Bird Nest Wildlife Forum

The progressive decimation of Sri Lanka’s bio diversity was a cause for serious concern, observed Professor Kotegama.
Speaking on ‘Preserving our Bio Diversity’ under the theme ‘Sustainable Bio Diversity & Economic Development at a workshop last week, Prof. Kotagama said, “We are losing our bio diversity and it’s a major issue. Today, plants and animals are the third largest illegal trade in the world. Before we go to conservation we should understand what bio diversity is.”
He further stressed the point that in such a declining scenario of the country’s bio diversity, it was important to think in terms of technology which is the wealth where the future lies. Today, Sri Lanka was trying to be the ‘Wonder of Asia’ without even knowing what it is. The Fauna and Flora Ordinance contained nothing inside except the facts on the front page. The need of the hour was conservation of a different type involving the people.
“You need good information, good qualified people and a well informed public which was not there now. If this trend continued ‘we will never achieve what we are seeking.’
The future was plainly ‘Conservation Bio diversity,’ he urged.
Prof . Kotagama further elaborated that in such a context there should be adoptive management.
“We are looking at restoration. We are all talking about a participatory approach. This is where the turning point is where monitoring and evaluating was going to be the key to success,” Prof. Kotagama added while emphasizing the need for monitoring which was a fundamental element. The authorities needed to be clear in what they were doing.
“Our final task is to unite to save and share. It was more about conserving bio diversity than preserving it.
Earlier, Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya highlighted some of the declining factors in respect of the country’s bio diversity. The leopards are not being protected at Wilpattu. This was mainly because of the speeding jeeps that destroyed the Wilpattu road. In fact, the Wilpattu road as it was might cause the end of Wilpattu, he said.
“Are we going for nature based tourism or for public access,” he asked citing what he called the destabilising overtures to cut roads across nature resorts like Wilpattu and Yala. “All these years if we managed this way without cutting roads in nature resorts. Why cant we now,” he questioned casting a shadow over what such moves could lead to.

The Nation