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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000068 
 
SIPDIS 
 
USDA FOR THE FOREST SERVICE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV ECON CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: AN ISLAND HOTSPOT OF BIODIVERSITY 
 
COLOMBO 00000068  001.4 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: Sri Lanka consists of a land area of 65,610 
square kilometers, covering low-lying wetlands, mountainous 
rainforests, and expansive jungles.  Despite its relatively 
small size, the country possesses a high level of 
biodiversity and represents a biodiversity hotspot.  One 
feature of Sri Lanka's biodiversity is its number of endemic 
species.  The country's biodiversity has been protected by a 
blend of culture and legislation, though much more needs to 
be done to protect endangered species.  The main threat to 
biodiversity is the increasing demand for land for human 
habitation, agricultural use, and development. END SUMMARY 
 
¶2. ESTHOff met with key stakeholders in Sri Lanka who focus 
on biodiversity - contacts in NGOs, universities, and with 
the government - and noted that 2010 is the United Nations' 
International Year of Biodiversity.  All noted the remarkable 
nature of the island's biodiversity and the fact that, since 
1988, Sri Lanka has been on the list of biodiversity hotspots 
compiled by Conservation International.  Unfortunately, this 
designation has done little to slow the destruction of 
habitat and loss of species.  Still, despite millennia of 
human habitation, centuries of ecosystem change with the 
arrival of Europeans, decades of lax protection, and a high 
population density, Sri Lanka continues to enjoy remarkable 
biodiversity. 
 
ALARMING THREATS TO ENDEMIC SPECIES 
 
¶3. A recent survey by the International Union for 
Conservation of Nature (IUCN) on the country's endangered 
species "red list" points out some alarming statistics.  Sri 
Lanka's biodiversity has a high proportion of endemic species 
among its flora and fauna: 24 percent of flowering plants, 16 
percent of mammals, 84 percent of amphibians, 44 percentof 
fresh water fish are endemic to Sri Lanka, and new species 
are still being discovered.  In some cases, due in part to 
their limited population and range, many newly classified 
fauna are already severely threatened.  According to the 
report, a third of the country's vertebrate fauna and half of 
the evaluated flora is endangered.  IUCN officials note that 
21 species of endemic amphibians and 72 of the 1099 plant 
species evaluated are likely already extinct while 223 
species of terrestrial vertebrates, 157 species of selected 
inland invertebrates and 675 plant species evaluated are 
categorized as nationally threatened. 
 
PROTECTION 
 
¶4. The country's biodiversity has been protected by a blend 
of Sri Lankan culture and legislation, though much more needs 
to be done to protect endangered species.  Currently, roughly 
26 percent of land is protected, for example as national 
parkland or forest reserves.  Sri Lanka lacks legislation 
like the Endangered Species Act but in some situations action 
is taken to protect vulnerable species.  For example, the 
government, working through the IUCN, recently moved an 
entire population of snails from its degraded home valley to 
a nearby protected valley to improve its survival chances. 
 
¶5. Fish provide over 65 percent of the country's animal 
protein requirement.  The Ministry of Fisheries has 
recognized the threats to the marine ecosystem caused by 
resource depletion due to illegal, inappropriate, or over 
fishing in near-shore areas.  A case study on an "ecosystem 
approach" to fishing is being carried out by the government 
in the north western coastal region to demonstrate the 
importance of applying environmental management while 
maintaining a sustainable fisheries sector. 
 
¶6. Interestingly, one important reason for the country's 
continuing biodiversity is cultural.  Many Sri Lankans are 
vegetarian, vastly reducing the amount of land required for 
animal husbandry.  The country lacks a tradition of trophy 
hunting, and its Buddhist and Hindu religions also discourage 
the unnecessary taking of life.  Still, in the modern era, 
these fortunate circumstances are not enough to protect the 
country's rich biodiversity. 
 
 
COLOMBO 00000068  002.4 OF 002 
 
 
LAND USE AND SUBSISTENCE LIVING 
 
¶7. The main cause of biodiversity loss is habitat destruction 
linked to the expansion of cropland.  Since 1995, 
approximately 33,000 hectares of forest cover have been 
destroyed.  Sri Lanka derives almost 20 percent of its GDP 
from agriculture and fisheries and over 75 percent of the 
population remains rural and agrarian.  Slash and burn 
agriculture (a long-standing agriculture practice of rural 
farmers) increases stress on land and fuels the 
human/elephant conflict (to be reported septel).  According 
to the IUCN, the government is attempting to regulate slash 
and burn agriculture in order to preserve biodiversity and 
reduce contact between humans and animals, but to little 
effect. 
 
¶8. Unfortunately, Ministry of Environment officials (MOE) 
concede that it lacks adequate personnel to provide effective 
protection, even for the most vulnerable or best-protected 
areas.  Prof. Sarath Kotagama of the University of Colombo 
noted that GPS satellites are now being used to demarcate 
forest boundaries to assist in preventing further 
encroachment.  The wet zone, which includes most of the 
southwestern part of the island, is home to most endemic 
species although it has only 3 percent of forest cover 
compared to a total forest cover of 22 percent country-wide. 
It is in this region where perhaps the most vulnerable 
populations of endemic species are found. 
 
AN OPPORTUNITY 
 
¶9. With the conclusion of the 30-year civil war in May 2009, 
Sri Lanka - and the international community - has an 
unprecedented opportunity to explore the thickly forested 
jungle region in the North of the country, home of Sri 
Lanka's renowned (and threatened) leopard population. 
Contacts note that they "have basically no knowledge of 
what's there, what the micro-climates and ecosystems support, 
and what kinds of endemic species may be threatened."  IUCN's 
Vimukthi Weeratunga said that he is working on a proposal to 
receive funding and expertise from international donors to 
map the region and determine what needs immediate protection. 
 (NOTE: Post will forward proposals to interested USG 
counterparts upon receipt.  END NOTE.) 
 
COMMENT 
 
¶10. Environmental awareness has increased significantly over 
the past decade with the environment included in school 
curricula and the media reporting frequently on environmental 
issues.  With the country's recent graduation to a 
middle-income country, Sri Lanka has lost some donor support 
for environmental projects.  Unfortunately, this comes at a 
critical time when many species' survival is in doubt and Sri 
Lanka simply cannot protect its biodiversity alone. 
BUTENIS