Prioritising marine conservation
Facts vs fuzz
What drives our conservation instinct? Why are we drawn towards certain species and ecosystems? Are we focusing on the most pressing issues and practical solutions? Can we prioritise conservation issues based on science, while using charismatic species? Sri Lanka has a high diversity of marine and coastal ecosystems, fauna and flora, and a rich history of marine research and exploration. However, Sri Lanka's marine biodiversity is increasingly threatened by overfishing, pollution, coastal development and climate change.
And while marine conservation is gaining public attention, ground level implementation remains inadequate due to limited capacity both in terms of funding and human resources. Some of the most important marine conservation issues continue to be ignored by both the public and policy makers. Using charismatic species as drivers of ecosystembased management has had success in many countries both for marine and terrestrial species by bridging the gap between science and human attachment to popular, pretty and charismatic species. The talk will explore these issues through examples from Sri Lanka and around the world, highlighting conservation priorities, challenges, and success stories.
Nishan Perera
Nishan is a marine biologist with an interest in coral reef ecology, fisheries and marine protected area management with work experience in Sri Lanka and internationally. He is a co-founder of Blue Resources Trust,a
Sri Lankan marine research and conservation organisation. He currently oversees the coral reef research programme at Blue Resources Trust, and is conducting research on coral reef resilience, reef fish distribution and sustainable small-scale fisheries. Nishan is also an underwater photographer and his work has been featured in several local and international publications.
The WNPS public lecture is open to both members and non-members, Entrance Free.
Nishan is a marine biologist with an interest in coral reef ecology