Hemas Holdings and WNPS partner on a broader environmental agenda
Sri Lanka is bountiful in many things, not least of which is its biodiversity. It is home to over 350 endemic species covering the gamut of plant and animal kingdoms. However, our relationship with our natural resources – and our planet – leaves a lot to be desired. Increased human activity is leading to increasingly-pronounced habitat loss, endangering Sri Lanka’s animal and plant life.
Protecting these valuable resources is something that requires action from everyone, from the State to the individual. Corporates too have a huge role to play. With the resources and networks they have at their disposal, they are able to make great waves of change across their businesses and the communities they work with.
Hemas Holdings PLC understands the power of such a role and last month, in partnership with the Wildlife and Nature Preservation Society Sri Lanka (WNPS), it launched its Group Environmental Agenda 2030 ‘Haritha Mehewara’ – a long-term commitment to protect and conserve the island’s critically-endangered endemic species through necessary actions and interventions. ‘Haritha Mehewara’ will understand and carry out necessary interventions to protect over 50 critically-endangered species in Sri Lanka.
Landmark conservation partnerships such as this will form an integral part of Sri Lanka’s way forward to effecting meaningful conservation, and so, The Sunday Morning Brunch chatted with Hemas Holdings PLC Group Sustainability and Corporate Communications Head Ishani Ranasinghe and WNPS President Jehan CanagaRetna for more on how these two institutions will be collaborating to protect our biodiversity’s future.
Following are excerpts of the interview:
Tell us about the roots of this partnership between Hemas Holdings and the WNPS – how did it come about?
Ishani: The Hemas Group has in place a sound Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy that focuses on the minimisation and mitigation of the Group’s environmental footprint and creating an inclusive world while championing equality and diversity in our workforce and society.
As a part of our Environmental strategy, while the Group looked at its own operations, we wanted to understand how we can have a long-term positive impact on the environment. We then realised that Sri Lanka is a country that is a treasure trove of endemic species, with over 1,900 endemic species covering the gamut of plant and animal kingdoms. However, due to an increase in human activity leading to habitat loss, the animal and plant life that is endemic to Sri Lanka remains under threat.
In the recent past, Hemas has been working with the WNPS on other projects, and given their expertise in this area and their commitment, we wanted to partner with them to understand the interventions needed to protect some of these critically endangered species.
Jehan: The Hemas Group and WNPS have been in partnership with regard to two key projects – a longer-term project on mangrove regeneration and a more short-term project on endemic conservation of 25 smaller endemics around the country. The initial partnership with WNPS commenced in 2019.
The idea for both organisations was to understand each other’s capabilities and the scientific knowledge of the WNPS team along with the execution of the WNPS team. This project is in its final stages but the work done by WNPS demonstrated to Hemas that we could deliver. Hemas Lead Corporate Affairs Janakie Karunaratne took the initiative to connect with WNPS to start our journey with Hemas.
Why is it important for Hemas to take a stand and develop and launch an environmental agenda?
Ishani: As a responsible Sri Lankan corporate citizen, we must care for and protect what is uniquely Sri Lankan so that future generations can also benefit from being part of this rich ecosystem that we possess.
Our Group Environmental Agenda ‘Haritha Mehewara’ is a long-term commitment to protect all Sri Lankan endemism. As a part of these efforts, we will focus on conserving the island’s critically endangered endemic species through necessary actions and interventions.
Through our environmental agenda, we will work towards raising awareness and championing advocacy through partnerships to safeguard our environment, actively pursue the use of natural resources in a responsible manner, limit the impact of our operations, and reduce the use of plastics that are harmful to the environment. Our intention is to have all our initiatives and interventions result in the protection of endangered endemic species in Sri Lanka
How will this partnership take place practically?
Jehan: Initially, WNPS is working with Prof. Sampath Seneviratne as the Lead Scientist on this project. Professor Sampath, whilst heading the Zoology Department of the University of Colombo, also serves on the Committee of WNPS. Initially, the team under Prof Sampath’s mentoring will identify the critically-endemic species through the IUCN 2020 National List and the IUCN Global List of Threatened Species and then work out a plan and timeframe to work on conserving these critically-endemic species.
It has been identified that there are 52 critically-endemic species. At this stage, work being done is to come up with a work plan for the conservation of these species and each year, 10 such species will be chosen along with educational specialists of those critically-endangered endemics to conserve them. Taking that equation into account, five years will be the minimum length of the project.
As the agenda is still in the research stage and understanding actions to be taken, have any species conservation protocols or other conservation action plans been determined?
Jehan: Plans are being made. We will need to form collaborations with experts on the 10 critically-endangered species we have chosen as the first year plan. These experts will comprise professors, naturalists, and other similar experts who are renowned for their research work. By the end of this year (2022), WNPS will come up with a plan on how the initial 10 chosen critically-endangered species conservation will be determined along with a physical action plan.
At the moment, we are looking at the conservation of 52 critically-endangered species as recommended by the WNPS team which falls under the IUCN Red List. Once we identify the intervention required, we will formulate the next steps working with the WNPS team, which might include the adoption of particular species by our business units.
Why is it important for corporates like Hemas and organisations like WNPS to join forces?
Ishani: As a Sri Lankan company, Hemas is best placed to care for and nurture what is of value to Sri Lanka. However, considering the factors that are threatening the environment, this is not a task that can be done alone. It needs to be done in a systematic manner, instead of on an ad hoc basis.
There is a lot of research and understanding involved in this process and it’s important we find the right partners with the right knowledge and commitment to take a project forward. We both bring a set of unique values to the table – WNPS has the research and knowhow whilst Hemas has the bandwidth and determination to make a long-term positive impact, so we see that we can partner for good.
Jehan: Hemas Holdings as a corporate leader has raised its hand to make a difference in our Society and ecosystem. It believes that Sri Lankan corporates must care for and protect our unique biodiversity, which created its Group Environmental Agenda for 2030. This is a sustainable commitment to protect and conserve our biodiversity and endemism through actions and interventions that are badly needed.
Other corporations too must take this extraordinary leadership example of Hemas and work out their own environmental agendas. It should not be just talk; it should be action.
What is the larger vision for the agenda?
Ishani: Overall, through the agenda we want to protect all that is Sri Lankan and ensure that our operations have a minimum impact on the environment. We want to ensure that we leave our island in a better place and stop the extinction of species through our interventions. We want to bring in innovations that leave the least negative impact while giving our best by way of products and services.
Jehan: The future of our world’s wildlife and conservation will depend on us humans. Sri Lanka is no better. With global warming and severe climate change all over the world, it is important to protect what we have. Hemas in partnership with WNPS is taking a bold initiative to protect our critically-endangered endemics. This is a huge step in the direction we should be heading and it is heartening to see a large corporation like Hemas take the extra step to provide a future for the next generations. I hope other corporations too see this as a stepping stone to protect our world.
There is a lot of work that needs to be done now, in the present, to see a better future in 10 or 15 years. Our country is being environmentally ravaged and the parties concerned must do their fair share to save our environment.
We owe it to our future generations to conserve. The project is a stepping stone in the right direction and an action-packed start on the road to endemism recovery.