Water for Sustainable Development: Addressing Water Issues in Sri Lanka
An article as appeared on Daily Mirror Newspaper dated on 23rd March, 2015
World Water Day 2015
Communities in the World celebrated World Water Day on 22nd of March. It’s an annual event and a day to celebrate water. It’s a day to make a difference for the members of the global population who suffer from water related issues and to think of the possible actions to overcome these issues and to have better water security for all of us. In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly designated 22nd of March as the first World Water Day. World Water Day is celebrated around the world shining the spotlight on a different issues every year.
In 2015, the theme for World Water Day is ‘Water and Sustainable Development’. It’s about how water links to all areas we need to consider to create the future we want. Water is the main pillar for sustainable development. Water is an essential resource for development. It gives range of other services such as health, food and energy. Water contributes to improvements in social well-being and inclusive growth, affecting the livelihoods of billions. Therefore water is the core of life. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared, as the perils of climate change increasingly threaten the planet, the international community must unite in “a spirit of urgent cooperation” to address the many water-related challenges facing humanity.
Present changes in the climate has a direct impact over the water availability and water quality. Rapid reduction of the ground water table is a major concern with regards to water availability and the impacts are significant in the dry areas. Impacts over agriculture is one other major concern of climate change and it has direct relationship with water availability.
Although our planet is called the blue planet because 70% of it is covered with water; there is only 1% of water available for our consumption. Let’s make this day to understand the value of water and to understand our individual responsibility to use and conserve water in an effective manner. Let us join together and protect the water resources to sustain life on earth for us and for our future.
For more details;
http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday
Are Fertilizers Required in Rubber Plantation?
An article as appeared on Daily Mirror newspaper dated on 20th March, 2015
The Fascinating World of Lichens
Lichens – these mysterious organisms have fascinated people for years. Not a plant, not a fungus, but a surprisingly elegant combination of the two. Our Secretariat staff spent a day delving into the enchanting world of lichens as we learnt their basic ecology, identification, and natural history during a workshop organized by our initiating Patron Member Dilmah Conservation at the SLFI on 11th March 2015.
“Be a lichen…..lichens break things down and make them better” was an apt takeaway from Prof. Sarath W Kotagama’s address at the book launch of “Fascinating Lichens of Sri Lanka” authored by environmentalist and lichenologist, Dr Gothamie Weerakoon. This latest Dilmah Conservation publication is all about lichens – a simple slow growing micro-organism that can hardly be called a sought after subject. Yet lichens are a cheap measure of city pollution whilst those growing in pristine forests have medicinal value too. Only a few hundred lichens are known to occur in Sri Lanka to-date. But the presence of 3000-4000 varieties are estimated to be present in the country. With more research and field study, Sri Lanka could easily become a lichen hotspot – already a hotspot for the Graphidacea family.
The workshop which followed the book launch gave insights into the “History of Botanical Gardens in Sri Lanka and its Services”. Dr Gothamie Weerakoon and Ms. Pat Wolseley then explained lichen diversity and their role in ecosystems. “Lichen and Chemistry” described the chemistry behind lichens and how they are used to produce new chemicals and drugs for human usage. Mr. Andre Aptroot demonstrated how different types of lichens are identified using various techniques and methods, some of which were demonstrated to the 20 participants from universities and organizations that attended the workshop.
A highlight of the day was learning that a new species of lichen, Heterodermia queensberryi, has been named after Dilmah’s Queensberry Estate in Nawalapitiya, where it was discovered by Dr. Gothamie Weerakoon, with the support of Dilmah Conservation. Thus far, this species has only been observed on smooth tree bark in high mountane forests in Sri Lanka.
American & Efird Lanka Named Winner at Sustainability Reporting Awards
American & Dfird Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd. won the ACCA Sustainability reporting award 2014 under “General Services & Utility” Category.
Pls find below link for paper publication on ‘Sunday Leader’:
http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2015/03/08/american-efird-lanka-named-winner/
Wildlife Wonders! It’s Everyone’s Mission to Save Unique Species from Extinction
An article as appeared on “Daily News” newspaper dated on 03rd of March 2015
Today is World Wildlife Day: Conserve Wildlife- Heritage for the Future
An article as appeared on the “Daily Mirror” Newspaper
China’s Wild Panda: Population up nearly 17 Percent
An article as appeared on “Daily News” paper dated on 03rd of March 2015
Emerging Food Standards: A Cause of Concern for Sri Lankan Tea Industry
An article as appeared on Daily Mirror Newspaper dated on 02nd of March 2015
