| Sri Lanka | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Location | Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India | ||||||||||||||||||
| National websites | Sri Lanka, Paradise on Earth | ||||||||||||||||||
| Embassy / Chancery in U.S. | Embassy
of Sri Lanka
2148 Wyoming Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20008 |
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| Agencies responsible for biological inventory and conservation | Ministry
of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development
Maligawatte, Colombo 10, Sri Lanka. Ministry
of Forestry and Environment
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| Non-governmental organizations concerned with conservation | Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society-
This Society is committed to assessing status of habitats, managing preserves, and developing awareness in an efort to conserve the flora and fauna of Sri Lanka. Department of Wildlife Conservation
WWF
IUCN
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| Major Natural Resources | Sri Lanka has heavy reserves of limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, and clay. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Major Environmental and Conservation Issues | Deforestation is the major issue regarding the environment of Sri Lanka. Deforestation began as a problem more than a century ago, with the introduction of plantation agriculture. Large-scale areas of forest were cleared in this change in land-use. This continues to be a problem today, as aggravation due to commercial mass and agricultural production rages on. Additionally, the growing population of Sri Lanka only adds to the problem, accelerating the rate of deforestation and increasing the pressure on land for food. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Statistics | Information Sources | ||||||||||||||||||
| Land area | 65,610 Sq. km | Info Source | |||||||||||||||||
| Area of forest | 1,885 ha | Info Source | |||||||||||||||||
| Area of wetlands | Very little left, although there are plans for restoration. | Info Source | |||||||||||||||||
| Area of territorial waters | Have 1,340 km of coastline, holds claim to waters 200 nm in every direction. | Info Source | |||||||||||||||||
| Population: | Density: | 292.5 /Sq. km | Info Source | ||||||||||||||||
| Area protected (ha) (only areas >1000ha) at all IUCN levels: | 790 ha | Fraction of land area protected (%): | 11.9% | Info Source | |||||||||||||||
| Major Protected Areas | List of Major Protected Areas | Information Center for the Environment | |||||||||||||||||
| Endemic Species |
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Info Source | |||||||||||||||||
| Endangered, Threatened and Vulnerable Species |
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World Conservation Monitoring Centre - Animal | |||||||||||||||||
| Extinct Species |
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World Conservation Monitoring Centre - Animal | |||||||||||||||||
| Species listed on CITES Appendices | CITES-listed Species Database | ||||||||||||||||||
| Legislation | |||||||||||||||||||
| Laws protecting endangered or threatened species | The Flora and Fauna Act
Law protects key elephant populations. |
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| Laws protecting endangered ecosystems | Forestry Ordinance
Fisheries Act Coast Conservation Act National Environment Act |
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| Signatory to CITES | April 4, 1979 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Signatory to Ramsar Wetlands Convention | October 15, 1990 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Signatory to Convention on Biological Diversity | June 10, 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Signatory to Migratory Bird Treaty | Not a signatory | ||||||||||||||||||
| Member of International Whaling Commission | Not a member | ||||||||||||||||||
| Signatory to other international treaties designed to protect or manage biological resources | Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary
Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High Seas Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques International Convention on the Regulation of Whaling Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space, and Under Water United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change |
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| Natural Resource Use | Information Sources | ||||||||||||||||||
| Fisheries | Roughly one-third of the population lives near the cost, so coastal marine fisheries are an important part of peoples lives. Both men and women work in "fish sorting, cutting, processing, and dragging the boats ashore." -Taken from the food and agriculture association. | Info Source | |||||||||||||||||
| Forestry / deforestation | Forests provide one of the most important resources to the people of Sri Lanka. The forests provide "subsistence, consumption, and daily maintenance for families". However, forest resources are continually deteriorating along with tree cover. This is a concern as a majority of the families require forest food to feed themselves each day. Still, this pressure on the forest for food and housing simply accelerates the rate of deforestation.-Taken from the food and agriculture association. | Info Source | |||||||||||||||||
| Ecotourism | Has many national parks which are home to ancient ruins, lovely beaches, and beautful landscapes which draws tourists. | Info Source | |||||||||||||||||
| Trade in wildlife products | The trade of exotic fish occurs in Sri Lanka. These fish are not endangered and are grown for export. Illegal trade of wildlife also occurs, as Sri Lanka does not have the human resources to completely stop this. | Info Source | |||||||||||||||||
| Hunting | Hunting is an issue as it threatens wildlife populations. Also, poaching is a current problem. | Info Source | |||||||||||||||||
| Other uses of natural resources | Resources are used mainly for the subsistence use of the people. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Human Impacts on Natural Resources | Information Sources | ||||||||||||||||||
| Air pollution | Sri Lanka has had significant smog pollution which has floated in from neighboring countries. | Info Source | |||||||||||||||||
| Water pollution | Freshwater resources are being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff. | Info Source | |||||||||||||||||
| Development activities | The government of Sri Lanka has allocated many of the countries resources to constructing dams and irrigation works in order to keep pace with the countries transformation from agriculture to a more diverse commercialized economy. In doing so, the country depleted and degraded it's natural resources, such as it's forests. | Info Source | |||||||||||||||||
| Introduced species | Foreign species are allowed, under specific circumstances. | Info Source | |||||||||||||||||
| Legislation addressing these issues | Species can be introuduced into the country if requisite safeguards are met. | Info Source | |||||||||||||||||
| Restoration and Reintroduction | Information Sources | ||||||||||||||||||
| Programs for restoration of damaged habitat | There are currently plans to conserve and manage Bellanwila-Attidiya wetlands. This area is the only wetlands area that Sri Lanka has remaining, and it is very important in it's ecological value. | Info Source | |||||||||||||||||
| Programs for ex situ conservation (captive breeding and reintroduction) of endangered species | There are programs in place which are attempting to conserve plants with medicinal value. These plants are threatened due to overcollection. Also, zoos are also in place for ex situ conservation of species. | Info Source | |||||||||||||||||
Return to Endangered Species Protection around the World
Page compiled by Brian Hill as part of a class project in h90 "The Science of Biodiversity and Conservation" (Peter J. Bryant, Instructor), University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA