The two Red Data Lists of Freshwater Fishes and Flora in Sri Lanka were unveiled at the Ministry of Environment this morning.
Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera and Secretary to the Ministry Dr. Anil Jasinghe made this launch using Zoom technology. Prof. Devaka Weerakoon, Prof. Cyril Wijesundera and Dr. Subhani Ranasinghe of the University of Colombo, who contributed to this study, spoke on Zoom technology.
Director, Biodiversity Secretariat Padma Abeykoon, and Rupasinghe Additional Secretary R.S. A.R. R. handed over the two red data lists to the Minister.
“The Biodiversity Secretariat of the Ministry of Environment is responsible for the preparation of the Red Data Book. A large number of scholars in our country have given their support for this endeavour. I would also like to thank the Department of National Botany, its Herbarium and the International Union of Conservation IUCN for their support. All remaining sections can be completed by the end
of this year. Accordingly, we have the potential to launch the entire Red Data Book by next year. Despite the Covid 19 situation, I would like to thank the staff of our Biodiversity Unit for paying attention to this and concluding the work,” the Minister added.
The Red Data List of Flora in Sri Lanka covers the national conservation status of plant species in Sri Lanka, especially flowering plants and ferns.
According to this report 3,087 species of flowering plants of 186 genera were evaluated in the National Red List. Accordingly, it contains 863 native flowering plants (28 percent of the total flowering plants).
This year 64 new species of plants have been included in the National Red List. This report confirms that the Crudia Zeylanica tree, which was the subject of much controversy during the construction of the Expressway in the recent past, is not an extinct plant in this country.
Of the 3087 flower species evaluated, 1496 are listed as endangered. This figure is 48.4 percent of the total flowering plants in our country. The threatened species are found in Kandy, Ratnapura, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Matale, Galle and Kalutara districts. There are 1139 species of plant based fungi in Sri Lanka belonging to 182 genera of 422 cubes under two lists of fungi and 345 species of agaric fungi belonging to 96 solids in the second list.
Ninety Seven fish species in our country have been evaluated under the endangered freshwater fish in Sri Lanka 2020 Red List. Of these, 61 species have been identified as endemic to our country. Out of these, 12 endemic species have been listed as critically endangered. 29 other endangered species, 24 of which are endemic to our species. Also, 10 other fish species are endangered and 09 of them are endemic to us.
Also, about 10 species including 05 endemic species are endangered. At least 07 species of data have been identified for assessment. Two of these species are endemic to us. The remaining 29 species are low-risk species. 09 of these species are endemic to us. Also, 10 other fish species are endangered and 09 of them are endemic to us. Also, about 10 species including 05 endemic species are endangered.
At least 07 species of data have been identified for assessment. Two of these species are endemic to us. The remaining 29 species are low-risk species. 09 of these species are endemic to us. By 2019, only 18 species of fish endemic to Sri Lanka were included in the Global Red Data List.
However, this time the Red Data List has been updated to include 59 endemic fish species in the Global Red Data List.
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