Sri Lankan government to engage in biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in the country
Sri Lanka’s Ministries of Mahaweli Development and Environment and Biodiversity Sri Lanka have reportedly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to use their combined comparative advantages for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in Sri Lanka.
The local media has reported that both organizations will endeavour to add value to each other and ensure that together they are able to contribute substantively to influences in the policy arena, both public and corporate in using best practices and standards in biodiversity conservation.
The media report referred to a media statement issued by Biodiversity Sri Lanka.
The Governing Body of the Convention on Biological Diversity has invited the Parties to the Convention to encourage the establishment of national and regional business and biodiversity initiatives by facilitating forums of dialogue among Parties and other Governments, business, and other stakeholders, with a particular focus on the global level.
Biodiversity Sri Lanka as a nationally recognised, independent and autonomous platform for private sector engagement will play this role for Sri Lanka and will cater to achieve the relevant obligations as set out by the Convention, the release has stated.
Anura Dissanayake, Secretary of the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment has reportedly stated that the shared strategic and operational priorities together with the comparative strengths and advantages of the two organisations will help to mainstream biodiversity into the core business of private sector companies and private enterprises.
It will also enable the sector to engage more proactively in implementing the actions identified in biodiversity-related national policies and strategies of the Government, he has said.
According to Dissanayake, as an island nation, Sri Lanka has recorded the conservation of critical ecosystems such as mangroves as a high priority.
OSL take:
The government of Sri Lanka is paying serious attention to the conservation critical eco systems and biodiversity. Hence, foreign businesses engaged in providing conservation solutions could approach the Sri Lankan authority and promote the implementation of the latest biodiversity conservation methods.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20181022/Z_4 |