Protecting flora and fauna

The move by the Wildlife Department to step up vigilance against bio-piracy is indeed most welcome. Sri Lanka has recently been a happy hunting ground for bio-pirates who have taken with them rare plants, insects and animal species. In fact most Asian countries have today become targets of bio-piracy and hence a combined effort to tackle the phenomenon is called for. This is because bio-piracy has assumed serious proportions with powerful international networks in operation.

According to a news item we carry today Wildlife Department has combined forces with both local and international stakeholders in an information sharing network to halt bio-piracy and environmental crime. Wild Life Assistant Director of Raids Upali Padmasiri said that Sri Lanka has joined hands with other Asian countries with similar interests and the ENVIRONNET information sharing network of world customs organizations in strengthening its capabilities in addressing gene piracy, illegal wildlife trade and related issues.

Such a combined effort to tackle environment degradation and wildlife protection was a long felt need given the wanton destruction of wildlife resources and the bio-diversity in the Asian region. Today the Asian region is gradually been stripped of its natural wealth including its once abundant wildlife resources. A case in point is the fast dwindling tiger population in India to the illegal trade in tiger skins and certain parts of its anatomy which is said contain aphrodisiac properties. The once majestic Asian elephant too is fast falling prey to poachers for their tusks that fetches a big price in the international market.

Wildlife is also gradually being driven to extinction by expanding human settlements adding to the problem. Therefore all steps should be taken to preserve animal habitats in the region while going all out to combat the destruction of wildlife in the region.

Needless to say trade in wildlife is now a big business internationally with deep networks running far and wide that also includes local agents. If left to continue unchecked very soon the region will be barren of all the animals and species that we once took for granted. Hence the move to the tackle the problem collectively from a regional point of view is a move in the right direction. This is also due to insidious moves by some countries in the West to harm the bio-diversity of third world countries. There was once a time when blights affecting plant life and also crop failure were artificially caused by the introduction of germ varieties into countries in Asia. This was with a view to destroy certain food crops so that we would have to rely on imports from the West. We should take steps to guard against such moves to destroy our food crops and agricultural base.

Not just wildlife we often read of the spiriting away of endemic plants, insects and other rare species by foreigners. Not only that some of them had even laid claim to patent rights for certain endemic plants of medicinal value such as kothala himbutu which is said cure diabetes. The international network of bio-pirates is so powerful that it has now come to light that the masterminds have even penetrated the customs departments in several countries. Some of our own locals too have been guilty of bio-piracy by adopting ingenious ways to get endemic plants and species out of the country. The well known case being the detection of a consignment of keketiya plants some time ago which were to be surreptitiously shipped out under another botanical name.

The Government should take a serious view about the threat posed to the country's bio-diversity by the theft of indigenous plants and species. Strict laws should be introduced to deal with these involved in stealing the country's natural wealth. It should also take more meaningful measures to protect the country's wildlife. Today our elephant population is fast shrinking and solution to the human elephant conflict should be found fast. Large scale denuding of forest cover for human settlement have robbed the elephants of their natural habitat. The Government should ensure development imperatives are balanced with the need to protect and preserve the country's flora and fauna. Today we are experiencing a geological imbalance due to destruction of forests. Large scale illegal sand mining etc. Sea erosion too is a fast spreading phenomenon due to tampering with natural order of things.

The country's flora and fauna and wealth of bio- diversity too is part of its heritage and should be preserved for future generations. Thus all measures should be taken to ensure their protection.