DOCSLIB.ORG

Proceedings of the 25Th International Symposium on Forestry and Environment

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Proceedings of the 25Th International Symposium on Forestry and Environment 25th International Forestry and Environment Symposium 2020 Post Covid 19’ Environment and Society Proceedings of the International Forestry and Environment Symposium Volume 25 (2020) 22-23 of January 2021 University of Sri Jayewardenepura Organised by Department of Forestry and Environmental Science University of Sri Jayewardenepura i ©University of Sri Jayewardenepura 2020 ISSN: 2235-9427 Online Version of Proceedings of International Forestry and Environment Symposium http://journals.sjp.ac.lk/fesympo ISSN: 2235-9427 Editorial Board Prof. S.M.C.U.P. Subasinghe Prof. H.S. Amarasekara Prof. U.A.D.P. Gunawardane Dr. D.T. Jayawardana Compiled by Ms. P.A.S.U. Panagoda Ms. G.M.W.K. Nuwanthi Ms. R.P. Hettiarachige Ms. G.L.H.S. Himandi Ms. P.H.G. Perera Ms. N.U. Samarasekara Cover designed by The Professional One Organised by Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura Sponsored by Tokyo Cement Group Control Union Inspections (PVT) Ltd Symposium Chair Prof. S.M.C.U.P. Subasinghe Symposium Coordinator Dr. D.T. Jayawardana ii Panel of Reviewers Senior Prof. D.M.H.S.K. Ranasinghe Senior Prof. B.M.P. Singhakumara Prof. H.S. Amarasekara Prof. N.J.G.J. Bandara Prof. S.M.C.U.P. Subasinghe Prof. U.A.D.P. Gunawardane Dr. P.K.P. Perera Dr. D.T. Jayawardana Dr. G.G.T. Chandrathilake Dr. V.M. Jayasooriya Dr. C.D.K. Pathirana Dr. D. Rajapaksa Dr. M. Munasinghe Dr. K. Ranatunga iii PREFACE International Forestry and Environment Symposium organised by the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura has a long history which goes back to 1995, where the first event was held under the theme of “Forestry for Development”, at Coral Gardens Hotel, Hikkaduwa. Since this inaugural event, throughout the years, the symposium has obtained a wide recognition among academics and professionals in the forestry and environmental sectors, both Sri Lanka and overseas. Currently, the symposium is recognised as the oldest and most renowned forestry and environment symposium in South Asia, where the researchers, academia, professionals, policy makers, and the industries, annually publish, discuss and learn about the latest developments in forestry and environment sectors. Apart from furnishing a platform for sharing latest research outcomes related to forestry and environment sector, the International Forestry and Environment Symposium holds up in making a regional and national impact by sharing knowledge and ideas that covers a wide range of sub disciplines related to the fields of forestry and environmental sciences. This year, the International Forestry and Environment Symposium celebrates its Silver Jubilee under the theme of “Post Covid 19: Environment and Society” presenting research findings under 10 major themes namely, Covid 19 on Society and Environment, Forest and Natural Resource Management, Biodiversity and Sustainable Tourism, Waste Management and Pollution Control, Environmental Engineering and Green Technology, Environmental Economics in Resource Management, Wood Science, Wood and Non- Wood Industry, Biomass and Sustainable Energy, Geology, Soil and Disaster Management, Climate Change and Water Resource Management. The symposium proceedings contain 101 abstracts of scientific studies from both local and international researchers. The 25th International Forestry and Environment Symposium is supported by the generous financial assistance from Tokyo Cement Group and Control Union Inspections (Pvt) Ltd and University of Sri Jayewardenepura. The symposium organizing committee would like to express their sincere gratitude for these funding partners and sponsors for their support in making this event a reality. Further, we extend our gratitude towards all authors, reviewers, participants, and session chair persons, academic and non-academic staff members of the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science and the students for their persevering support in making this event a success. Symposium Organising Committee Department of Forestry and Environmental Science 22nd January 2021 iv Message from Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Environment It is my great pleasure to address at the opening of Silver Jubilee of International Forestry & Environment symposium 2020, under the umbrella theme of “Post COVID 19 – Environmental & Society” organised by the Department of Forestry & Environmental Science of University of Sri Jayewardenepura. I would like to express my warmest gratitude, on behalf of the Ministry of Environment, Sri Lanka to the Department of Forestry & Environmental Science of University of Sri Jayewardenepura for organising and hosting the oldest Annual Forestry and Environment Research Conference in South Asia making a good platform for the researchers, academia, professionals, policy makers and the industry to network, share and disseminate their findings and experiences in the environmental management sector. Department of Forestry and Environmental Science is the only one of its kind in Sri Lanka, which has been offering both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Forestry and Environmental Science since 1983. The Department has been able to reach wide horizons in training professionals who are contributing effectively to sustain the country’s development process. Around 500 students have been trained since 1983; many of them are employed in the Forestry and environmental sector in local institutions as well as in the international context. A considerable number of students of the Department have been contributing to the national Environmental Management of the country. Majority of higher management of the Central Environmental Authority which is the major environmental regulatory authority of the country, are postgraduate holders of the Department of Forestry & Environmental Science. It’s a privilege for the Central Environmental Authority to have several special degree holders of the Department in the technical staff as young professionals, since they have been especially trained to contribute in multi-dimensions in environmental management. There are several alumni of the Department serving at the Ministry of Environment as well as at the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau which is mainly involved in promoting the conservation and management of the mineral resources of the country. I strongly believe that the department is able to complete its mission to assist in the sustainable management of natural resources and the environment through the commitment of students who have been serving in the different environmental management agencies all over the world. University of Sri Jayewardenepura is a historic and unique education institution in South Asia. It was founded in 1873 by the erudite Buddhist monk Ven. Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera as the ‘Vidyoodaya Privena’, a Buddhist Educational Institution. Since then the University has educated a wide range of notable alumni, including ministers and many heads of state departments and authorities, founders of reputed organisations, researchers, innovators and a vast number of professionals of diverse institutions around the world. v Research and innovation are the driving forces of any developing nation. The University is also in the forefront of research and innovation with over 25 nationally important research centres under the ‘’Research Council’ and the ‘Invention, Innovation and Venture Creation Council’ with over 50 Entrepreneurs and stakeholders with over 15 patents. Since the onset of the current epidemic in Sri Lanka, the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine of Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University has been supporting the Ministry of Health in sequencing the virus variants with the emergence of different types of novel SARS-CoV2 variants from several countries. The very first ‘Forestry symposium’ by the Department of Forestry & Environmental Science was held at the Coral Gardens Hotel, Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka under the theme of ‘Forestry for Development’ in 1995. 38 research papers have been presented by local researchers there. Since 1995 the conference series has been covering a broad spectrum of relevant themes, methodologies, and research approaches including empirical, conceptual, review and case studies in the field of Forestry and Environmental Science. These two days will offer a range of sessions designed to explore the delivery of effective and impactful research at the University and beyond. I am sure that this international research conference would also promote scientific information interchange between researchers, scientists, academicians, developers, students, policy makers and practitioners working in and around the world. vi Message from Senior Prof. Sudantha Liyanage Vice-Chancellor, University of Sri Jayewardenepura It is with great pleasure that I write this message as the Vice- Chancellor to the proceedings of the 25th International Forestry and Environment Symposium 2020 organised by the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura as a Silver Jubilee Symposium. During the last ten years I have witnessed the progression and success of this symposium while I was in Office as the Dean, Faculty of Applied Sciences. I am delighted to see the profound influence this symposium has on the field Forestry and Environmental Science. From its commencement, University of Sri Jayewardenepura has been guided by its motto “Vijja Uppattham Setta” (Among all that arise, knowledge is the greatest), taken from the Dhammapada. The
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A Strategy for Nature Tourism Management
    I I I A STRATEGY FOR NATURE TOURISM I MANAGEMENT: I Review of the EnvIronmental and Economic Benefits I of Nature TourIsm and Measures to Increase these Benefits I By I H M 8 C Herath M Sivakumar I P Steele I FINAL REPORT I August 1997 I Prepared for the Ceylon Tourrst Board and Department of Wildlife I USAIDI Natural Resources & Environmental Polley Project International Resources Group (NAREPP/IRG) I A project of the United States Agency for International Development and the I Government of Sri Lanka I I I I I I I DlScriptlOllS about Authors Mr HMC Herath IS a Deputy DIrector workIng for Department of WIldlIfe I ConservatIon, 18, Gregory's Road, Colombo 07, TP No 94-01-695 045 Mr M Sivakurnar IS a Research asSIStant, EnvIronmental DIvISIon Mmistry of I Forestry and EnvIronment, 3 rd Floor, Umty Plaza Bmldmg, Colombo 04 Mr Paul Steele IS an EconomIC Consultant workIng for EnvIronmental DIvISIon, I MllliStry of Forestry and EnvIronment, 3 rd Floor, Umty Plaza BUlldmg, Colombo 04 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I CONTENTS I Page I Executive Summary 1-11 1 IntroductIOn 12 I 2 EXIstmg market for nature tounsm 13-19 I 3 Survey of eXIstIng nature tounsm sItes 20-35 4 EnvIronmental and economIC ObjectIves of a I nature tounsm management strategy 36-42 5 QuantIfymg the economiC benefits from nature tounsm 43-56 I 6 ActI\ ltles and SItes for dIversIfymg and expandIng nature tounsm 57-62 I 7 ConclUSIOns and RecommendatIons for IncreasIng the e'1\ Ironmental and economIC benefits of I nature tounsm 63-65 8 References 66 I 9 Annex 1 LIst of persons consulted 67-68 I Annex 2 Graphs of VIsItor entrance and revenues 69-77 Annex 3 Summary of RecommendatIons of Nature Tounsm Workshop and LISt I of PartIcipants 78-80 I I I I I I I Executive summary I 1 Nature tOUrIsm should be promoted by the Ceylon TourlSt Board to mcrease the number of tourlSts vlSlt10g Sn Lanka.
    [Show full text]
  • Performance Report-2010-English
    1 2 List of Tables Page Table 1.1: Special Project Proposals Qualified for Funding 5 Table 1.2: Progress of Action Plan Activities in 2010. 6 Table 2.1: Rehabilitation and Construction of Water Bodies in 2010 7 Table 2.2: Rehabilitation of PA Road Network in 2010 8 Table 2.3: Survey and Demarcation of Protected Area Boundaries in 2010. 9 Table 2.4: Sign Boards Established in 2010 10 Table 2.5: Management of Grasslands in Wildlife Regions in 2010 11 Table 2.6: Removal of Invasive Species in 2010 11 Table 2.7: Maintenance of Fire Belts in 2010 11 Table 2.8: Wildlife Conservation Activities under Moragahakanda Project in 2010 12 Table 2.9: Wildlife Conservation Activities under Weheragala Project in 2010 12 Table 3.1: Number of Cases Prosecuted in 2010 14 Table 3.2: Progress of Action Plan Activities for 2010 15 Table 4.1: Regional Distribution of Elephant Deaths from 2006-2010 16 Table 4.2: Regional Distribution of Human Deaths 17 Table 4.3: Regional Distribution of Injuries to Human due to Elephant Attacks (2006-2010) 18 Table 4.4: Regional Distribution of Property Damages (2006-2010) 19 Table 4.5: New Electric Fences erected in 2010 21 Table 4.6: Procurement of Thunder Flares and Serphent Flares in 2010 22 Table 4.7: Distribution of the Thunder Flares and Serphent Flares in 2010 22 Table 4.8: Compensation Paid in 2010 22 Table 4.9: Capture and Translocation of Elephants in 2010 23 Table 4.10: Elephant Drives in 2010 24 Table 4.11: Gajamithuro Project – Progress in 2010 24 Table 5.1: Research Studies Undertaken by DWC Staff in 2010 26 Table 5.2: Collaborative Research Projects for 2010 27 Table 5.3: Short-term Special Training Programmes Conducted for Wildlife Officers in 2010 29 Table 5.4 : Regular Training Programmes Conducted at NWTRC in 2010 30 Table 5.5 Awareness programmes conducted by NWTRC 31 Table 5.6 Financial Progress of NWTRC 31 Table 5.7: Foreign Training Programmes Participated by Wildlife Officers in 2010 32 Table 5.8: Seminars, Exhibitions and Awareness Programmes Conducted in 2010.
    [Show full text]
  • National Wetland DIRECTORY of Sri Lanka
    National Wetland DIRECTORY of Sri Lanka Central Environmental Authority National Wetland Directory of Sri Lanka This publication has been jointly prepared by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), The World Conservation Union (IUCN) in Sri Lanka and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). The preparation and printing of this document was carried out with the financial assistance of the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Sri Lanka. i The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the CEA, IUCN or IWMI concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the CEA, IUCN or IWMI. This publication has been jointly prepared by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Sri Lanka and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). The preparation and publication of this directory was undertaken with financial assistance from the Royal Netherlands Government. Published by: The Central Environmental Authority (CEA), The World Conservation Union (IUCN) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Colombo, Sri Lanka. Copyright: © 2006, The Central Environmental Authority (CEA), International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and the International Water Management Institute. Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorised without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder.
    [Show full text]
  • Table of Contents Tables
    TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLES ................................................................................................................... v FIGURES ................................................................................................................ vii INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 01 PLANNING & ICT DIVISION 1.1. Main Activities and Responsibilities.......................................................................... .5 1.2. Performance 2018........................................................................................................ .5 Chapter 02 NATURAL RESOURSE DIVISION 2.1. Main Activities and Responsibilities.......................................................................... 9 2.2. Establishment of Protected Area Network………………………………………………9 2.3. Habitat Enrichment for Wildlife........................................................................... 11 2.4. Detail of Environment Assessment for Proposed Development projects in 2018. 13 2.5.Development projects implemented under the provisions of ther institutions.................14 Chapter 03 LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION 3.1. Main Activities and Responsibilities......................................................................... 16 3.2. Performance Detail.................................................................................................... 16 3.2.1. Implementation of Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance ..........................................16
    [Show full text]
  • The Human Right to Education of the Vanniyala-Etto Community (The Forest- Dwellers) in Sri Lanka As an Empowerment Right”
    Faculty of Law Lund University Master of International & Human Rights Law Master thesis By Shirani Rajapakse “The Human Right to Education of the Vanniyala-etto Community (the Forest- dwellers) in Sri Lanka as an Empowerment Right” Supervisor : Gudmundur Alfredsson Field : International & Human Rights Law Spring 2006 Contents Acknowledgment 3 SUMMARY 4 ABBREVIATIONS 5 1. INTRODUCTION 7 1.1 Rationale 8 1.2 Disposition 8 1.3 Delimitation 8 2. THE ROOTS OF THE VANNIYALA-ETTO COMMUNITY OR "THE FOREST-DWELLERS" 9 2.1 What Constitutes Indigenous People under Human Rights Law? 13 2.2 What Constitutes Minorities under Human Rights Law? 15 2.3 What Constitutes a Relationship between the Indigenous People and Minorities under the Human Rights Law? 18 2.4 A Comparative Analysis of the Sri Lankan Situation re Recognition of the Vanniyala-etto as Indigenous People in Sri Lanka 21 3. WHAT IS "THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION" UNDER HUMAN RIGHTS LAW? 24 4. RIGHT TO EDUCATION OF THE VANNIYALA-ETTO COMMUNITY AS AN EMPOWERMENT RIGHT 29 4.1 Political Structure 29 4.2 Economy 34 4.3 Culture 38 4.3.1 Religious Beliefs 40 4.4 Education 41 4.4.1 Non-discrimination in Education 43 4.4.2 Schools 48 4.4.3 Language 51 4.4.4 Curricula / Syllabus 57 4.4.6 Teachers 61 5. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 63 5.1 Conclusions 63 5.2 Recommendations 65 SUPPLEMENT "A" 69 BIBLIOGRAPHY 751 2 Acknowledgment “Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.
    [Show full text]
  • Integrating Elephant Conservation with Protected Area Management in Sri Lanka
    Integrating Elephant Conservation with Protected Area Management in Sri Lanka Natarajan Ishwaran Programme Specialist in Natural Heritage, World Heritage Centre, UNESCO, 7, place de Fontenoy, 75352 Paris, France ABSTRACT Gray Haynes (1991) has correctly noted that "it is no longer possible to describe the optimal or ideal prefemed habitats of witd elephants, because, virtually all surviving populations inhabit special pmtected Innds such as national parlcs which are restricted ecosystems". In Sri Lanlea, a large part of what was once the elephant's home range inthe dry and intermediate zones has been converted to agriculture. Even where the cores of their home ranges overlap with the boundaries of Sri Lanl<a's protected areas, elephants move outside of those boundaries and come into conflict with subsistence and plantation agriculture. Despite the limitations of national parks and equivalent resen)es of Sri Lanka as elephant habitats, it is inevitable that future management of wild elephant populations would have to be planned in and around clusters of such protected areas. Management planning /or in-situ conservation of elephant populations cannot be solely dependent on defensive, agriculture-friendly prescriptions, i.e. removal of troublesome individuals, translocation of elephant herds pocketed-in by surrounding agricultural lands to nearby protected areas, capture of elephants for protection in captive herds such as those at Pinnawela orphanage etc. (Ishwaran, 1993). It must necessarily include attempts to regularly monitor the composition and " health" of wild elephant populations, and interventions to marctge habitats and land-use in and outside of protected so as to improve range ^reas conditions, and the elephant's access to parts of its range which were lost to agriculture and other land-uses in the past.
    [Show full text]
  • Journal of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka
    Volume 27. Issues 5 & 6 Journal of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka 1 2 OFFICE BEARERS 2016 Volume 27. Issues 5 & 6 Patron Journal of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka WNPS General Committee 2016 President Mr. Rukshan Jayewardene Vice Presidents Mr. Rahula Dassenaieke Mr. Ranil Pieris General Secretary Mr. Spencer Manuelpillai Hon. Treasurer Mr. Ishan Rajasuriya General Committee Members Mr. Vidya Abhayagunawardena Mr. Ravindralal Anthonis 1 Mr. Darrel Bartholomeusz Ms. Tami Flamer Caldera Mr. Jehan CanagaRetna Mr. Sriyan de Silva Wijeyeratne Loris - Vol. 27. Dr. [Ms.] Nirmali De Silva Dr. Tilak Jayaratne Issue 5 & 6, December 2016 Dr. Hemantha Perera Ms. Ayanthi Samarajeewa ISSN 0024-6514 Maj. Raajiv Dias Wanigasekera Mr. Rohan Wijesinha Immediate Past President Prof. Lakdas D. Fernando Hon. Editor – Loris Mr. Rohan Wijesinha Hon. Editor – Warana Mr. Vidya Abhayagunawardena Hon. Auditors M/s. Tudor V. Perera & Company, Chartered Accountant, De Mel Building, Upper Chatham Street, Fort, Colombo 01. WILDLIFE & NATURE PROTECTION SOCIETY of SRI LANKA #86, Rajamalwatte Road, Battaramulla. Tele. +94 (0) 11 288 7390 Fax. +94 (0) 11 288 7664 E-mail – [email protected] web – www.wnpssl.org https://www.facebook.com/wnpssl/ https://twitter.com/wnpssl The Editor invites contributions not only from members of the Society but also from the public, on matters relevant to biodiversity, natural history and nature conservation in Sri Lanka. LORIS is issued in volumes of six fascicles, the fascicles being issued in June and December each year.
    [Show full text]
  • The State of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Sri Lanka: a Joint
    The State of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Sri Lanka: A Joint Civil Society Shadow Report to the United Nations Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights April 2017 1 Acknowledgement The preparation of this collective civil society shadow report has been coordinated by the Law & Society Trust. A number of organisations and individuals made particularly important contributions to this report in different ways. They include EQUAL GROUND, Janawabodaya Kendraya, Mannar Women’s Development Federation, National Fisheries Solidarity Movement, Suriya Women’s Development Centre, Women’s Resource Centre, Movement for Land and Agriculture Reforms, Movement for the Defense of Democratic Rights, Women’s Action Network, Women and Media Collective, Refugee Advocates, People’s Health Movement as well as Binendri Perera, Azra Jiffry, Rashmini de Silva, Anushka Kahandagama, Nilshan Fonseka, Iromi Perera, Aftab Lall, Nadya Perera, Vagisha Gunasekara, Muthulingam, Anushaya Collure, Vasuki Jeyasankar, Harini Amarasuriya, S. Elankovan, Sumika Perera, Dinushika Dissanayake. The final report has been compiled and prepared by Prashanthi Jayasekara with support from Sandun Thudugala, Vijay Nagaraj and Nigel Nugawela. We gratefully acknowledge the financial support by Democratic Reporting Initiative and technical support received from the Programme on Women’s Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ([email protected]) and its Executive Director, Ms Priti Darooka. 2 Introduction Context 01. Coming two years after a political transition from post-war authoritarianism, this Shadow Report to the United Nations Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights is framed in the backdrop of two concurrent processes of ‘transformation’ currently underway in Sri Lanka. The first is the process of constitutional reform initiated by the Government that was elected on the platform of restoring democratic, inclusive and accountable governance.
    [Show full text]
  • The Veddas', the Indigenous People of Sri Lanka, Attitude on Cultural
    International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 7, Issue 4, April 2017 17 ISSN 2250-3153 Research Proposal: The Veddas’, the Indigenous people of Sri Lanka, attitude on cultural heritage identification after relocation from their forest homeland Abstract- Sri Lanka's indigenous people, the Veddas (forest- uncivilized people whose point of view may be conveniently dwellers), have inhabited Sri Lanka's monsoon dry forest for at ignored. These categorizations lead to ignore the recognition of least 16,000 years and probably much longer. Hunting and these native people’s self-respect, dignity, human rights and gathering was their main means of living. Accordingly their cultural heritage. foods were meat, birds, eggs, honey, fish, fruit, and vegetables. The Veddas are proud of their distinct heritage and call After independent from British government, many themselves “Vannialettho” which means “those of the forest”. development projects were implemented by the Sri Lankan The term “Vedda” was donated by the Sinhalese neighbors. The government. The accelerated Mahaweli river development word “Vedda” comes from the Sanskrit language “Vyadda” project which was the largest development program ever in Sri which means the hunter with bow and arrow. The pure Veddas, Lankan history, was commenced in 1977. unlike the Sinhalese who speak Indo-Aryan language and claim As the Accelerated Mahaweli Development Project evolved, Aryan decent, are related to the Austro – Asiatic people found the old “Veddas’ Country" was segmented into “systems” scattered today in many part of southern Asia. These include the labelled with alphabetic designations: so called system A,B and aboriginal tribes of Chota Nagpur in eastern India such as the C, and colonized with indigenous Vedda population and Hos and Birhos, the Sakai of Malaysia, the Kubu of Indonesia ordinary people who wish to settle down from rest of the and the Australian Aborigines.
    [Show full text]
  • Chiropteran Diversity In the Peripheral Areas of the Maduru-Oya National
    A peer-reviewed open-access journal ZooKeys 784: 139–162 (2018) Bats in the Maduru-Oya area in Sri Lanka 139 doi: 10.3897/zookeys.784.25562 RESEARCH ARTICLE http://zookeys.pensoft.net Launched to accelerate biodiversity research Chiropteran diversity in the peripheral areas of the Maduru-Oya National Park in Sri Lanka: insights for conservation and management Gayan Edirisinghe1,3, Thilina Surasinghe2, Dinesh Gabadage3, Madhava Botejue3,4, Kalika Perera5, Majintha Madawala6,8, Devaka Weerakoon7, Suranjan Karunarathna8 1 Wild Rescue Team, 183/6, Horana Road, Kesbewa, Piliyandala 10300, Sri Lanka 2 Department of Biological Sciences, Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, MA, USA 3 Biodiversity Conservation Society, No: 150/6, Stanly Thilakaratne Mawatha, Nugegoda 10250, Sri Lanka4 Central Environmental Authority, No 104, Denzil Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Battaramulla 10120, Sri Lanka 5 No: 95/2, Subadhrarama Road, Nugegoda 10250, Sri Lanka 6 South Australian Herpetology Group, South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia 7 Department of Zoology, University of Colombo, Colombo 03, 00300, Sri Lanka 8 Nature Explorations & Education Team, No. B-1/G-6, De Soysapura Flats, Moratuwa 10400, Sri Lanka Corresponding author: Thilina Surasinghe ([email protected]) Academic editor: W. Bogdanowicz | Received 5 April 2018 | Accepted 27 July 2018 | Published 12 September 2018 http://zoobank.org/B2384460-DA09-4DB5-ACBC-7084791E18D1 Citation: Edirisinghe G, Surasinghe T, Gabadage D, Botejue M, Perera K, Madawala M, Weerakoon D, Karunarathna S (2018) Chiropteran diversity in the peripheral areas of the Maduru-Oya National Park in Sri Lanka: insights for conservation and management. ZooKeys 784: 139–162. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.784.25562 Abstract In Sri Lanka, there are 31 species of bats distributed from lowlands to mountains.
    [Show full text]
  • Observations on Elephants in the Maduru Oya National Park, Sri Lanka
    Observations on Elephants in the Maduru Oya National Park' Sri Lanka (Mammalia, Elephantidae) S.R.B. Dissanayake National Wildlife Training Centre Department of Wildlife Conservation, Giritale, Sri Lanka Charles Santiapillai Department of Zoology, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka ABSTRACT Maduru Oya National Park (58,850 ha) was established as o new consewation areq in the Accelerated Mahaweli Development Programme, mainly to accommodate some of the estimated 800 elephants that were displaced by the development activities. Prior to the development, the area was inhabited by elephants belonging to the subspecies Elephas maximus vilaliya referred to as the Marsh elephant. A preliminary study was carried out to determine the status of the elephantsin the park from June to December 1989 in which a totalof 1,162 animals were recorded in 87 obseruations. The population was characterized by female-biqsed sex ratios and adult-dominated age structures. The overall averqge adult male:female ratio was I:2.4, but emong the herds and bond groups it was l:6. Tuskers were few and represented just 0.5Vo of the total population but made up3.2%o of the adult males. The populntionwas characterized by both large group sizes and herd sizes. The largest group size observed was 65, while the largest herd obsertted had 52 animals. Stressful conditions brought about by the presence of human settlements and the reduction of habitat may have Ied to the formationof such large groupings. Both bulls and groups showed the highest activity during the late evenings. The population appears to be breeding well. Although calves were seen regularly during the study period, yet the calving intensity was not constant.
    [Show full text]
  • Birth and Death Anniversaries of Lyn De Alwis (27.10.1930 – 22.11.2006), Chairman Asian Elephant Specialist Group 1985 – 1997
    News and Briefs Gajah 53 (2021) 56-59 Birth and Death Anniversaries of Lyn de Alwis (27.10.1930 – 22.11.2006), Chairman Asian Elephant Specialist Group 1985 – 1997 Ravi Corea Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society Author’s e-mail: [email protected] This past 27th October and 22nd November 2020 Following up on it several additional studies were marked respectively the 90th birth and 14th death carried out by graduate students at the University anniversary of the eminent and world-renowned of Peradeniya until the 1980s. The Ceylon Project, Sri Lankan wildlife and zoo expert, Lyn de Alwis. as it was known by the Smithsonian Institution, included research on elephants (1967–1978) and How do you pay homage to an individual of primates (1968–1982). the calibre of Lyn? Just narrating his accom- plishments alone would not be a fitting eulogy How much the Department of Wildlife, its for a person who was much more than the sum personnel and especially Lyn was valued for of his achievements. To portrait Lyn not only as their cooperation can be assessed when reading an internationally acclaimed wildlife and zoo the acknowledgements of the publications that expert but also to highlight the man behind his were published as a result of the project. In An true persona – the man who drew the respect, Ecological Reconnaissance of the Wilpattu love and loyalty of a vast number of people National Park, Ceylon (1972), John Eisenberg ranging from scientists to wildlife trackers and and Melvyn Lockhart mention how “in 1966, the general public. The Wild Life Protection Society of Ceylon and the Ceylon Department of Wildlife sent a request Delving into publications, tracing old interviews, to the Smithsonian Institution for advice and/ contacting former colleagues and getting firsthand or help in the organization of an elephant study accounts and by reading through reminiscences program.” They also mention the support they of friends, contemporaries and adherents, I received from Lyn: “Mr.
    [Show full text]