Protecting biodiversity

With political developments hogging the headlines, we sometimes forget that our country is a paradise. Nature is at its best in Sri Lanka. Saturday's newspapers published the good news that 35 new species of frogs have been discovered in Sri Lanka. But this was somewhat dampened by the worrying discovery that 19 species of endemic frogs have become extinct. Sri Lanka is the world's top spot for frogs, with more than 100 species and more to follow. But the lowly amphibian is not the only 'star' - researchers have found 50 new snail species, 16 new crabs, seven new lizards and an as yet unknown species of mouse deer. Sadly, we do not know how many species of flora and fauna have disappeared forever.

The Wildlife Heritage Trust, whose study on the new amphibians was published yesterday in the Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, Singapore, blames habitat loss for the mass extinctions. According to the report, the ravages of habitat loss in Sri Lanka's once rain-forested wet zone have been severe and there is a compelling argument for intensive conservation management of the surviving forest.

In fact, the rate of destruction of the forest cover is alarming. Only around 750 square kilometres of an original 16,000 square kilometres of rainforest remain. The encroachment of human settlements into animal habitats and the conversion of forest areas into agricultural lands are other related factors. This has particularly affected the elephant population, which is dwindling fast.

As the study points out, the long-term prospects are bleak. It is no secret that many endemic species of flora and fauna are on the verge of extinction. They are likely to disappear in the next few decades, if not years. Urgent measures must be taken to arrest this trend. The destruction of the forest cover must be stopped and reforestation efforts must be intensified.

Another factor threatening our rich biodiversity is bio and gene piracy. The increasing large-scale illegal export of genetic resources (medicinal plants, exotic animals) has posed a major threat to Sri Lanka's unique eco-system. There are many instances where products made from our endemic species have been patented and sold abroad. Among them are products manufactured using Kothalahimbutu, karawila, binara and kekuna.

Bio-pirates have a field day because there are many loopholes in existing biodiversity laws. The laws protecting biodiversity should be updated and implemented properly if Sri Lanka is to combat bio and gene piracy. It is true that we have to use certain biological resources for sustaining our lives. But this should be done in a controlled manner. The callous destruction of biological resources without provision for renewal will spell doom for future generations.

It is thus essential to guide the younger generation on the correct path vis-a-vis environmental conservation. As tomorrow's citizens and leaders, they must be taught the importance of protecting our natural resources, especially the endemic species. Nature is yet to reveal all its secrets. There may be thousands of species waiting to be discovered here and in other parts of the world. The news of a new worm or frog species may not be very exciting, but it proves that life finds a way even under challenging circumstances resulting from Man's heartless destruction of Nature. It is not too late to stop this trail of devastation. Otherwise, the only species left on Planet Earth may be Homo sapiens. Life, as we know it, will be dead in such a world.