Biodiversity preservation, the key to sustainable growth

Biodiversity Sri Lanka’s ( BSL) Annual Technical Sessions which preceded its AGM, were held at the Ramada Colombo recently. At these sessions, member contributions to national conservation priorities were explored, the organization said in a media release.

BSL member companies are engaged in biodiversity conservation and activities that have a direct and/or indirect impact on the conservation of Sri Lanka’s b i o d i ve r s i t y. Membership of BSL represents over 75 companies across eight industry sectors - agribusiness and food, banking and finance, engineering and construction, information and communications technology, manufacturing, service, tea plantations, and tourism and hospitality.

Studies have revealed that unlike in the past, achieving environmental sustainability today has become an integral part of a company’s business strategy. BSL member companies have initiated over 250 activities including conservation projects, events and internal programmes in relation to environmental sustainability during the period spanning from 2010 to 2018. The study classified these initiatives into 10 thematic areas - ecosystem conservation and restoration, reforestation and greening, waste management, water management, species conservation, education, awareness and publications, marine and coastal conservation, energy conservation, biodiversity/ carbon footprint assessments, research and certifications, and other.

The highest number of initiatives were found in the education, awareness and publications category, while reforestation and greening was recorded at second place. It was observed that there is a disparity in the geographical distribution of these initiatives, with Colombo recording close to 25 per cent of them. Galle district, where 20 per cent of these initiatives were recorded, ranked second place, whereas the Nuwara Eliya district stood at third place with just 9 per cent of the initiatives. The districts of the Northern Province - Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, Mulaitivu and Mannar did not seem to be attractive enough as locations suitable for project implementation, despite the presence of ecologically important and unique ecosystems including salt marshes, lagoons, estuaries, sand dunes and islands within the province, the release added.