Making conservation meaningful and sustainable: WNPS lecture
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Prof. Sevvandi Jayakody
Prof. Sandun Perera and Prof. Sevvandi Jayakody will present an insightful talk exploring the future of conservation in Sri Lanka. Their theme for this month’s Nations Trust WNPS monthly lecture is ‘Meaningful Area-Based Conservation in Sri Lanka- Unravelling the Jargon of OECMs and ESAs’.
The lecture will be on Thursday, October 24, at 6 p.m. at the Jasmine Hall, BMICH. It is open to all.
Sri Lanka’s journey in declaring Protected Areas (PAs) is deeply rooted in history, dating back to the concept of “Abhaya Bhoomi” where the sanctity of life was revered. From hunting grounds to vital catchments for irrigation projects, the objectives behind these PAs have evolved. But does the current network of PAs truly represent the incredible diversity of Sri Lanka’s ecosystems?
Prof. Sandun Perera
In the face of the triple planetary crisis — biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution — the world is shifting towards evidence-based decision-making and inclusive models for conservation. This month’s lecture delves into the tools and strategies necessary for Sri Lanka to meet global conservation goals.
Thirty years after the Rio Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Sri Lanka, along with global partners, has embraced the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The ambitious Target 3 aims to conserve 30% of the world’s terrestrial, inland, coastal and marine areas by 2030 through protected areas and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs).
Prof. Sandun Perera and Prof. Sevvandi Jayakody look at a pivotal moment when nearly 100 scientists in Sri Lanka identified 139 Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) beyond the current PA network. They will explore how a three-tiered system of PAs, OECMs, and ESAs can lead Sri Lanka toward a meaningful and sustainable conservation strategy.
Prof. Sevvandi Jayakody holds a BSc. (Hons.) Degree in Zoology from the University of Kelaniya, a Postgraduate Diploma in Wildlife Management and Conservation from the Wildlife Institute of India, a PhD in Zoology from the University of Aberdeen. In 1997, she joined the Department of Wildlife Conservation as an Assistant Director and currently serves as a Senior Lecturer at the Wayamba University of Sri Lanka.
Prof. Sandun J. Perera is a leading expert in Biogeography and Environmental Conservation at Sabaragamuwa University with over 30 years of field research experience across Sri Lanka and South Africa. His work spans biodiversity inventory, macroecology, and conservation biogeography. He is the Programme Coordinator for the IUCN in Sri Lanka.
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