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A case for our feathery friends...

by Tharika Goonathilake

Birds are symbolic of freedom. Why then do we cage them? The reasons are many, some might say. They are lively. Their songs are sweet to listen to. They have characters with which we can easily identify - cheeky and shy, gentle and fierce, talkative and moody. Many of them also enact the dramas of their lives in full view for all to see. Earthbound, we can only imagine and gaze in wonder at the richness of their plumage and song.

So it is hardly surprising that human beings have had a fascination for these creatures. But, hasn't this same fascination deprived them of the very freedom to which they so aspire?

Time and again on my way to work, I come across several shops selling these little winged creatures. Cooped up into a small space fighting for food and survival, they look forlorn and sit still as stuffed samples. Perhaps dreaming their 'little birdy dreams' of clear skies and fruity trees as they breathe in the pollution and take in the din of traffic out on the road. Many a time and when I have had the occasion I have told the owners of these shops how I feel. That it was cruel to cage birds in such appalling conditions, and that they could be punished for it.

They merely laugh off my criticism with 'this is just a business' or 'why don't you rescue them', and assures me with maddening confidence that there's no such law.

So I go away disheartened, knowing very well that they think my threats are empty and weak. Nevertheless, I am determined to plead my case, whenever, I pass the shops again.

But, a recent initiative taken by the new Minister of Environment Rukman Senanayake to take action against those who cage endemic and protected bird species in Sri Lanka has restored my faith in the human face of justice and those who hold the power to make a change.

I am sure the Minister's decision will also gladden the hearts of very many people who feel as I do.

The decision, however, will not ensure the freedom for all birds in Sri Lanka. Only the endemic, protected and threatened species will enjoy the privilege of this humane initiative, which was actually launched to protect Sri Lanka's threatened avifauna, says the Wildlife Department.

But even then it's a start!

Need for a national strategy to achieve cleaner production

Cleaner production is a broad concept that is achieved by reducing both the consumption of natural resources per unit of production and the amount of waste and consequent impact on the environment and human health per unit of production. It is therefore measured in increased efficiency and productivity of the production process.

Unlike pollution control, CP cannot be taught as a technique, but requires a shift in perspective of the business decision-maker with regard to the factors considered in business decisions. Fortunately, it is also dissimilar to pollution control in that pursuing it is does not simply add to the cost of production, but serves to reduce production costs and make the firm more productive and competitive.

Cleaner Production (CP) is a condition in which pollutants produced and natural resources consumed for each unit of product or service are reduced so that growth is economically, environmentally and socially sustainable. In practical use, the term cleaner production or CP often refers also to the collection of principles and practices by which one seeks to achieve that condition of CP.

A widely used definition of CP, given by the United Nations Environment Program, is:

Cleaner production is the continuous application of an integrated preventive environmental strategy applied to processes, products, and services to increase overall efficiency and reduce risks to humans and the environment. This involves:

* Production processes: conserving raw materials and energy, eliminating toxic raw materials and reducing the quantity and toxicity of all emissions and wastes;

* Products: reducing negative impacts along the life cycle of a product, from raw materials extraction to its ultimate disposal; and

* Services: incorporating environmental concerns into designing and delivering services.

This is a broad definition that addresses not only the reduction of the quantity and toxicity of pollution from production, but also the reduction of the consumption of natural resources by those processes. In this perspective, the principles and practices by which CP will be achieved include many related concepts, such as pollution prevention, waste minimization, environmental management, design-for-the-environment, life-cycle analysis, green accounting, and others.

Principles of CP

CP also involves many sectors of activity, and the cooperation of all these sectors is needed to achieve CP on a national scale. The principles of CP originated in manufacturing, but they are equally applicable to transportation, mining, health services, agriculture, tourism and many other sectors. All levels of government provide facilities and services to their citizens, consuming resources and impacting the environment.

Education, financial and professional organizations all influence the behaviour of business and can significantly contribute to achieving CP. Community and other volunteer organizations are made up of citizens who are impacted by the actions of business and who can contribute constructively to motivate change toward greater efficiency.

Trade and investment may be strongly affected by CP in industry. All of these are stakeholders in a process of achieving national CP, and each in its own way can contribute to and benefit from a national program to achieve CP.

CP is not simply a response to environmental concerns. It very much concerns questions of economic competitiveness and national sustainable growth. At the core of the meaning of CP is efficiency, as less use of raw materials and less waste per unit of product inherently means increased production efficiency. This in turn yields higher profitability and greater competitiveness.

As world markets become more open and competitive achieving CP can make a critical difference in the ability of a nation's products and services to compete both in the global market and at home.

All developing regions of the globe are striving for rapid future industrialization. The adoption of principles and practices to achieve cleaner production can both make industrial growth more competitive and avoid the environmental impacts and the depletion of natural resources that have been incurred by the more industrialized nations from similar growth.

Unfortunately, the intensity of natural resources consumed and of pollutants discharged is not yet falling as fast as production is rising. The result will be continuing rapid depletion of natural resources and degradation of the environment, and increasing risk to human health. Under those conditions the faster economic growth occurs, the worse the problem will become. Many areas face an environmental disaster from what may seem like economic success, but is an inherently unsustainable condition. Impact on environment

Changing this pattern requires a coherent national strategy that encompasses not only industry but all sectors, public and private, whose activities have an impact on the environment or consume natural resources, or which can help to influence the behaviour of those who directly impact the environment.

It requires commitment from government at the highest levels and the main streaming of concern for CP in public policy at all levels and in all sectors. Finally, it requires careful planning for actions to change the behaviour of enterprises and organizations, voluntarily, toward greater production efficiency.

These actions must be carefully selected on the basis of the national strategy, achieve synergy through collaboration among sectors, and be supported by public policy and strong leadership.

The Clean Industry Development Project, sponsored by the Ministry of Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion and funded by the Asian Development Bank, is undertaking with the collaboration of a wide range of stakeholder to develop the strategy, action plan and public policies needed by Sri Lanka to achieve cleaner production and the increased production efficiency, international competitiveness and sustainable development that cleaner production makes possible.

Best business

Developing the strategy and action plan is based on extensive research, especially on the advice of representatives from many private sector firms and organizations as to the combination of understanding, policies, incentives, rewards, pressures and other conditions that will change the perspective of the business person to believe that CP is in the best business interest of the firm.

Developing a workable strategy and action plan requires the collaboration of many sectors of government, business and community. Representatives of different perspectives and interests must come together to discover their common interests in achieving CP and how the nation as a whole and the agenda of each stakeholder can benefit from national progress toward CP.

They must then examine how each can contribute to a combined and integrated plan to achieve CP nationally, and work to integrate principles of CP into policy and programs at all levels and in all sectors of activity.

It is a long process, but the future cost to the nation of continuing in existing patterns of increasing industrial pollution and depletion of natural resources, accelerated by economic growth, is unacceptable.

This is a truly national issue, cutting across all dimensions of governmental responsibility for the future welfare of the nation and its people.

Conserving biodiversity in our wet zone forests

by Derrick Schokman

Sri Lanka is a party to the convention of Biological Diversity, which provides inter alia for the conservation of biodiversity in protected areas and the maintenance of viable populations of species in their natural surroundings.

Under UNCED Forest Principles, which are not legally binding, the importance of forests as storehouses of biodiversity is recognised and the state is encouraged to protect ecologically viable representations or unique examples of its forests.

Tropical rainforests are known the world over as biodiversity hotspots. Sri Lanka, small as it is, has a higher level of biodiversity per unit area than most tropical Asian countries. Much of its diversity is endemics, a reflection of its separation from the Indian subcontinent in Mesozoic times.

What little tropical rain forest is left in Sri Lanka is found in the wet zone, which is the most densely populated part of the island.

These forests therefore have been subjected to excessive logging, widespread encroachments and alienation for agriculture and settlement. Change

For a long time before and after independence, forests were looked upon as the main sources of timber.

A change of attitude occurred in 1970s, first with tree-felling in the Sinharaja forest, and later when there was intense lobbying by the NGO community against the 1986 Forestry Master Plan which they claimed was totally inadequate, not having taken into consideration any attempts at biodiversity conservation, particularly in wet zone forests where most of the biodiversity and endemism is located. Biodiversity conservation they declared needed to be directed immediately to these rain forests before they and their valuable biodiversity were lost to posterity.

The government responded favourably by introducing a moratorium on logging in the wet zone forests until conservation values had been assessed.

The Sinharaja forest was given legal protection by the Heritage Wilderness Act of 1988. And an environmental concept was incorporated in the amended Forestry Master Plan of 1996 that natural forests be allocated firstly for conservation.

Protected

Sri Lanka boasts one of the largest forest protected areas relatively in Asia - 14 per cent of the total land area. This system of protection however is not at all representative of biodiversity. Over 90 per cent of the 'protected areas are found in the dry zone in the form of nature reserves and national parks, but the greatest concentration of diversity is found in the forests of the wet zone.

There is an urgent need to redress this imbalance for biodiversity and endemism. Consequently 13 conservation forests have been identified in the wet zone. The largest and most important are the Sinharaja, Peak Wilderness Sanctuary and adjacent Horton Plains National Park and the Knuckles Conservation forest. The others are small.

There is also an urgent need to increase our knowledge of what species of flora and fauna are represented in these protected areas. This is being presently addressed by the National Conservation Review of the Forest Department. It is expected to provide a solid scientific basis for designing an optimum protected area system.

Management

While much of the wet zone forests have now been secured for conservation, they still need to be legalised and attention given to clearly defining management policies specific to each protected area in relation to sustainable uses for the benefit of local people and visitors.

Forest products are utilised by local people living in the periphery of these forests, thereby raising their standard of living.

Although their resource requirements have been assessed as a part of socio-economic surveys conducted for management planning purposes, alternative provisions have not yet been made to meet these requirements in ecologically sustainable development programmes. For this purpose it will be advantageous if these local people are made active participants in the planning and management of these forests for biodiversity conservation.

Very little of this has yet been done except in the case of Sinharaja and the Knuckles. It is going to be an over-riding priority during this decade.

A guide to the Biodiversity of Bundala National Park

 

Text compiled and edited by: Dr. Channa N.B. BambaradeniyaPrepared by IUCN - Sri Lanka for the Department of Wildlife Conservation with financial assistance from the Ramsar Bureau.Review by: W.T.J.S. Kaviratne - Ambalangoda special correspondent(President - Southern Province United Environmental Media Association)

The Head of the Biodiversity Program of IUCN - The World Conservation Union, Sri Lanka Country Office, Dr. Channa N.B. Bambaradeniya has compiled a guide 'A Guide to the Biodiversity of Bundala National Park.

Bundala National Park covering an area of 6,216 ha is located in the Hambantota district of Sri Lanka and in 1969 Bundala was declared a Sanctuary under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance and in 1992 it was declared as a National Park due to its richness in ecosystem and species diversity.

In 1990, Bundala National Park was declared as the first Ramsar wetland of Sri Lanka recognised internationally because it provided both food and shelter for over 20,000 shorebirds migrating from distant climes of the world.

Migratory bird species such as Stints, Sand Pipers, Plovers, Terns, Gulls, Ducks and well-known Flamingo could be seen peacefully sharing the same habitats with their resident counterparts like Herons, Egrets, Pelicans, Cormorants, Teals, Storks, Stilts and Grebes, in the wetland of Bundala.

Bundala can be considered as a unique gift of nature to this country as its beauty is enhanced due to diverse ecosystems providing habitats for diverse species of living things.

According to Ramsar Convention it is essential for the contracting parties to make an assessment of wetlands enjoying the status of 'Ramsar'.

A team of research workers of IUCN - Sri Lanka headed by Dr. Channa Bambaradeniya undertook the challenge to conduct a comprehensive field survey of various aspects of the biodiversity of Bundala Ramsar Wetland.

This research team was comprised of Mr. Sarath Ekanayake, Mr. Suranjan Fernando, Mr. Ruchira Somaweera, and Mr. Nalin Perera of IUCN, Sri Lanka.

The Director and the staff of the Wildlife Department has also provided the necessary guidance to Dr. Bambaradeniya and his team for the successful completion of the field survey within Bundala National Park.

In 1993, the Wetland Conservation Project of the Central Environmental Authority had prepared a wetland site report and a conservation management plan for Bundala National Park, but the latest findings on the field research carried out in Bundala and its environs by Dr. Bambaradeniya and his team are found in this Guide to Bundala.

Dr. Bambaradeniya who was conscious of his mission of compiling a guide book, instead of a scientific treatise on the biodiversity of Bundala, had taken care to include his finding in concise and simple language suitable for a guide.

Guide to Bundala comprises only 53 pages including six annexes. Two summaries in Sinhala and Tamil are given in the beginning of the Guide on the Biodiversity of Bundala National Park.

There are many colour plates and maps supporting the information given in every chapter of the guide. In addition, the presentation of information has been done in an attractive manner on the top of every chapter in a few lines of poetic language: 'The song of a bird...., the trumpet of an elephant..., the tinkle of a stream..., the roar of the ocean..., the silver of the moonbeam..., the gold of the sand dune... It's a true paradise. The first chapter 'Introduction to Bundala National Park, though very brief gives a clear idea about its location, vegetation and its important ecosystems.

Second Chapter provides information on vegetation types, habitats and plant species of Bundala.

Table 1 gives the habitat types, their dominant plant species found in Bundala National Park. Scientific names and the local Sinhala names are also given. Third Chapter deals on the animals of Bundala and valuable information on mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and butterflies are given with attractive colour plates.

Valuable information for Bird Watchers are given in the Chapter on Birding Hotspots in Bundala supported by a map.

In addition valuable information on numerous threats recently cropped up having negative impact on the biodiversity of this Ramsar Wetland are discussed in the Chapter on "Threats to the biodiversity of Bundala. Useful advice to park visitors are given in point form to facilitate the reader.

Annexes numbering six lists of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and butterflies recorded in Bundala are also included in this guide.

This is an invaluable guide book for research students on biodiversity of wetlands, nature lovers, conservationists and those who are keen on promoting eco-tourism of Sri Lanka.

Vandalism, a threat

by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi

Over 100 acres of forests in the water-shed areas have been destroyed by vandals during the last few weeks, increasing threats to the biodiversity and water base in the Central region.

Parliamentarian Sanjeewa Kaviratne who is also an environmental activist claims that so far no arrests have been made in this connection and no action taken to prevent such fires in the future.

Due to these fires, a large section of forests in Knuckles, Hantana, Hunnasgiriya, Randenigala and Kothmale areas have been destroyed, he said.

"I have already requested the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Rukman Senanayake to implement an accelerated program to rectify this situation and protect forests in the hill country," Mr. Kaviratne said.

According to Mr. Kaviratne, these fires are common in areas where there are extensive Pinus plantations.

This has also posed a threat to a number of communication towers in these areas.

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