Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty, advancing economic growth… these are one and the same fight. We must connect the dots between climate change, water scarcity, energy shortages, global health, food security and women’s empowerment. Solutions to one problem must be solutions for all. – Ban Ki-moo
All economic activities are based on natural resources. Any productive activity can deplete natural resources and cause environmental stress. Environmental degradation affects the poor more than anyone else. Poverty and environment are closely interrelated. People living in poverty are seldom the principal creators of such environmental damages. However they have to bear the brunt of environmental damages. They are often forced to further deplete the scant resources for their own survival, which leads to accelerated degradation of the environment. They are trapped in a vicious cycle, which impoverishes them further, pushing them into a downward spiral. At times of extreme conditions, they are forced to migrate to marginal and ecologically fragile lands or to cities.
NAMCO is of the view that any intervention to improve the environmental status would have deep and lasting impact on the lives and livelihoods of its communities. Therefore, NAMCO works towards protecting the environment from damages; mend already caused damages to the level of restoration and enhance people’s participation in the conservation efforts.