Sri Lanka is one of the smallest, but biologically most diverse countries in Asia and it is recognized as one of the biodiversity hotspots of global importance. Being the party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Ministry of Environment (MOE) as the National Focal Point, Biodiversity Secretariat (BDS) is responsible for conducting species assessments, monitoring, and revisions of the National Red List.
The National Red list provides conservation status of assessed species in a given country at that particular time and the Red List tells us which species most are in threatened category and which to be conserving first. It is also a powerful tool for persuading governments and other stakeholders to protect threatened species and for most of the plant and animal species worldwide. The BDS of this Ministry has initiated and progressed the process of updating the National Red List - conservation status of species with all relevant experts in the fields.
Accordingly, the National Red List-Flora 2020 and the National Red List of assessment of the fresh Water Fishes of Sri Lanka -2020 were completed with the technical collaboration of the National Herbarium of the Department of National Botanic Gardens (DNBG) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)- Sri Lanka country office with the floral experts and the Freshwater fishes experts groups.
Therefore, both the above nationally important publications will be launched together by virtually on 03rd September 2021 at 9.30 onwards at the Ministry of Environment “Sobadam Piyasa”, Battaramulla, under the patronage of the Hon. Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, and Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Secretary, Ministry of Environment along with the participation of relevant stakeholders, experts, scientists and other interested parties.
Keynote Speakers:
Prof. Siril Wijesundara, Research Professor, National Institute of Fundamental Studies (NIFS) & Dr. Subhani Ranasinghe, Deputy Director,National Herbarium (DNBG)
“The National red List - 2020 Conservation Status of the Flora of Sri Lanka”
Prof. Devaka Weerakoon, Department of Zoology and Environment Sciences, University of Colombo
“The National Red List Assessment of the Threat Status of the Freshwater Fishes of Sri Lanka 2020”
Organized by -The Biodiversity Secretariat, Ministry of Environment
Collaborative Partners - National Herbarium of the Department of Botanic Gardens Peradeniya (DNBG) and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Sri Lanka
Join with us on Friday 03rd September 2021
From 9.30 a.m. onwards
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/99894487653?pwd=TloxVzM4MkM2NnN4dHBwWlExdmUydz09
Meeting ID: 998 9448 7653
Passcode: 528019
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