Keeping everyone informed
Butterflies, of silky wing and myriad colour, flitting from flower to flower in garden or forest glade, are truly one of the natural wonders of this island. However, they are often taken for granted and rarely given the attention they should, apart from aesthetic admiration of their beauty. Yet, these fragile insects play a vital role in the balance of nature.
The Human-Elephant Conflict has long plagued our nation – wreaking havoc across lives and livelihoods and threatening the future of this iconic species and their habitats.
It is feared by one and all……..but for ecologist Dr. Shyamala Ratnayeke it is a fascinating creature and she is a staunch believer that sloth bears, the only bear species found in Sri Lanka, are “a unique national treasure!”
PLANT [Preserving Land and Nature (Guarantee) Pvt. Ltd.] is one of the most ambitious projects undertaken by the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) of Sri Lanka. Focused on the South western region of Sri Lanka, the island’s most bio-diverse quarter and home to most of the country’s endemic species, PLANT aims to build, “Almost uninterrupted or reasonably connected corridors of protected natural spaces and forest ecosystems,” linking Sri Lanka’s remaining forests and protected reserves across the land, allowing it to heal and let nature take its course.
PLANT (Preserving Land and Nature (Guarantee) Pvt Ltd), an affiliate of the WNPS (Wildlife and Nature Protection Society) envisioned Emerald Trails as a series of continuous wildlife corridors linking the major wildlife hotspots in the endemic rich southwest of the island.
Mr Sriyan de Silva Wijeratne, the chairman of Plant, was interviewed by Savithri Rodrigo on Kaleidoscope last week.