Mass extinction since dinosaurs

Disna MUDALIGE

The earth is facing its largest mass extinction of plant and animal species since the extinction of the dinosaurs, said International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Biodiversity Coordinator Vimukthi Weeratunge.

He was addressing a media awareness program organized by IUCN and Environment Ministry to celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity 2010, held at Sri Lanka Foundation Institute yesterday. Sri Lanka is a global hot spot for biodiversity, and 10 percent of the Asian elephant population is living in our country.

"Biodiversity refers to the diversity within the species, diversity between the species and diversity of different ecosystems. Due to development, introduction of invasive species, over exploitation, environment pollution, global warming and other environmental issues, the earth is facing its largest mass extinction since the disappearance of the dinosaurs" he emphasized.

He noted that out of 4,000 flowering plants identified in Sri Lanka, 930 are endemic to our country. From 1,099 plants evaluated in 2007, 72 plants are already Extincted from the country, and 675 are found to be threatened.

The family of orchidacase had the highest number of threatened spices.

"Endemic biodiversity is exceptionally high in Sri Lanka with 27 percent of the flowering plants, 84 percent of the amphibians, 50 percent of the reptiles, 54 percent of the fresh water fish, 85 percent of the land-snails, and 100 percent of the freshwater crabs being endemic to the island" he said.

He also elaborated that all of 51 fresh water crabs identified in Sri Lanka are endemic to our country, and it is a special situation which is not found in any other country.