The Wildlife and Nature Protection Society signed an MOU with the Herpetological Foundation of Sri Lanka (HFS)

The Wildlife and Nature Protection Society signed an MOU with the Herpetological Foundation of Sri Lanka (HFS) for a project to conserve the habitat of the Knuckles World Heritage Site. The project contains three main components specifically Research, Education and Advocating Policy Planning.

The landscape of the Knuckle is home for 29 endemic species of fauna and flora of which 23 are herpetofauna. There is also a vase number of new species that remain to be described. Most of the habitats of these species are under severe anthropogenic pressures. Because some may even be hyper endemic any adverse effect which might change or destroy their habitats might even result in complete extinction, hence are threatened according to IUCN Red List criteria. Therefore there is an urgency to publish these species to sustainably manage our ecosystems in order to conserve the biodiversity and their habitats.

The Society is funding the Herpetological Foundation of Sri Lanka (HFS) to help conduct the above research which spans several months with the project results to be published in our LORIS journal. The rights of the intellectually property arising from the MOU will be shared equally amongst both organizations.

The picture depicts the General Secretary of the Society, Jehan CanagaRetna handing over the signed document of the MOU to the Chair of the Herpetological Foundation of Sri Lanka (HFS), Mendis Wickremasinghe. The Society’s newly formed Science for Conservation Sub-Committee Dr. Chaturangi Wickramaratne is also seen in the picture.