It’s Good News! A potential comeback for the big cat in the Year of the Tiger
Picture credits: World Wildlife Fund
In a tremendous turning point for a species on the brink of extinction, the global tiger population has stabilized and potentially increased, according to the latest International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species Assessment, led by Panthera, the global wild cat conservation organization. New data suggests a potential 40% increase in tiger numbers, from 3,200 in 2015 to 4,500 in 2022, despite extreme threats. Signaling a potential comeback for the big cat in the Year of the Tiger, this represents the first potential climb in the species’ numbers in decades.
Panthera Chief Scientist and Tiger Program Director, Dr. John Goodrich, stated, “While a monumental amount of protection and funding are still needed before proclaiming ‘mission accomplished,’ these numbers signal previously incomprehensible stability in the global tiger population, and even increases in some protected areas. This is nothing short of a watershed moment in the history of the species, made even more remarkable given the overwhelming threats tigers face at every turn.”
Mother tiger (T-19 Krishna) & cubs in Ranthambhore national park, India.
Picture credits: World Wildlife Fund
Goodrich continued, “Protected area population increases in India, Nepal, and Thailand are particularly encouraging as they demonstrate that the recipe for saving tigers can be tailored and replicated across the species’ range. If progress continues as it has in the last decade, I fully expect tigers to be reclassified as ‘Vulnerable’ by the next IUCN Red List Assessment in seven to ten years.”
The IUCN’s latest assessment estimates between 3,726 – 5,578 wild tigers remain in Asia, with an average of 4,500 individuals; 3,140 of the 4,500 are estimated to be adult tigers. Representing 76% of the global tiger population, South Asia’s tigers are gaining numbers, particularly in India and Nepal from where new population estimates are expected any day. In Northeast Asia, numbers are relatively stable in Russia and likely increasing along the border with China. Of all regions, however, Southeast Asia’s tigers are faring the worst, with tigers having been lost from Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Vietnam since the turn of the century.
Panthera scientists cautioned that although new data suggest more tigers exist in the wild than previously estimated, this is partly due to improvements in or a more complete counting of the species, which has made population comparisons over time unreliable. As recently as 15 years ago, scientists were forced to make educated guesses about tiger numbers, but with the invention of and subsequent advances in camera trap technology, genetic testing, data modeling, government collaboration, and more, rangers tracking tigers have vastly improved monitoring efforts.
Inconsistent monitoring methods by tiger range states have produced false positive population increases as well. Previous IUCN assessments, including that led by Panthera, have also incorporated highly conservative population estimates or underestimates, nearly guaranteeing increases in future tiger population estimates. Still, the 2022 IUCN Assessment is now the most reliable and scientifically sound estimate of tigers ever conducted and serves as the first reasonable baseline against which scientists can measure future changes in the global tiger population.
Sri Lankan Airlines pays homage to mother nature on World Environment Day
SriLankan Airlines delighted passengers with the exotic, lush sounds of Sri Lankan nature and wildlife that were played onboard all it flights operated on World Environment Day 2022.
Drawing inspiration from UNEP’s global theme #OnlyOneEarth celebrating the 50th Anniversary of World Environment Day, SriLankan was perhaps the world’s only airline to treat passengers to sounds of nature at 30,000 feet above ground, where they would least expect to hear bird calls or whale whistles, on this special day.
SriLankan sourced sound emulations of several natural heritage sites in Sri Lanka. These included sounds of crickets and other insects from the Knuckles Mountain Range, a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site; whale vocalisations from the Mirissa seas; songs and calls of a variety of bird species surrounding the ancient Sigiriya rock fortress; and relaxing ocean sounds of the Southern beaches. The nature and wildlife recordings were played back over the passenger address (PA) system of each aircraft with a brief voice over description of the sound.
This unique project created a magically soothing moment on board, allowing passengers of different nationalities to share in an experience and become one with Sri Lanka’s natural heritage. By using nature’s music, the airline was able to emphasise its commitment to conserving the environment through novel ways and the importance of making time and effort to appreciate the natural environment around us.
The nature and wildlife audio clips created for the campaign have also been shared across Sri Lankan’s social media pages including on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Those who did not get to experience the natural sounds onboard may visit the airline’s social media pages to listen to the recordings which have been shared via several animated posts.
On the ground, SriLankan Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of the airline, together with the Forest Department of Sri Lanka and the students of the Nature Club of the Andiambala Maha Vidyalaya in Katunayake, conducted a workshop to educate school children on everyday green living.
Subsequently, the children took part in a guided project to plant trees donated by students of the Nature Club and the Forest Department of Sri Lanka. The airline believes that greater awareness among the younger generation can pave the way for paradigm shifts in environmental conservation and sustainability. Further, planting trees is one of the most effective ways to sequester carbon emissions.
SriLankan Airlines, as a member of the oneworld airline alliance that has pledged to net-zero emissions by 2050, is taking measured steps towards reducing its carbon footprint. SriLankan was, in fact, one of the first airlines in the world to offset passenger emissions, and was featured in a case study by the Air Transport Action Group. The airline strongly advocates learning, scientific research, and knowledge sharing on environmental sustainability, climate change, and ocean and biodiversity conservation in the region.
“IN CONVERSATION”
We chatted with Ms Sayuri Daluwatte, Group COO of Jinasena Group of Companies, on supporting national development and sustainability efforts during these turbulent times. The Jinasena Group is a General Member of Biodiversity Sri Lanka. This is what she had to say…
“Sustainability as an add on, can quickly become a budget constraint, but sustainability as core, which is done right will never be on the chopping block. It is vital for doing business well and doing business right”
Q: Can you give us a brief introduction to your company?
A: The organization was founded and established in 1905 by the young visionary Jinasena with an ambition to startup an engineering establishment which was to service and repair machinery. This was the first Sri Lankan owned business of that time which marked the beginning of change in the engineering landscape in Sri Lanka.
Jinasena has been a household name for many decades and a quintessential facet of our legacy is delivering customized engineering solutions that enrich lives. The Jinasena Centric Water Pump popularized over five decades ago and continues to be an integral part of our business heritage. It is a name that has passed through every household and still stands firm at the core of our business. Today, we have further fine-tuned the product portfolio to include innovative, cutting edge agricultural and industrial solutions that complement the needs of contemporary customers and most importantly present an unmatched consumer experience.
Q: What drives the Company’s sustainability agenda and what are the key focus areas?
A: As a company, Jinasena’s innovates and develops effective sustainable solutions as part of its core business proposition. We believe our efforts are focused on, socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable solutions. Our core product portfolio is focused on supporting Sri Lanka’s economy through supporting the efficient development of agricultural, water & water recycling, and renewable energy sectors. We develop turnkey solutions for commercial, private, and smallholder operations in these sectors.
Jinasena has been dominant in the agriculture sector, supporting the local farmers and agricultural community for many decades. Introducing our very own centrifugal Jinasena pump and agriculture machinery such as threshers, multi grinders, multi choppers, tea cutters, and straw cutters have mechanized the industry by providing durable and affordable solutions for farmers.
Q: Could you give us an outline of your current sustainability initiatives/ projects?
A: We work on numerous projects across sectors. In the 1990’s we developed a solution to combat the rising prevalence of the Chronic-Kidney Disease (CKD) that was burdening the Sri Lankan healthcare system in the Anuradhapura/ Polonnaruwa districts.
Through partnerships with the Ministry of health, research and innovation, we were able to provide a nanofiltration and reverse osmosis water purification system which is designed to remove contaminants from water including bacteria, viruses, nitrates, sulfates, fluoride, arsenic, and much more. Out of numerous projects we have undertaken designing solutions with various institutions in the country, I would like to share our current efforts on water recycling, to ensure that our people have access to clean drinkable water across the country.
There were a few cases of unidentified kidney disease reported in the Medawachchiya area in the Anuradhapura District in the late 1990s which was spreading systematically, and today the number of patients has increased vastly due to not having clean drinking water. The government has provided clean drinking water to disease-prone areas. However, as a solution to this matter, RO technology has been introduced. At present the government is spending money to install these RO water filters in these areas and medical clinics have confirmed that drinking this clean water will help in controlling the undiagnosed kidney disease in those areas and reduce the rate of new cases. With this in mind, our company established a RO Water Purification System as a Pilot Project in the Koonkatiyawa area of Padaviya. Also, we opened new Water Treatment Plants at Pulichchakulam, Puththalam, and at Thuppitiyawa, Thanthirimale as well for clean drinking water.
Q: What are your company’s key achievements in the sustainability domain and the reasons behind their success?
A: At Jinasena’s, our values are based on quality, integrity, and service. These factors determine the way we work, the quality we offer, and the unsurpassed treatment we give our customers. This is what drives our business and we hire for similar values. Undoubtedly, we have the best technical team at Jinasena to support us. With over 117 years of history and some employees who have been with us for more than 20 years – their knowledge and expertise has been a great strength for our success. We provide our customers with high-quality, durable product/services that gives them a long-term quality solution for their needs.
Q: What are the challenges you see in driving your sustainability agenda forward in the current, extremely volatile business context?
A: The current financial crisis in the country is unprecedented and similar to other businesses in the country, we are also revisiting our strategies and adopting agile strategies to safeguard the long-term interests of the company. Given the sectors we are involved in, we understand our customers need advanced products/solutions to address the current energy crisis and alternatives for fertilizer requirements. During the fertilizer crisis, we introduced several pieces of machinery to produce compost with maximum outputs including a domestic range JSH 3ES, Jinasena Shredder Machine with 3HP single phase motor which can be used effectively to produce high-quality compost in a reduced time.
We appreciate the fact that we can support our communities in economic development ensuring sustainability to our people and their businesses. We strongly feel, that there should be improvements in policies that would support local manufacturers to further drive sustainable initiatives along with their sustainable business operations.
Q: Any interesting future plans?
A: We are currently working on a few initiatives connected to the water industry and the renewable energy sector. While we adjust to volatility of this existing market, we are committed to investing in our human capital continuously. We strongly believe that in these challenging times, we will create more resilience in the company as the nation continues to embrace the worst ever economic crisis since Independence. We are currently exploring how we can support our farmers to transport their crops due to fuel shortages with our fleet operations and while doing so allowing our people to have access to fresh vegetables at an affordable price.
Q: Any message to our BSL members in their Sustainability Journey?
A: Whilst we navigate through these tough times, we should never overlook the importance of doing small things that can make a big impact. As businesses struggle to adapt to the volatility of the market and secure some level of business growth, we should adopt sustainability initiatives that will fuel into a better future for our communities. I strongly believe now is the best time for each business to identify and eliminate waste in the business processes and challenge the status quo. Applying lean six sigma methodologies to review existing processes, and cost structures will lead to reducing waste and costs in operations allowing businesses to focus on key problems and to provide better, quality products/ solutions.
Ceylon Chamber and Ministry of Environment Propose ‘Collect-Back’ Plastic Waste Management Model for the Private Sector
To tackle the escalating issue of Sri Lanka’s plastic waste management, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has initiated the implementation of an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model, which requires all stakeholders generating plastic waste to take responsibility for recycling and minimizing the use of plastic packaging.
‘The Ministry of Environment will support and welcome all initiatives started by the private sector including the implementation of the Collect-Back Target model proposed by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. The Central Environmental Authority will closely monitor the progress of proposed mechanisms and complete the legal provisions required for meeting efficient outcomes from each method. The Ministry of Environment and the Central Environmental Authority reiterate the necessity of playing an active role by the private sector to adhere to the EPR principle with Best Available Technologies’, Secretary to the Ministry of Environment, Dr. Anil Jasinghe stated.
The Ceylon Chamber and Biodiversity Sri Lanka (BSL) with financial support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) developed the EPR Roadmap in 2021, to provide a strategic plan for plastic waste management in Sri Lanka. The implementation of the Mandatory Reporting and Collect-Back (MRCB) model was recommended under this EPR Roadmap. This EPR scheme based on MRCB model was developed under the guidance of a Project Steering Committee comprising of key Government Agencies including; Ministry of Environment, Central Environmental Authority (CEA), Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), Coast Conservation & Coastal Resource Management Department (CC&CRMD), Western Province Waste Management Authority (WPWMA), State Ministry of Provincial Councils & Local Government Affairs, Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) and IUCN Sri Lanka as well as private sector representatives from beverage, water bottling and dairy sectors.
The MRCB model requires plastic users to declare their annual usage and pledge to collect back an agreed-upon percentage, targeted to reach close to 100% over a five-year period. The initiative aims to increase plastic waste collection and recycling in order to minimize plastic pollution. The proposed Collect-Back Target model has been endorsed by the Ministry of Environment (MoE) and the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), and welcomed by the private sector.
‘There is an urgent need for an integrated and collaborative approach within the plastic value chain in order to implement a sustainable framework, ensuring effective and effective plastic waste management. The Collect-Back Target model will help to promote greater accountability among corporates and ensure an efficient system of monitoring and evaluation’, said CEO and Secretary-General of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Manjula de Silva.
At this event, Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Environment launched the online reporting system, which was designed and developed by Virtusa Pvt Ltd., on which platform the private sector will commence reporting on waste collection and recycling.. The initial phase will focus on two types of plastics, namely, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) packaging. The outcome of voluntary EPR implementation will be documented to draw lessons that can be applied to a mandatory collection and reporting system in the future.
The project is guided by a high-level multi-stakeholder Project Steering Committee, co-chaired by the MoE Secretary to the MoE and the Secretary-General of the CCC.
Swapping Debt For Nature
Belize’s barrier reef is a marvel of biodiversity. Stretching 170 miles through the warm waters of the Caribbean and around atolls, cays, and coastal lagoons, the Western Hemisphere’s longest reef is home to some 1,400 species, from endangered hawksbill turtles and manatees to several threatened types of sharks. But climate change and warming oceans, excessive fishing and mangrove felling, and unchecked coastal development all pose risks to the fragile ecosystem.
The reef’s chances of survival received a vital boost last year. On November 5, Belize signed a debt-for-nature swap with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) an environmental organization, which reduced the country’s external debt by a striking 10 percent of GDP. Perhaps more significantly, it greatly improved the prospects for marine protection. Under the agreement, a TNC subsidiary lent funds to Belize to buy back a $553 million “superbond”—the government’s entire stock of external commercial debt, equivalent to 30 percent of GDP—at a discounted price of 55 cents per dollar. In return, Belize agreed to spend about $4 million a year on marine conservation until 2041. It will double its marine-protection parks—spanning coral reefs, mangroves, and the seagrasses where fish spawn—from 15.9 percent of its oceans to 30 percent by 2026.
Can biodiversity-rich Sri Lanka benefit from such debt for nature swaps? With the country facing an unprecedented balance of payments and sovereign debt crisis, threatening prolonged macroeconomic instability and social unrest in the short term – it surely can! The country has been presented with the option to forgo part of its debt in return for its aggressive commitment towards environmental conservation and investments in climate-related projects. Accordingly, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has proposed to the Sri Lankan government to make use of debt-for-nature swaps which would allow a portion of the government’s large debt burden to be forgiven in exchange for the implementation of environmental policies or funding of conservation programmes.
If effectively implemented, debt-for-nature swaps have the potential to provide long-term credit benefits by offering debt relief while increasing investments that could bolster Sri Lanka’s resilience to environmental risks. Given the higher susceptibility of Sri Lanka to natural disasters such as droughts, flash floods, and tropical cyclones, which affect rural household incomes through disruptions caused to agricultural production, business activity, and damages to private property, it is wise for the country to explore this option. This is particularly true when nearly 30 percent of its labour force is engaged in agriculture, which accounts for just 7 percent of the economy.
Crucially, the current crisis risks derailing sustainable development, as the shrinking fiscal space of the government will likely result in limiting the (already low) budgetary allocations for conservation and natural resource management. While the ongoing sovereign debt crisis has led to many ideas around the need for, and opportunity to, introduce innovative financing instruments, there is a risk that without adequate stakeholder understanding of the nuances of such instruments, steps involved, commitments needed, and technical structuring, such efforts may not progress far or could be delayed – simply due to lack of understanding among stakeholders, and there being differences in understanding among types of stakeholders. On the latter, for instance, differences in understanding are already being seen, on the role of, and ways of structuring, such instruments between economists and finance professionals on one hand, and ecologists and environmental experts on the other. Surely this gap must be bridged!
Life: Facilitating Connectivity Through Ecological Restoration in Kanneliya In Partnership With American And Efird Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd
Biodiversity Sri Lanka in partnership with the Forest Department, IUCN Sri Lanka and 10 selected private sector partners initiated the implementation of the project “Restoration and Management of a Degraded Fern Land in Kanneliya Forest Reserve” at Opatha in Kanneliya in February 2018. The site selected for restoration is best described as a degraded rainforest which has been cleared for cultivation and subsequently abandoned resulting in the colonization by the pioneer fern species Dicranopteris linearis (Kekilla). Despite the challenges, the project has advanced significantly. A significant proportion of the site is now under intensive ecological restoration practices. Further, it is encouraging to note the structural changes in vegetation as well as the resurgence of some new species of fauna after four years of restoration.
While activities were progressing successfully, American & Efird Lanka (Pvt) Ltd (A&E Lanka) came on board to support the restoration of an additional two-hectare degraded plot, adjacent to the existing restoration area, which would bring about connectivity between it and the nearby rainforest. This would facilitate wildlife movements across the area. The first year of A&E Lanka’s efforts have just concluded and we are moving into the second year. Notable progress has been made in the 1st year of the Project.
Based on the experience gained through the main Project, several adaptive restoration practices have been introduced. These practices have been instrumental in accelerating plant growth and increasing plant survival rates. The invasive Kekilla fern has been removed from approximately 60% of the A&E site. 2,412 large-sized (60cm3) planting pits prepared, soil conservation bunds introduced in a 1.2 ha area to prevent soil erosion, and clay pitches buried next to selected plants located in the dry, hilly areas of the site to ensure continuous water availability to plants during dry periods were some of the measures introduced. The on-site nursery produced and managed high-quality healthy plants. 18 native plant species and Glyricidia were introduced during the period. In addition, natural regeneration of two native species Veraniya and Mahabovitiya were observed after the removal of Kekilla.
The new site has attracted several species of butterflies, bees, and other nectar-feeding insects. The colonization of nectar and pollen-feeding insect species in the site indicates that ecological restoration is heading in the right direction because insects are often used to monitor the progress of the ecological restoration. Five (5) butterfly species – Ceylon Rose, Lemon Emigrant, Mottled Emigrant, Jezebel, and Three-spot Grass Yellow were recorded at the site as well as two (2) bee species – Carpenter Bee and the Eastern Honey Bee. In addition to ecological benefits, the Project provides social benefits including employment opportunities to adjacent communities. Overall, the project has made significant strides during the period under consideration towards its goal of converting the site to a well-functioning rainforest in the long run.
“LEVERAGE OR LIABILITY?” Conserving Biological Diversity in an Economic Collapse
Biodiversity Sri Lanka joined hands with the French Embassy, Bandaranaike Center for International Studies (BCIS), Dilmah Conservation, Commercial Bank, and MAS Kreeda in featuring world-renowned scientist, Sri Lankan author, and educator Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda, as the keynote speaker at BSL’s flagship event in celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity and World Environment Day, 2022.
The event was held on June 8th, 2022 at the Bandaranaike Center for International Studies (BCIS), Colombo 07. French Ambassador H. E. Mr. Eric Lavertu and Ambassador Sumith Nakandala delivered the opening remarks on behalf of the French Embassy and the BCIS respectively. Brief interventions followed by event sponsors, Commercial Bank and MAS Kreeda. As the first Carbon Neutral Bank in Sri Lanka, Commercial Bank shared recent experiences from mangrove restoration efforts in Koggala and a Marine Turtle Conservation Program in Panama. MAS Kreeda presented the company’s iconic aerial reforestation project in Nochchiyagama which was done through seed bombing technology for the first time in the country. Other projects that MAS has carried out include invasive species removal in Lunugamwehera National Park, and the setting up of ocean strainers, collecting trash for recycling.
Introducing Dr Rohan Pethiyagoda, Mr Dilhan C Fernando, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of BSL stated that he is Sri Lanka’s leading naturalist and taxonomist of freshwater fish of Sri Lanka, recently winning the prestigious “Linnean Medal” awarded by the Linnean Society of London – the world’s oldest active society devoted to natural history. This medal is awarded annually by the council of the Linnean Society alternately to one or two biologists (in any field), as an expression of the society’s esteem and appreciation for service to science. Dr. Pethiyagoda is the first Sri Lankan scientist, and the second Asian scientist honored with this award since the program began way back in 1888. He also won the Rolex Award for Enterprise in 2000 for his 25-ha Agrapatana montane forest restoration initiative. Besides the restoration work, the forest was home to a conservation-breeding center for rare species of lizards, mice, shrews, and frogs. As the forest’s tendrils regrew, hundreds of long-absent wild creatures began to appear – leading to the discovery of over 200 species new to science. One of Dr. Pethiyagoda’s first books was a comprehensive color guide to the freshwater fishes of Sri Lanka – a best seller.
In his keynote speech titled “LEVERAGE OR LIABILITY?” Conserving Biological Diversity in an Economic Collapse, Dr. Pethiyagoda pointed out that the country we live in today is fundamentally different from Sri Lanka one year ago. He said it is crucial to pinpoint the cause of this situation, to understand the consequences of the current instability in the country. In such situations, it is inevitable that the environment falls to the bottom of the list of priorities. So, for us, as a country to benefit from our situation, we must recognize and grab whatever available opportunities there are despite the bleak picture. Pointing out some of the flawed policy decisions made in the recent past in Sri Lanka, he indicated that sometimes, wrong decisions are made with good intentions. He emphasized that environmental sustainability should be at the heart of any national policy framework. If not soil fertility, biodiversity, water, and health issues would inevitably result. With reference to the ban on agro-chemicals in Sri Lanka, Dr. Pethiyagoda elaborated that the Government failed to recognize the long-term implications of such a decision resulting in an enhanced likelihood of future food shortages in the country.
He proposed leveraging biodiversity to provide for dealing with protein deficiencies and child malnutrition in Sri Lanka. Pointing out that while Sri Lanka has 10,000 freshwater reservoirs which could be used for fish harvesting, most of which are in the dry zone where the poverty levels are the highest, only 7.6% of this freshwater extent is used for fish harvesting. Such opportunities should be garnered. He noted that the country needs to reduce fossil fuel-based energy usage primarily by increasing the production of fuelwood. He was of the view that wind and solar energy will also be helpful in ensuring energy resilience, but it will take a lot of time and money to eliminate at least 40% of the country’s liquid petroleum requirements. He calculated that the country will require around 130,000 ha of plantation forests to replace all the liquefied petroleum gas that it now imports. We cannot achieve this, because Sri Lanka has only 80,000 ha of fuel wood plantations available to us, but we can at least replace half of our LP gas requirements with timber from fuel wood plantations. So, harvesting existing fuelwood and planting new timber trees could become an opportunity. He also suggested that mature plantation forests be harvested over the course of next year which will provide the timber we need for building materials. He recognized blue-green bonds as a credible financial instrument for funding projects with positive environmental effects. Sri Lanka lags behind in introducing these financial instruments but, he opined it is never too late. We may perhaps issue green bonds to facilitate the tourism industry to go off-grid on power as electricity supply is one of the major issues we are currently experiencing.
He concluded that as we handle biodiversity problems and possibilities in the coming decade, there are many additional things that could be done to assist in the current situation, but in the words of Dr. Pethiyagoda, “let’s try to stick to what is feasible, practical, and essential”.
“In Conversation”
with BSL’s Focal Point from Talawakelle Tea Estate PLC, Krishna Ranagala, Manager, Sustainability & Quality Systems Development on the company’s moves towards sustainability in the tea plantation sector and future hopes.
Q: iCan you tell us about your organization?
A: Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC is a Regional Plantation Company, producing some of the finest teas in Sri Lanka. 6,491 hectares of plantations spread across the high grown and Low grown regions of the country, produce 5.93 million kilograms of tea, and accounts for over 2.1% of national tea production. With a portfolio of 16 estates and 14 factories, it ranks at the top for premium tea prices amongst the other plantation companies.
Q: What drives your sustainability agenda and what are the key focus areas?
A: Our company has a deep-rooted legacy in driving sustainable growth. We are a trailblazer within the industry as we lead conversation action on sustainable agriculture practices, conservation of the environment, and human welfare. This culture has been ingrained into the way we function as a result of the Board and senior management, and the remainder of the employees, understanding the need for long-term value created without compromising on the needs of others.
One of the key areas of focus in our sustainability agenda is our people. Our estates employ a workforce of 4,832 and are home to a resident population of over 42,000 people. We heavily invest in ensuring the socioeconomic progression of this entire population.
Given the fact that our business model is heavily dependent on utilizing natural resources, and that our estates are a part of sensitive natural systems, in order to make sure that we are able to continue to create positive gains for ourselves, it’s important that we minimize our negative impact on the natural environment.
Q: Give us an outline of your current sustainability initiatives
A: “Home for Every Plantation worker” is our flagship project for community development. Through this project, for 15 years now, we have driven the socioeconomic progression of our estate community under four pillars. Firstly, we improve their living environment by developing infrastructure facilities including roads, housing, water and sanitation, recreation and learning facilities. The second pillar, community capacity development, is focused on providing financial assistance and strengthening their financial management skills. Thirdly, we raise awareness on nutrition, provide access to better food, and prevent communicable and non-communicable diseases. Lastly, we implement youth development program to build their skills and competencies for them to achieve their life goals and aspirations.
In order to ensure our environmental sustainability, we are focused on converting our business model to one that is low-carbon. To this end, we increase our dependence on renewable forms of energy, with a focus on generation of solar and hydro power. We also undertake the restoration and preservation of ecosystems through dedicated tree planting programs and establishing buffer zones. Through these initiatives, and others, we strive to minimize the negative impacts of our business on the environment, while at the same time, increasing our resilience in facing the threats from environmental phenomenon such as climate change and extreme weather events.
Q: What are your company’s key achievements in the sustainability domain and the reasons behind its success?
A: Under the Home for Every Plantation worker program, in the year 2021/22 alone, we dedicated over Rs. 105 Mn to uplift the quality of life of the local community and ensure better access to facilities. The St. Clair ecosystem restoration project, which is in its third year, has seen a total of 18,138 plants being planted, with a majority of them being native varieties. Our climate action agenda has also marked a significant milestone this year. We are the first company in Sri Lanka to have our GHG emission reduction goals and targets validated and approved by the SBTi. These successes are mainly attributable to the power of our people. Our top management sets the tone for sustainable value creation and provides general strategic oversight. This direction, then trickles down to our people at all levels.
Q: What are the challenges you foresee in driving your sustainability agenda forward in the current, extremely volatile business context?
A: Policy uncertainty is a definite challenge. While we do advocate for measures such as increased worker earnings and organic material sourcing, we believe that such plans should be implemented systematically, and with due care for the concerns of all stakeholders. Otherwise, they result in the opposite of the desired effect. This in turn affects the ability for companies such as ours to contribute to the growth of our dependents as it impedes our own growth.
Sustainability, of course, cannot be achieved alone. A good financial arm is required. Economic indicators such as increasing costs, the forex crisis and interest rates, however, heavily impact our ability to make the financial commitment needed to drive our sustainability agenda forward.
Q: Any interesting future plans
A: In the future, we will continue to work on these initiatives and expand on creating shared value for our people and the environment while sustaining our own growth in the face of growing challenges. We hope to do so by leveraging on our strong systems of management processes.
Q: Have you any messages to our members aspiring to become leaders in Corporate Sustainability?
A: The corporate sector plays a huge role in driving the journey towards a sustainable future. For everyone who aspires to work in corporate sustainability, therefore, there is a vital task at hand. But working for the planet and for the people will bring definite benefits both for the companies we work in and for ourselves. Working in a corporate sustainability role is also sure to bring many challenges from within organizations including cultural challenges and the lack of resources. But as people who are truly committed to transforming the world into a better place, it is important that we remain steadfast and remain true to our own beliefs, and continue to do good.
This Month we celebrated the International Day of Biological Diversity on the 22nd of May…
Sri Lanka supports unusually high biodiversity compared to any other moderate-sized tropical island. The hallmark of Sri Lanka’s biodiversity is signified by the presence of large populations of mega fauna (Asian elephant, leopard, sloth bear etc.,) that do not occur in other moderate sized islands, as well as the presence of a large proportion of endemic species (species that are naturally found only in Sri Lanka). Therefore Sri Lanka, along with the Western Ghats of India, is listed as one of the 34 biodiversity hotspots of the world. Designation of a biodiversity hotspot is based on two criteria, presence of 0.5% or 1500 species of vascular plants as endemics and reduction of forest cover by 70% or more causing many of the taxa to become threatened with extinction. Designation of Sri Lanka as a biodiversity hotspot is based on both of these criteria as there is a high level of endemicity in most taxonomic groups and a high proportion of the species in most taxonomic groups are threatened with extinction, especially in the case of endemic species, primarily due to loss of habitat.
Loss of biodiversity will lead to loss of goods and services provided by the biological resources as well as loss of resilience of natural ecosystems to withstand changes in the environment, especially the predicted changes that are brought about by climate change. This in turn will have a significant impact on human wellbeing and livelihoods such as agriculture and fisheries that directly depend on these ecosystem services. Further, Sri Lanka plans to expand its tourism industry which heavily depends on the natural capital whose loss will reduce the attractiveness of Sri Lanka as a tourism destination. Loss of biodiversity will also have an impact on future benefits that can be accrued from biological resources such as development of new drugs and improving crop varieties using emerging innovations of biotechnology.
In the universe are billions of galaxies,
In our galaxy are billions of planets,
But there is OnlyOneEarth.
Let’s take care of it.
The mesmerizing migratory – Blue-Tailed Bee Eater (Merops phillippinus) නිල්පෙඳ බිඟුහරයා
World Migratory Bird Day was celebrated internationally on 14th May 2022. We celebrated with Mr Sarinda Unamboowe, well known wildlife enthusiast, bird photographer and former Director of BSL, talking to us about our feathered friends that fly to warmer climes for winter and then return home to breed. If you missed it, you can watch on:
https://fb.watch/c-94DFuBfw/
Every year, many bird species move thousands of kilometers. Migration is driven by the availability of food sources and more pleasant weather patterns. Places, where there is plenty of food and birds, may securely build nests. Flyways are the flying pathways that birds use during their annual migrations. A bird’s navigational ability is remarkable, while Scientists are not entirely sure how birds navigate their flyways.
Sri Lanka, a tropical island with various ecosystems, supplying yummy food for these tired travelers, making our country a favorite destination year-round stop for migrating birds.
While the number of migrants expected on our beaches is large, the arrival of the colorful and noticeable species marks the start of the “migration season.” Brightly colored bee-eaters are one of the most intriguing groups of birds among them. They may be found in most of the island’s national parks and bird sanctuaries. Their brightly colored feathers attract the attention of bird watchers.
The Little Green Bee Eater, Chestnut Headed Bee Eater, and Blue Tailed Bee Eater are the only three notable species of bee-eaters found in Sri Lanka.
The migratory Blue-tailed Bee Eaters are lovely to look at, with rich shades of blue and green, and gold on their plumage. They visit us from their breeding grounds in Southeast Asia. They don’t usually nest in trees. Instead, they build colonies on the sides of rivers or in open flat areas. They dig a long tunnel into which they lay approximately 5-7 white eggs.
They’re also known as the “Blue-cheeked Bee-eater” in various regions of the world. A thin blue patch with a black eye stripe and a yellow and brown throat are key distinguishing features on its face. The tail has a stunning iridescent blue color. It has two extended middle tail feathers and can grow to be 23-26 cm long. Both sexes are similar.
The majority of blue-tailed bee-eaters migrate, while small groups settle in the southeastern coastal area as permanent inhabitants. They inhabit the eastern shore of the island, from Bundala to Pottuvil. They may be seen in every corner of the island during the migratory season.
They are expert hunters. Bees, wasps, hornets, and dragonflies are among the insects they consume. Bird enthusiasts can enjoy seeing them demonstrating their aerial dexterity by snatching insects in mid-flight. Their magnificent aerial attacks provide wildlife photographers with a fantastic chance.
They detoxify wasps or bees before eating them. Surprisingly, this little bird can consume roughly 250 bees every day.
Sand bathing is something that bee-eater flocks do practically any day of the year. This is a necessary activity for bee-eaters, who appear to like the sensation of dust on their feathers. It is an attempt to clear their body of parasites.
As social creatures, they frequently appear in groups. Bee-eaters have a sophisticated social system. Many species show monogamy. The couples are highly attached and have been together for many years. Most bee-eater species share this remarkable habit known as courtship feeding. The male collects the prey and feeds his partner during courting.
Let’s ensure that we conserve our habitats so that these much-awaited visitors can enjoy our beautiful island!
