- WNPS monthly lecture to be held on 21 July
Aggravated consequences of Covid-19 and haphazard policy decisions, exacerbated by an ongoing economic crisis, are now threatening the survival of the Sri Lankan population. This is resulting in the decision makers turning towards short-term solutions that produce quick results without considering the long-term impacts that it would have on the wellbeing of the local communities.
One such desultory decision is to release all the lands within protected areas or designated for protection for the purpose of increasing cultivation. Nearly half of Sri Lanka’s land area (45.4% in 2018) is already utilised for agriculture consisting predominantly of paddy, plantation crops, home gardens, chena (slash and burn) cultivations. Agricultural extent has increased at a rate of 43% between 2000 and 2018.
These forests also display a high degree of endemism and consequently, Sri Lanka, along with Western Ghats, is identified as one of the 35 global biodiversity hotspots. Although generally underestimated due to the indirect, intangible benefits provided, the total annual economic value of main ecosystem services provided by forest ecosystems has been estimated to range from $3.5 billion to $138.8 billion.
The question, therefore, arises as to whether the principles of conservation have to be compromised for the sake of the food requirements of
Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda is a biodiversity scientist who has published widely on Sri Lanka’s fauna and flora. He has more than 60 research papers to his credit, in addition to authoring several books on Sri Lanka’s fauna and flora through the Wildlife Heritage Trust (WHT), a foundation he endowed in 1991. Dr. Pethiyagoda is also an editor of the journal Zootaxa, has headed several State entities, served as Environment Advisor to the Government, and serves as Deputy Chair of the Species Survival Commission. He has won wide international recognition for his work, including a Rolex Award and more recently the Linnaean Medal, which is considered the Nobel Prize for Naturalists, at a ceremony hosted in London.
Prof. Devaka Weerakoon is a strong education professional with a PhD in biological science from Illinois State University and a demonstrated history of working in the higher education sector for over three decades. He is skilled in conservation biology, sustainable development, environmental science, ecology, human-wildlife conflict, and wetland management. In addition, he is a Trustee of the Federation of Environmental Organisations (FEO), and is a former Hon. Editor of Loris, the Journal of the WNPS (Wildlife and Nature Protection Society).
The Nations Trust WNPS Public Lecture is presented in association with Nations Trust Bank and open to all. Join the discussion via Zoom or Facebook Live.