Post on 11-Feb-2017
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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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