Protect Our Species - ‘The Importance of Keeping Nature intact -Business Challenges’

Earth Day is commemorated the world over annually, on the 22nd of April. The theme for this year’s commemoration of the Earth Day is ‘Protect Our Species’. This year’s theme aims to raise awareness on the increasing rate of extinction of millions of species on this planet and to encourage people to do more for their protection. Excessive reduction of plant and wildlife populations is connected to causes of species extinction driven by human activity: climate change, deforestation, habitat loss, trafficking and poaching, unsustainable agriculture, pollution and pesticides. The impacts are far reaching.

The role of private sector in conserving our species and biodiversity is crucial, particularly in developing countries like Sri Lanka, where the majority of the population depends on natural resources for their livelihoods and overall economic growth. However, as the private sector is often being criticized for excessive exploitation of natural resources leading to their degradation and generating negative externalities for maximizing their profits, it is a difficult call to balance their role with biodiversity conservation. Nevertheless, there are several examples where the private sector is actively involved in biodiversity conservation and economic development.

BSL in collaboration with its Patron Members  – Watawala Plantations PLC and Olu Tropical Water, is organizing a delayed commemorative learning event to celebrate and share these good practices and to encourage others to possibly follow suite.