‘Lichens: the coolest thing you never heard of’
Lichens: the coolest thing you never heard of’, a lecture presided by eminent Sri Lankan lichenologist, Dr. Gothamie Weerakoon, and world renowned lichen specialist Dr Pat Wolseley, scientific advisor to the Natural History Museum London, will concentrate on a scientific dissemination of their insights on the subject. The duo will be joined by National Geographic Young Explorer, Mathew Cicanese, a documentary artist who takes a special interest in small organisms, and human interactions with the environment. This lecture on May 27 at the BMICH, Orchid Room at 6.15 p.m. is a part of the environmental lecture series hosted by Dilmah Conservation.
Admission to the lecture is free and will be open to all.
Lichens exhibit a marked diversity that oftentimes goes unnoticed, even though these symbiotic colonies occupy a major swathe of the earth’s surface as they inhabit nearly every possible nook and crevice on the planet. These symbiotic associations are a curious case of mutually beneficial partnerships between fungus and an alga or cyanobacterium, or both; which function together almost as a single living individual. While these colonies act as carbon sinks, playing a pivotal role in decelerating the global warming process, they also respond to the minutest change in the environment making them crucial to the ecosystem as bioindicators.
The scientific community has shown a keen interest throughout into the study of the mechanisms of their existence and their ecological role, however, unlike the debate on climate change or the conservation of rainforests, and their rich biodiversity, it hasn’t yet grasped the imagination of the masses.
Dr. Gothamie Weerakoon, will be addressing this gap in the awareness regarding the ecological role of lichens through her lecture on Saturday. She is currently working alongside her team of specialists from the National Geographic Society on studying and discovering the plethora of lichens that are present in the tropical terrains of Sri Lanka.
Spource – 21/05/2017,The Sunday Times, See more at -http://www.sundaytimes.lk/170521/plus/lichens-the-coolest-thing-you-never-heard-of-240469.html
Biodiversity and Sustainable Tourism
Biodiversity Sri Lanka will commemorate the International Day of Biological Diversity which falls on 22nd May each year, with an evening session on the UN designated theme for 2017: ‘BIODIVERSITY AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM’. This session will feature four relevant and illustrative case studies from Sri Lanka and the Asia region presented by Ms Maeve Nightingale of IUCN, Asia, environment and wildlife expert, Dr Sumith Pilapitiya, Mr Madhura de Silva, President, Wildlife Conservation Society, Galle and Mr Ross Sanders, General Manager, Anantara Peace Haven, Tangalle, covering areas such as the significance of the coast around us and carrying capacity and biodiversity issues in our national protected areas. The event will be held on the 22nd of May from 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. at the Auditorium of the Hatton National Bank, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, No. 479 T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10, and is open to the general public.
Biodiversity, at the level of species and ecosystems, provides an important foundation for many aspects of tourism. Recognition of the great importance to tourism economies of attractive landscapes and a rich biodiversity underpins the political and economic case for biodiversity conservation. A well-managed tourist sector can contribute significantly to reducing threats to, and maintain or increase, key wildlife populations and biodiversity values through tourism revenue. Although Sri Lanka is a small island, its biodiversity is significantly important both in a regional and global scale. The island has been declared as one of the 25 “biodiversity hotspots” of the world. Sri Lanka’s tourism is the country’s third largest foreign exchange earner and contributes a substantial percentage towards the GDP. In post-war Sri Lanka, tourist arrivals have seen a remarkable increase and there is a significant increase in investments in tourism as well as, infrastructure development through opening up of new tourist attractions.
The theme for this year is primarily about ensuring greater control and management to reduce damage to biodiversity from tourism and pursuing the positive contribution of tourism to biodiversity awareness, protected areas, habitat restoration, community engagement, and resource mobilization. This theme therefore provides an opportunity to raise awareness and action towards the important contribution of sustainable tourism both to economic growth and to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
Biodiversity Sri Lanka (BSL) is an entirely private sector owned and driven not- for-profit platform established to promote strong engagement of the corporate sector in Biodiversity and environmental conservation issues in Sri Lanka. BSL actively promotes strong leadership of the private sector in these areas through active learning, providing technical support, sharing information, knowledge and experience, promoting best practices and dialogue with state and civil society partners. Currently, over 65 leading corporates are members of the Platform.
Source – 18/05/2017,Adaderana Biz, see more at – http://bizenglish.adaderana.lk/biodiversity-and-sustainable-tourism/
Networking Event on Green Principles in Lending
An article as appeared on the “Daily News” paper dated on 17th February 2015
Wilpattu Sloth Bear Discussion on Wednesday
An article as appeared on the Lanka Business Today Newspaper (LBT) dated on 24th October, 2014
No Business without Biodiversity Forum on September 10
SLBBP’s First Annual Member Networking Forum is going to be held on the 10th of September, 2014 (Wednesday) at the Kingsbury Hotel.
Inaugural CCC ‘Business and Biodiversity’ Networking event on Sept 10
SLBBP’s First Annual Member Networking Forum is going to be held on the 10th of September 2014 (Wednesday) at the Kingsbury Hotel.
Business and Biodiversity Forum on Wednesday
SLBBP’s First Annual Member Networking Forum is going to held on Wednesday, 10th of September at Kingsbury Hotel, Colombo.
1st Annual Member Networking Forum and Workshop 2014
Our ever first Annual Member Networking Forum and Workshop 2014 will be held on the 10th of September, 2014 at The Kingsbury Hotel. The Workshop Session from 11:oo am to 5:30 pm is open for all and everyone is invited.
Please go to “Events” (https://biodiversitysrilanka.org/old/event/1st-annual-member-networking-forum-and-workshop-2014/) for further details.
THE UNORTHODOX WHALES OF SRI LANKA
The monthly lecture of the Wild Life and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka on Unorthodox Whales of Sri Lanka by Asha De Vos, a Marine Biologist and Educator with a strong affinity for marine mammals on 17th July 2014 at 6.1p.m.at the Department of Meteorology Auditorium.
