Compendium of Best Biodiversity Practices in the Plantations Sector- SLBBP
During the period when Sri Lanka was a British colony, large tracts of forest lands were converted to monocultures. These forests which once provided habitats to numerous species were converted to commercialized tea plantations. With population growth and shrinking forest cover, the biodiversity of the lands which were converted in to tea plantations have been degraded and threatened at a drastic rate.
It was bought to our attention that in response to this issue, several of the contemporary plantations management companies, have taken various steps, trying their best at conserving and enhancing the remaining forest patches within their plantations. Some of them have been recognized to possess commendable stories woven around the various biodiversity conservation initiatives they have undertaken and are being implemented. We believe that these stories need to be published and provided as much publicity as possible, in achieving one of the SL B&B Platform’s key objectives; to promote national cooperation and the exchange of ideas and information.
Being aware of the significant contribution that has been made by the Plantations sector in the management and conservation of biodiversity within their land holdings, the SL B&B Platform has begun putting together a Compendium of Best Biodiversity Practices from within the sector. Through this collection of stories, the SL B&B Platform hopes that there will be a lot of learning that will result, and possibly the sector could see the replication and adaptation of certain activities, that will work more towards the sustainable management and conservation of our valuable biodiversity heritage through the Plantations sector – a key stakeholder from within Sri Lanka’s private sector.
If you are a responsible plantations management company with a demonstrable story on one of your plantations with regard to good biodiversity conservation practice which you feel is worth being published, please contact our Projects and Communications Coordinator on 94.11.558.8843 or write to [email protected].
Beyond Zero Emissions Forum on Sept 17 – DAILY NEWS :Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Beyond Zero Emissions Forum on Sept 17
The Sri Lanka Business and Biodiversity (SL B&B) Platform of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), in collaboration with the Federation of Environmental Organizations, Eco-V and Journeys for Climate Justice, is organizing a joint forum.
It is titled ‘Beyond Zero Emissions: A Practical Approach to Combating Climate Change in Sri Lanka’on of September 17, 2015 from 5pm onwards to be held at the Ground Floor West Wing of the CCC in Colombo 02.
Dr. Stephen Bygrave, CEO of Beyond Zero Emissions, the Australian think tank, will address the audience with a keynote, which will be followed by a panel discussion to be moderated by Dr. Ananda Mallawatantri, Country Representative of IUCN Sri Lanka. The invited panelists are Dr. Sunimal Jayathunga, Director of the Climate Change Secretariat, AvanthiJayathilake, CEO of EML Consultants (Pvt.) Ltd., ChanakaWickramasuriya, Managing Partner of Ironwood Capital Partners, Jude Kasturiarachchi, Director, Jetwing Hotels Ltd. and SrilalMiththapala, Consultant Business Development for LTL Holdings (Pvt.) Ltd.
The objective of this event being put together primarily for a private sector audience,a key stakeholder in the global movement towards zero carbon emissions and beyond – is to identify and share best practice solutions that are currently available and are being practically implemented in different parts of the world. This event will be of utmost benefit to those private sector entities who are striving to reduce their emissions and contribute towards the national effort of combating climate change through various industry sectors such as energy, transportation, construction, agriculture and forestry.
More information on the event and registration can be obtained by writing to [email protected] or [email protected].
