Biodiversity Sri Lanka

August 24, 2016by bslIn the news Latest Posts

Construction and forest clearing in Wilpattu National Park violates conservation laws

WNPS expresses deep concern

The Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance No 2 of 1937 (as amended, hereinafter at times referred to as the FFPO) which governs the legal administration of the Protected Areas of Sri Lanka clearly states that there can be no development activity or clearing of the habitat within National Parks (Section 6).

According to information available, the Pallenkandal Shrine was built over 300 years ago in what is now the Wilpattu National Park. It was a small chapel placed in an area of less than a quarter of an acre, and was used in an annual feast for fishing communities who reside around the Puttalam Lagoon.

They visited the shrine for two nights a year and stayed in temporary shelters until the festival was over. These shelters were then dismantled at the end of the feast.

During the war, this chapel went into disuse, and the building fell into disrepair, with the roof caving in. Since the end of the war, however, not only has the shrine been rebuilt to greater size than the original, but additional structures have now been added with clearing being made beyond the original boundaries of the shrine.

These are areas previously used by herds of elephants who traditionally graze on the grasslands of the Pomparippu Plain within the National Park, and have done so for thousands of years.

The Wilpattu National Park comprises five Blocks which have been gazetted at various times from 1938 to 1973 under the FFPO. Upon such protection status being given, by operation of Law, all private tenements, rights and privileges seized to be operational over the said land, unless otherwise recognized by Law as a ‘traditional practice/use’ subject to Section 3 (a & b) and 4 of the FFPO inter alia.

They have, however, no right to expand the boundaries of the original site, or to change what was traditionally an annual event to a weekly/monthly feast, as happens now.

The Wildlife & Nature Protection Society (WNPS) is greatly concerned that this blatant breach of the laws of the country are taking place with the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC), the statutory guardian of the protected areas, taking no action to stop this illegal development taking place within the boundaries of a National Park.

It is the WNPS’s position that the construction and forest clearing undertaken by the St. Anthony’s Church at Pallenkandal, in the recent past, are inside the Wilpattu National Park and being carried out without resorting to the proper Law and procedure. The construction/renovation and clearing of forest land conducted by and/or on behalf of the said church are in violation of the Law of the Land i.e. Sections 6 (1) of the FFPO No 2 of 1937 (as amended).

In addition, the detrimental impact on the National Park caused by the uncontrolled and/or unregulated human intrusion by thousands of pilgrims who visit the church on a weekly/ monthly/annual basis cannot be ignored, and amount to an offence under the Sections 5, 5 (A), 5 (B) & 6 (1) of the FFPO.

Even to claim any right under ‘traditional use’, a claim which the WNPS does not concede to, the applicable provisions of the FFPO are quite clear that such a right should be exercised subject to the control and supervision of the DWC, as the Custodian of the Wilpattu National Park, who hold it in trust for and on behalf of the people of the Republic.

As such, there is a grave failure on the part of the DWC to uphold their mandate and effectively enforce the law within the boundaries of the Wilpattu National Park.

Rukshan Jayewardene, President of WNPS, said: “National Parks are declared because a nation values and intends to protect its Fauna and Flora that forms an integral part of its natural heritage. National Parks afford the greatest level of statutory protection for wilderness, while also providing for regulated public access.

“Governments hold these lands in trust for all citizens and special interest groups cannot be allowed to violate the integrity of such Protected Areas”.

The WNPS, at 122 years old, is the oldest Non-Governmental Organization in South Asia. It was responsible for setting up and administering the National Parks, and inaugurating the Department of Wildlife Conservation.

With such history and responsibility, the Society is determined to take whatever action is necessary to prevent a precedent being set that will have serious consequences to the future well-being of all of the protected areas of Sri Lanka. Their preservation is vital not just for environmental, cultural and aesthetic reasons, but also for the economic prosperity of this country, and for the benefit of future generations to come. (WNPS Press Release).

Source: The Island http://island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=150677

August 1, 2016by bslIn the news Latest Posts

Biodiversity greater inside Earth’s protected areas

Biodiversity is greater inside the world’s protected areas, scientists have been able to show for the first time.

There are 15% more individual plants and animals and 11% more species inside than outside protected areas, according to the largest analysis of biodiversity in terrestrial globally protected areas to date.

The study, carried out by the University of Sussex, the Natural History Museum and the UN Environment Programme’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre, analysed biodiversity samples taken from 1,939 sites inside and 4,592 sites outside protected areas.

“We have been able to show for the first time how protection effects thousands of species, including plants, mammals, birds and insects. This has provided us with important insights into these areas – which previous studies were not able to do,” said co-lead author of the study, Dr Claudia Gray, from the University of Sussex.

Protected areas are widely considered essential for biodiversity conservation.

However there has been some doubt over their success, with problems including lack of effective management, increasing human pressures and inadequate government support.

Currently around 15% of the world’s land and 3% of the oceans are protected, and the Convention on Biological Diversity has pledged that this will rise to at least 17% of land and 10% of marine areas by 2020.

New global biodiversity database

But these results demonstrate that protection zones do benefit a broad range of species, and governments must continue to recognise and support them, said Dr Jörn Scharlemann, from the University of Sussex.

“Protected areas do not currently benefit all species – but what we have shown in our study is they have the potential to help us conserve some of the most biodiverse areas on Earth – which is why they vitally need increased global support.”

The study used a relatively new global biodiversity database called Predicts (Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems), which contains field data from hundreds of scientists documenting how local terrestrial biodiversity responds to human impacts.

The nearly four-year-old project has unprecedented geographic and taxonomic coverage, with more than 2.5 m biodiversity records from more than 21,000 sites, covering more than 38,000 species.

However this data only accounts for around 1% of all known species.

Previous regional or global studies of protected areas were limited to relying on information from satellite photos to examine changes in forest cover.

Prof Andy Purvis, one of the paper’s authors from the Natural History Museum, said: “This study shows how important questions in conservation biology can be tackled by joining forces. Hundreds of scientists from dozens of countries have generously shared their hard-earned data with us. Each one of those data sets is like a piece of a jigsaw: the overall picture only becomes clear when you have all the pieces and can put them together.”

Needs of our ever-growing population

The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, also showed that protection is most effective when human use of land for farming is minimised, suggesting better management of existing protected areas could more than double their effectiveness.

The global protected area network was 41% effective at retaining species richness and abundance, the paper judged.

Dr Samantha Hill, from the UN Environment Programme’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre, said: “Humanity faces difficult decisions as to how best to protect biodiversity while providing for the needs of our ever-growing population. This study provides new understanding into the biodiversity found at the intersection of protected areas and human land-uses.

(Souce :30/07/2016 Daily News http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=2016/07/30/features/88973)

July 20, 2016by bslIn the news Latest Posts

Environmental Conservation -A Timely Necessity

Source :20-7-2016ePaper_ _ Online edition of Daily News – Sri Lanka

July 6, 2016by bslIn the news Latest Posts

Animal cruelty, weapons and national security

Photos of animal torturers go viral on social media: Animal cruelty, weapons and national security –

Animal cruelty, be it torture, slaughter or even caging for that matter has become a growing concern from around the world. At a time when animal rights activists have started voicing their concerns about allowing animals to coexist with humans, it wasn’t before long that social media revealed footage of a group of people staring at a tortured sea-eagle. This was followed by a man holding a dead peacock with an air rifle in his hand whose wife was giving out numerous excuses to prove that the husband wasn’t guilty. Several months afterwards, quite shockingly, social media again succeeded in ‘naming and shaming’ a group of people who have been killing and torturing rare and endemic species of animals in the wild, for meat and for sheer thrill. In order to shed light on this latest incident, the Daily Mirror spoke to a few interested parties who voiced out their concerns.

These suspects can be arrested without a warrant : Jagath Gunawardena

Environmental lawyer and Attorney-at-law Jagath Gunawardena said that whatever the suspects have been doing were offences under the Flora and Fauna Protection Ordinance. “For example, the barking deer is a strictly protected mammal and just for killing one of them, these suspects can be arrested. The other mammals are categorized as protected mammals but since they are offences, they can be arrested without a warrant. Another thing is the fact that these people have been using air rifles and spearguns which are not being mentioned in the Firearm Ordinance. Even the use of projectiles has not been specified. Therefore it has become easy for people like these suspects to kill animals in the wild without any objections. I suggest that it’s high time that the Firearm Ordinance is duly amended to include these weapons and ensure that all life is ultimately being protected. I also believe that many sophisticated people kill animals and engage in this kind of behaviour for their own entertainment and thrill.” He further stated that there are limitations to killing animals such as wild boars and porcupines. “Although they are listed as non-protected mammals there are limitations to kill them. They can only be killed within a person’s personal property. They cannot be killed during the night time, in a forest, near a waterfall etc. Also there are 8 non-protected mammals, 5 non-protected reptiles and 5 birds. But in whatever the case their flesh cannot be traded.

Excellent way of highlighting animal cruelty : Iromi Salgado

Speaking to the , Committee member of the Animal Welfare and Protection Association (AWPA) Iromi Salgado said that it was an excellent way of highlighting the cruelty that people wouldn’t otherwise have known. “If social media could be used this way it can really open the eyes of the public. Many people wouldn’t have known that these kinds of incidents actually take place. Although this incident had taken place several years back, I am happy that the authorities were able to get hold of the culprits. Animals are a part of our nature and we humans should start to coexist with them.”

“If social media could be used this way it can really open the eyes of the public”

Many people use air rifles to protect their cultivations : N. G Panditharathna

In his comments to the , N. G Panditharathna, Additional secretary, Civil Security and Development division at the Ministry of Defence said that people are allowed to import air rifles. “It is not a fire arm under the act and therefore many people use it in their cultivations. These were issued for coconut planters to use in their cultivations to protect them from animals such as monkeys. Once a dealer is registered under the agriculture department or the Coconut cultivation board, he can import these air rifles and distribute among their farmers. Humans cannot be killed unless shot from a close proximity. Usually animals are aimed at within a distance of 50m and this distance has little effect on killing the target.”

“These were issued for coconut planters to use in their cultivations to protect them from animals such as monkeys”

Anybody can possess air rifles without permits : Gamini Jayawickrama Perera

Speaking to the , Minister of Wildlife and Sustainable Development, Gamini Jayawickrama Perera said that all suspects have been arrested and are being questioned. “No permits are needed to possess air rifles in Sri Lanka and this is starting to become a menace now. Anybody can get a stock of air rifles and even start shooting people. Why they use air rifles is due to the fact that it doesn’t produce any sound when killing a target. These people have killed rare species of animals as seen from the photos. We have to start respecting wildlife and treasure our flora and fauna.”

“No permits are needed to possess air rifles in Sri Lanka and this is starting to become a menace now”

The use of these weapons should be banned : Sagarika Rajakarunanayake

In her comments director of Sathva Mithra group and animal rights activist Sagarika Rajakarunanayake said that it was high time that these weapons were banned from use. “We need to find out who are purchasing these weapons and also who are selling them. It has been a horrible sight to see animals being tortured before they are being killed. The entire line of activity has to be traced because this is not the first time that such an incident took place.”

“We need to find out who are purchasing these weapons and also who are selling them”

Statement by Police Media Unit

According to a statement released by the Police Media Unit it mentioned that these suspects were residents of Panwila, Kandy and this incident had occured five years ago at St. John’s Estate in Madulkelle.
Six suspects in connection to the incident were arrested on Saturday and Sunday. Two air rifles, pellets and a gun have been taken into custody. The suspects were between ages 22 and 42 and they were produced at the Teldeniya Magistrate’s Court on Sunday for further investigations.

Expose by a wildlife expert

A wildlife expert who wished to remain anonymous told the Daily Mirror that air rifles were issued a few years back to coconut planters to protect their cultivations. The air rifles were used to chase away monkeys and many of them had been distributed at the time. “However the method of killing is immaterial because animals such as the barking deer are endemic species and are strictly protected under the Flora and Fauna Protection Ordinance. These air rifles have now become more powerful because the barking deer is the size of a dog.”
In order to clarify this information the Daily Mirror tried to contact the Minister of Plantation Industries, Navin Dissanayake but learned that he was currently overseas and several attempts to contact Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries, Wasantha Lakshman Perera failed.

(Source: 5/7/2016 Daily Mirror : http://www.dailymirror.lk/112007/Photos-of-animal-torturers-go-viral-on-social-media-Animal-cruelty-weapons-and-national-security#sthash.KsLQliDZ.dpuf)

June 15, 2016by bslIn the news Latest Posts

Sri Lanka Telecom-Save for tomorrow awareness programme

The recent awareness programme on nature conservation held in May 2016 by Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) proved to be a unique and exciting experience altogether for the participants who were taken on a tour to the world heritage site, the Sinharaja Forest Reserve.

It all began in March 2016 when the company organized a social media competition #LastClick to urge and encourage people to protect the threatened plant species in Sri Lanka. The winners of this competition received an all-inclusive nature tour to the Sinharaja Forest Reserve.

The #LastClick social media campaign was conducted during the period 1st to 31st March 2016. During the campaign period, the company posted photographs of threatened plant species, with the caption “Don’t let this be my #LastClick” as well as other captions similar to that effect, conveying the sense of urgency with which the entire nation needed to act if we are to protect these endangered plant species in the country and prevent their extinction before it’s too late. The company stressed that the responsibility for protecting these trees fell on the shoulders of each and every citizen. This involves: being knowledgeable and educating ourselves on the different endangered plant species, making sure that we take steps to plant as many of these species as possible in our own gardens as well as taking steps to conserve the trees that are already there.

Through the campaign, people were encouraged to plant saplings of these endangered plants in their homes and take photographs and share them on SLT’s special “Preserving heritage for tomorrow” Facebook page as well as on Twitter. Alternatively, people could also photograph endangered trees / plants that have already been planted and share these photos on the designated page together with the name, description and location where the plant/tree was found. The company received a massive response and out of these, the winners were selected and awarded a unique and adventures journey as promised.

The Sinharaja Forest Reserve proved to be the ideal location for the nature tour as it has been recognized as a biodiversity hotspot in Sri Lanka, and also been designated as a biosphere reserve and World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Prof. Sarath Kotagama who is the former Head of the Department of Zoology, University of Colombo and who has also rendered an extraordinary service to Sri Lanka as an ornithologist and environmentalist was the resource person for the tour. He conducted the 2 day workshop at Sinharaja for these individuals that also included trekking through the forest to identify the different flora and fauna. Thus, it was a richly educational tour and also a unique and exciting experience for all the participants, according to the positive comments received from them after the tour.

SLT’s vision behind this social media campaign and tour was to raise awareness amongst the public, especially the younger generations and draw their attention to endangered plants and the importance of “preserving heritage for tomorrow”. “Preserving heritage for tomorrow” has been an on-going corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative undertaken by SLT for many years, under which the company encourages the public to preserve the rich heritage of the country – be it in terms of environment and bio diversity, culture or arts – for the benefit of the younger generations.

(Source : 15/06/2016 Daily News http://epaper.dailynews.lk/art.asp?id=2016/06/15/Pg32_0&pt=p&h=)

June 13, 2016by bslIn the news Latest Posts

Sri Lanka govt, private outfits linked to illegal wild life trade

Organised criminals doing a thriving illegal wildlife trade in Sri Lanka are operating with the connivance of certain government and private sector institutions, a former senior Customs officer has charged.

Sri Lanka has become a transit point for the illegal trade in wildlife given its location on the main East-West trade route and good shipping connections, said Samantha Gunasekera, former Deputy Director of Customs.

The island is also one of the world’s top eight bio-diversity hotspots with criminals targeting many species because of their ornamental or medicinal value or colour, he told a forum on how to tackle the illegal trade in wildlife organised by Sri Lanka biodiversity enthusiasts.

“In Sri Lanka, certain government and private institutions are having connections with organised crime – wildlife criminals,” said Gunasekera, who was in charge of the Customs Biodiversity, Cultural & National Heritage Protection Division.

Many targeted plant species are well documented, especially medicinal plants, given their commercial value, he told the forum conducted jointly by the Biodiversity Sri Lanka, the Environmental Professionals of Sri Lanka and the Base for Enthusiasts of Environmental Science and Zoology, a student body at the University of Colombo.

The concentrated distribution of targeted species also made it easier for criminals, Gunasekera said.

Many endemic species are distributed in the south western part of Sri Lanka in small forest patches where the human population is high.

“That makes it easy to collect, especially by foreigners, who have contacts with locals, knowledgeable people who know where it is so they can collect within a few hours.”

The latest move by the local environmentalists comes as it was found that Sri Lanka is being used by the illegal wildlife traders operating between Africa and the East Asia region, as a point of their operations, the forum organisers said.

“Sri Lanka is strategically located in one of the busiest international shipping routes in the Indian Ocean and most of the container ships, particularly between Africa and the Gulf region, to the East Asian region, pass through the Colombo Port,” they said in a note.

“A growing illegal wildlife trade between Africa and the East Asian region takes place on this shipping lane.”

This is proven through detection and seizure in 2012 by the Sri Lanka Customs, of a blood ivory container with 359 pieces on board weighing 1.5 tonnes, en-route to Dubai from Kenya.

Another seizer of a massive consignment of 28 container loads of Madagascar Dalbergia timber (Rose Wood) worth US$ 7million, which was being transported from Zanzibar to Hong Kong via Sri Lanka in 2014 has also been recorded.
( Source : 13/06/2016 Economy Next http://www.economynext.com/Sri_Lanka_govt,_private_outfits_linked_to_illegal_wild_life_trade-3-5236-13.html )

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June 9, 2016by bslIn the news Latest Posts

LAUGFS Leisure drives cleaner coastal environment in Passikudah

LAUGFS Leisure recently organized a beach cleanup project in the Passikudah area in an effort to create awareness towards a cleaner and safer environment.

The staff of Anantaya Passikudah, the latest addition to the Anantaya luxury resort chain, teamed up and volunteered to clean the beach front in commemoration of the World Environment Day.

Speaking about this initiative LAUGFS Leisure – Director and CEO, Roshan R. Perera, remarked, “our resorts are truly committed to minimizing our environmental footprint and we continuously work towards promoting responsible and sustainable practices and preserving our natural surroundings. Anantaya Resort in Passikudah also shares these values and embraces this same spirit, which is why we have initiated this project even before the launch of the hotel”.

The increase in population, industrial activities and rapid urbanization have all had significant negative impacts on the environment, adversely affecting the rich bio-diversity of the country. The coastal areas of Sri Lanka, in particular, are affected by coastal water pollution, and preserving the rich marine environment have become areas of critical concern.

In a bid to promote responsible tourism, Anantaya resort chain has continuously focused on integrating sustainable practices throughout its operations and have initiated numerous best practices and awareness projects in its localities. Anantaya Resort in Chilaw is renowned for its ‘Eco Luxury’ concept and has been built with many energy saving and conservation measures incorporated into its design. From the use of renewable energy through its own solar and wind power generation to recycling of treated sewerage water for irrigation, the resort has taken many measures to co-exist in harmony with its natural environment.

It will also be one of the first hotels to initiate Eco-tours in Sri Lanka, whereby deploying eco-friendly hybrid and electric vehicles for excursions, as well as airport drops and pickups of its guests.

The Anantaya Resort in Passikudah, is similarly built on a theme of eco-luxury with an environmentally-friendly design and energy efficient practices inbuilt to its operations.

The soon to be launched Resort occupies an area of 15 acres which was heavily polluted and bare for a long period of time.

(Source:09/06/2016 Daily News http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=2016/06/09/business/84047)

May 31, 2016by bslIn the news Latest Posts

Delicate balance between Development and environment

According to government reports, recent floods and landslides in Sri Lanka have caused widespread disruption across country. Over 400,000 people have been displaced by floods, many casualties have been reported, and dozens are feared missing. Government puts this down to climate change. Such disasters were on the discussion table since 2010, and it was to be expected.

Center for environmental and Nature studies (CENS), Sri Lanka repeatedly reached out to the Environment Ministry and relevant authorities to put a stop to the destruction of environmentally-sensitive areas while implementing the National Physical Plan. But such entreaties were blatantly disregarded. This capitalist system is bent on increasing profit for the business community and decreases quality of life. This article elaborates on the reasons for flooding, landslides and other disasters.

The National Physical Plan to be implemented from 2011 to 2030 creates serious negative impacts on the ecosystems, so far untouched by development interventions. As a result of Colombo-Matara Highway, Sinharaja forest would be fragmented twice and 39 forests, including Sinharaja will be destroyed due to the proposed-development activities. Bibile, Nilgala area would have tremendous negative repercussions as a result of the proposed-hotel complexes.

Forests act as a barrier to soil erosions. Roots systems of these trees hold the soil layers together, protecting the earth from landslides. Destruction of forest cover increases soil erosion and risk of landslides. The percentage value of available forest area in 2012 is around 16.5 and by 2030, it is estimated that this will be further reduced to between 13 to 10 per cent with the decrease of forests due to the implementation of National Physical Plan, if the current government decides to go through with it. Ground water levels in the forests will deplete, and rivers will suffer from acute water shortage and go dry. It has been identified that 103 rivers will turn dry as in the case of Maguru Oya which is almost completely dried out.

There are riffles and pools midstream of every river. According to our research observations, riffles and pools have been covered by concrete buildings and roads. Micro-hydro projects and mega-development projects have blocked water-feeding channels, in Kelani River, for example. Riffles and pools are located in Kaluaggala, Avisswella, Waga and Hanwella areas. Colombo-Avissawella Road and many building were built, blocking and destroying riffles and pools. This is the cause for the many floods and landslides in many areas.

Flow of water in the riverbed should be natural. In the Sri Lankan scenario, downstream riverbeds are filled with sediments, hindering the natural flow of water. Sediment is transport to riverbeds from flood plains; erosion and construction around rivers increase flood and landslides. For example, due to construction of Pico hydro power on top of Laxapana waterfall and Kitulgala, Kelani River receives tons of sediments. This has resulted in increased incidence of flooding in Hanwella and Colombo areas. Most rivers receive lots of sediments from mega highway construction activities and other mega development sites.

In the process of building large cities, highways, airports, tourist hotels, a large number of minor tanks will disappear and tank cascades will be blocked disrupting natural water flow. As a result, droughts and floods will become a recurrent feature in Anuradapura, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee and Kurunegala.

Many floodplains are being ravaged by mega development projects. For example, a highway was built destroying Muturajawela wetland and many other wetlands in the country. Before the highway was built, not a single incident of flooding was reported in Kaduwela and Ja-Ela areas. Encroachment of floodplain has caused massive disasters in the past. Many floodplains have been converted to build sites of homes, businesses and other urban development activities.

This is most evident in Kelani River, during rainy season when water level of Kelani River goes up flooding human settlements built in the floodplain.

The Mahaweli Development Plan which kicked off with the anticipation of tremendous development within a short period resulted in ecological disasters such as landslides, increased incidence of floods, human-elephant conflict, land fragmentation and loss of biodiversity. The country is still paying debts to international funding agencies that funded Mahaweli Accelerated Development Programme. This trend continues with the development activities proposed under the National Physical Plan.

In another example, many people die in the Meeriaybedda landslide in 2014. The cause of the landslide is believed to be the drilling and blasting method used for rock breaking and tunnel drilling of the Uma Oya project. The vibration caused by the process subjects the area to the inevitable risk of landslides in the future.

We have enough environmental laws to protect nature and prevent disasters, but all laws are under political and monetary influence. Funds for the destructive National Physical Plan are provided by funding agencies such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.
John Parkinson in his Book Confession of an Economic Hit Man recounts how countries like America believed in a rapid, tremendous development through and when they found that their developmental interventions failed one by one, they attempted to maintain their economy by exploiting other countries with high interest rates and conspiracies to topple governments acting against their policies and so-called development programmes.

In Parkinson’s view, the capitalist countries build hope in the minds of leaders in poor countries through their imaginary models for rapid economic development. One such example is Norochcholai Coal Power Project in Sri Lanka. The project has failed to provide any of the benefits promised at inception.

Parkinson further says that foreign companies provide loans through which developing countries can be caught in an everlasting debt trap. Capitalist countries make huge profits through interest charged for loans and exploitation of natural resources of the countries concerned. They are also concerned with appointing people who obey their policies and commands as the leaders of these countries.

Similar fate would befall Sri Lanka, if the current government is to follow through with the National Development Plan. Mega development does not sustain the world. Luxury apartments, highways, airports, megacities, supermarkets cannot be considered socio-economic indicators of a country. Though capitalist regimes unconditionally stand by the National Physical Plan, World Bank and Asian Development Bank agendas, they do not bother about the priorities of the vulnerable majority.

Source 30-05-2016 Nation( Sri Lanka http://nation.lk/online/2016/05/28/delicate-balance-between-development-and-environment.html

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May 24, 2016by bslIn the news Latest Posts

Don’t destroy our biological supermarkets

With the deluge continuing and hundreds of thousands of people seriously affected by the worst flood havoc in recent decades, we wish to focus attention today on how much the construction of housing schemes and other buildings on what were once wetlands or marshlands has contributed towards the calamity.
For instance in the suburbs of Colombo city, a wetland including an ancient stream was apparently bought at a lower price, covered up and luxury two storey houses built at a sale price of Rs. 20 million each. Last week the ground floors of most of those houses were covered by dirty or muddy flood water and the residents had to flee. Most of them are not likely to return. This is one of the many instances where houses or buildings in wetlands faced a catastrophe. Besides the take-over of wetlands, the Daily Mirror in its Editorial on Monday referred to the excessive or illegal rock blasting and sand mining which had been carried out on a large scale with political patronage for the last decade or more.

According to scientific analysts, when an area flooded with water, wetlands act like a giant sponge. This is because the living plants and even the dead plants can absorb the extra water. By doing this, wetlands also help slow down the movement of this water to surrounding areas where people may have houses. So, having wetlands in areas where there is regular flooding may save your houses.
Scientists say wetlands are important features in the landscape that provide numerous beneficial services for people, fish and wildlife. Some of these services, or functions, include protecting and improving water quality, providing fish and wildlife habitats, storing flood waters and maintaining surface water flow during dry seasons.

These valuable functions are the result of the rare natural characteristics of wetlands.Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, comparable to rain forests and coral reefs. An immense variety of species of microbes, plants, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, fish and mammals can be part of a wetland ecosystem. Scientists say the complex, dynamic relationships among the organisms inhabiting the wetland environment are called food webs.
Wetlands can be thought of as “biological supermarkets.” They provide great volumes of food that attract many animal species. These animals use wetlands for part of or all of their life-cycle. Dead plant leaves and stems break down in the water to form small particles of organic material called “detritus.” This enriched material feeds many small aquatic insects, shellfish and small fish that are food for larger predatory fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals. All these are destroyed when apartment complexes or other building are constructed on wetlands. The Government must stop this now as part of Sri Lanka’s contribution to the battle against climate change.

The functions of a wetland and the values of these functions to humans depend on a complex set of relationships between the wetland and the other ecosystems in the watershed. A watershed is a geographic area in which water, sediments and dissolved materials drain from higher elevations to a common low-lying outlet or basin a point on a larger stream, lake underlying aquifer or estuary.
Scientists believe wetlands play an integral role in the ecology of the watershed. The combination of shallow water, high levels of nutrients and primary productivity is ideal for the development of organisms that form the base of the food web and feed many species of fish, amphibians, shellfish and insects. Many species of birds and mammals rely on wetlands for food, water and shelter, especially during migration and breeding.

Wetlands’ microbes, plants and wildlife are part of the global cycles for water, nitrogen and sulphur. Scientists now know that atmospheric maintenance may be an additional wetlands function. Wetlands store carbon within their plant communities and soil instead of releasing it to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Thus wetlands help to moderate global climate conditions.
Far from being useless, disease-ridden places, wetlands provide values that no other ecosystem can. These include natural water quality improvement, flood protection, shoreline erosion control, opportunities for recreation and aesthetic appreciation and natural products for our use at no cost. Protecting wetlands can protect our safety and welfare

(Source: 24 May 2016 Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) : http://www.dailymirror.lk/109920/Don-t-destroy-our-biological-supermarkets-EDITORIAL#sthash.572Lkf4u.dpuf)

May 24, 2016by bslIn the news Latest Posts

Kolonna garment factory distributes 800 mango plants to save environment

The Bernard Social Service Programme of the Bernard Boteju Garment Factory in Kolonna distributed 800 mango plants as a part of the campaign initiated by Moratuwa University Post Graduate Students’ Re-forest Sri Lanka Association to plant 84,000 trees.

More than 650 employees of the factory and the residents of the area received mango plants of the Karthakolomban variety. Factory administration advised the beneficiaries refrain from using synthetic fertilizer and to use only compost.

Kolonna Divisional Secretary S.M.D. Samarasekara said the community service of the Bernad Garment Factory set an example for the country. He pointed out that Kolonna area was facing a series of environmental issues.

Managing Director, Janak Boteju said he was impressed by the post graduate students’ campaign to plant 84,000 trees and implement the plant distribution programme which cost more than Rs.200,000 to the factory. He said he was planning to continue the programme in the years to come.

(Source : 23 May 2016 :Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) http://www.dailymirror.lk/109848/Kolonna-garment-factory-distributes-mango-plants-to-save-environment)

Excellent way of highlighting animal cruelty : Iromi Salgado

“If social media could be used this way it can really open the eyes of the public”

Many people use air rifles to protect their cultivations : N. G Panditharathna

“These were issued for coconut planters to use in their cultivations to protect them from animals such as monkeys”

Anybody can possess air rifles without permits : Gamini Jayawickrama Perera

“No permits are needed to possess air rifles in Sri Lanka and this is starting to become a menace now”

The use of these weapons should be banned : Sagarika Rajakarunanayake

“We need to find out who are purchasing these weapons and also who are selling them”

Statement by Police Media Unit

Expose by a wildlife expert

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