Nation Trust WNPS Monthly Lecture Recovering From The Crisis Without Further Harm To The Environment

Lecture by Dr. Pethiyagoda & Prof. Weerakoon

The monumental decision taken in May 2021, by the Sri Lankan Government (GOSL), to ban the imports of inorganic fertilizers and switch to organic fertilisers has had devastating impacts on agricultural production and food security and now threatening the survival of the Sri Lankan population. This has resulted in the GOSL turning towards another short-term solution, to release all the lands within protected areas, or designated for protection, for the purpose of increasing cultivation. 

Sri Lanka’s Protected Area (PA) network covers 26.5% of the total area of the island. It consists of intact wet and dry zone forest ecosystems that harbour wildlife. The PA network provides a wealth of ecosystem services and goods that are vital for the sustenance of humans and animals alike. Sri Lanka, along with the Western Ghats, is identified as one of the 35 global biodiversity hotspots. The total annual economic value of the protected areas has been estimated to range from US $ 3.5 billion to US $ 138.8 billion. The question, therefore, arises as to whether the principles of conservation have to be compromised for the sake of the food requirements of the people of this country, or are their possible arrangements that will ensure the survival of both? This matter of considerable importance is to be discussed and debated between two giants of science and research in this field.
Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda is a biodiversity scientist. He has more than 60 research papers to his credit, in addition to authoring several books on Sri Lanka’s fauna and flora, through the Wildlife Heritage Trust (WHT), a foundation he endowed in 1991. He has won wide international recognition for his work, including a Rolex Award and more recently the Linnaean Medal which is considered as the Nobel Prize for Naturalists, 

Prof. Devaka Weerakoon is a strong education professional with a PhD in Biological Science from Illinois State University. He is skilled in Conservation Biology, Sustainable Development, Environmental Science, Ecology, Human-Wildlife Conflict and Wetland Management.

This is a must for all interested in conservation and the environment. The Nations Trust WNPS Public Lecture is presented in association with Nations Trust Bank and open to all. Join us via https://bit.ly/3yA7HDj