Practical approach to combat biopiracy

Disna Mudalige

Wildlife Conservation Department (WCD) Director General H D Ratnayake said that discussions are on with the Environment Ministry to find out a practical approach to combat biopiracy and to design and formulate a set of guidelines to prevent illegal wildlife trade.

He observed that the government has now paid attention towards a proper means to control biopiracy by ensuring intellectual property rights to Sri Lankan researchers without giving room to foreign companies and individuals to secure patent rights for our biological resources.

He said that a research committee comprised ofexperts in fauna, flora, marine environment and natural resources is now established with the support of all relevant institutions to encourage and to provide legal support for wildlife related researches.

Addressing a press conference held at the WCD yesterday, he said that Sri Lanka was subjected to a number of incidents related to biopiracy due to high demand for our species with unique features. He observed that due to the war in the country illegal wildlife trade had flourished in the past since coastal areas in the North and East could not be monitored.

“Now the government has a direct approach to these areas and is closely monitoring all sea paths. Since our country is an island, illegal wildlife trade can only take place through sea and airports. We have taken stern action to obstruct all possible means of illegal wildlife trade with the direct intervention of Customs Department and the Biodiversity Secretariat” he noted.

He also observed that even though the country has very strict laws pertaining to biopiracy, there are some loose ends when it comes to practical enforcement. He noted that the Sri Lanka Wildlife Enforcement Network is now working to rectify these issues.