BIODIVERSITY OF SRI LANKA AND ITS CONSERVATIONAn Overview

Gaminie Vijith SamarakoonDepartment of Wildlife ConservationSri Lanka

SRI LANKA AN ISLAND IN THE TROPICS

Having the optimum conditions year-round, tropical countries can hold a rich biodiversity

SRI LANKA AS A BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT

Geographically Sri Lanka is an island separated from the Indian sub continent

Together with the Western Ghats of India, Sri Lanka is recognized as one of the Biological Hotspots in the world

Biodiversity Hot spots are only 8% of the total geographical area of the world, but holds 35% of the vertebrates and 46% of the plants

BIO - GEOGRAPHY OF SRI LANKA

Central mountain massif separates the land mass into two climatic zones, as wet and dry

Rain forests and Mountain Cloud forests in the Wet zone harbors a rich biodiversity and shows a high Endemicity

Dry

Wet

Intermediate

Arid

ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY OF SRI LANKA Marine and Coastal Habitats

Sea grass bedsCoral Reefs

Sea Coast Salt Water

Lagoons and Mangroves

ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY OF SRI LANKA Inland Fresh water Ecosystems

Rivers and streams

Marshes

Rock pools Man made Reservoirs

ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY OF SRI LANKA Forest Types – Lowland

Dry Mixed Evergreen Forests

Savanas

Rivirine Forests

ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY OF SRI LANKA Forest Types - Montane

Rain Forests

Montane Cloud Forests

SPECIES DIVERSITY, ENDEMISM AND THE STATUS OF THE VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF SRI LANKA

Mammals Bir

ds

Reptile

s

Amph

ibian

s

FW Fi

shes

0

50

100

150

200

250

Sp.EndemicCriticaly En-dangered

IUCN Red data List 2007

MAJOR IMPACTS ON BIODIVERSITY

Two third of the populations is concentrated in the wet zone

Large scale multi purpose development projects in the dry zone Galoya valley Udawalawa Mahaweli

CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Loss of Natural Habitat

Deforestation Improper land use planning Mining Invasive species

Land Degradation Slash & burn Cultivation (15% of the total land area) Erosive Crops

Depletion of Coastal Resources River damming & sand mining Salinization Prawn farming Degradation of Coral Reefs

Water Pollution Improper Waste disposal Overuse of Agro chemicals

CONSERVATION ACTIONLegislation Legislations to protect Forests & Wild animals

since 1884 Forest Department

Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (1937) Department of Wildlife Conservation

National Environment Act (1980) Central Environment Authority

CONSERVATION SRATEGY, NATIONAL POLICIES AND INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS

National Conservation Strategy 1988 Central Environment Authority

National Policies on Forestry – 1995 Wildlife – 2000 Environment – 2003 Wetlands – 2005 Elephant Conservation – 2006

International Conventions Ramsar (1971) CITES (1973) Bonn (1979) Biological Diversity (1992)

NETWORK OF WILDLIFE PROTECTED AREAS

Total of 93 Wildlife Protected Areas represent all biological regions of Sri Lanka National parks 21 Strict Natural Reserves 3 Nature Reserves 5 Jungle Corridors 3 Sanctuaries 61

Total land area of WLPAs is 14% of the total land are of the country

MAJOR FORCE BEHIND THE CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES OF SRI LANKA

Sri Lankan Culture

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