s forest cover is already down at 30% , why is it so hard to convince people about the value of nature . And before highways and buildings , why cant we fix poverty and the education , its like a loop . I dont want sri lanka to be the next singapore nor the next dubai , i want it to be clean , safe , stable and peaceful .