Sunday Times 2
WNPS lecture: ‘Colombo wetlands under threat’
View(s):The November Lecture of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society on ‘Colombo wetlands under threat — What can be done to improve the present status’ by Prof. Devaka K. Weerakoon will be on Thursday, November 19 at 6 p.m. at the Meteorology Department auditorium, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7.
Prof. Devaka Weerakoon
Prof. Weerakoon is currently attached to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The wetlands of Colombo are extremely important for the flood management of the commercial capital. They also support a rich variety of species, including many endemic and threatened species, despite it being a highly urbanised area. For this reason, several wetlands have been designated as protected areas. The Colombo wetlands also provide a suite of other ecosystem services such as recreation, provision of food, microclimate regulation, and educational opportunities, among others. They, however, are perhaps the most threatened wetlands in the country!
The Beddagana Biodiversity Park and the Thalawathugoda Wetland Park were established with the aim of promoting awareness and recreational opportunities for both local and foreigners alike. Many of the users of these recreational facilities, however, are oblivious of the rich biodiversity that exist in the Colombo wetlands. The aim of this presentation is to provide an overview of the biodiversity and ecosystem services provided by Colombo wetlands, the major threats to these wetlands and what can be done to improve the present status of them.