Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society

Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society
Name	Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society
Formation	20XX
Type	Non-governmental organization
Headquarters	Colombo, Sri Lanka
Region served	Sri Lanka
Leader title	President

Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society is a non-governmental conservation organization focused on protecting biodiversity and ecosystems across Sri Lanka. Founded to address threats to endemic species and habitats, the society collaborates with national agencies, international NGOs, research institutions, and local communities to implement protection, research, and education programs. Its work spans protected area management, species recovery, habitat restoration, and capacity building in coordination with actors across the conservation and scientific arenas.

History

The society traces origins to conservation efforts linked with the postcolonial environmental movement and initiatives that involved Central Environmental Authority (Sri Lanka), Department of Wildlife Conservation (Sri Lanka), IUCN, World Wildlife Fund, Conservation International, Ramsar Convention, and regional projects supported by Asian Development Bank and United Nations Development Programme. Early collaborations echoed campaigns associated with Yala National Park, Sinharaja Forest Reserve, Horton Plains National Park, Udawalawe National Park, and the network of Biodiversity hotspots involving Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. Founders included conservationists who previously worked with institutions such as University of Peradeniya, Open University of Sri Lanka, National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency, and international partners including Zoological Society of London, Smithsonian Institution, and Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Over time the society engaged with legal and policy shifts influenced by instruments like the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance and publications from the IUCN Red List.

Mission and Objectives

The society’s stated mission aligns with targets promoted by Convention on Biological Diversity, Aichi Biodiversity Targets, and Sustainable Development goals reflected by United Nations Environment Programme. Objectives emphasize protection of endemic mammals such as Sri Lankan elephant, Sri Lankan leopard, purple-faced langur, and primate conservation linked to studies from Oxford University and University of Cambridge. Further aims include safeguarding avifauna like Sri Lanka blue magpie, Ceylon junglefowl, and shorebirds recorded at Bundala National Park and Kumana National Park, conserving herpetofauna exemplified by Sri Lankan krait and cherry-headed dwarf gecko, and marine biodiversity including blue whale and coral communities monitored at Pigeon Island National Park. The organization aligns objectives with regional frameworks like the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation environmental initiatives and collaborates on transboundary issues with entities such as Indian Ocean Tuna Commission.

Organizational Structure and Governance

Governance follows models used by BirdLife International partners and regional NGOs like Fauna & Flora International affiliates, with a board comprising conservation scientists from University of Colombo, legal advisers familiar with the National Environmental Act, and practitioners experienced with fieldwork in Knuckles Mountain Range and Mannar Island. Executive staff coordinate programs across divisions patterned on structures from World Resources Institute and Conservation International, with technical advisory panels drawing experts from Peradeniya Botanical Garden, Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka, and research centers such as Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) offices in the region. Internal policies reflect standards set by IUCN SSC specialist groups and ethical guidelines promoted by International Union for Conservation of Nature commissions.

Programs and Initiatives

Core initiatives mirror campaigns like habitat corridors projects inspired by Terai Arc Landscape planning and include species action plans for Asian elephant, leopard, and endangered amphibians documented by Amphibian Specialist Group. Marine programs coordinate with Marine Environment Protection Authority (Sri Lanka) and research on cetaceans parallel to efforts by International Whaling Commission affiliates. The society implements anti-poaching patrols informed by protocols used in Yala and Wilpattu National Park management, community-based ecotourism models akin to those promoted by UNESCO biosphere reserves, and sustainable agriculture partnerships comparable to initiatives by Food and Agriculture Organization in buffer zones near protected areas.

Research and Conservation Projects

Research collaborations involve universities including University of Jaffna, Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Rajarata University, and international centers such as Colombo-based research institutes and the Natural History Museum, London. Projects range from population genetics studies using methodologies from Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute to landscape ecology mapping with tools developed at WCS and remote sensing supported by European Space Agency and National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Conservation actions include reforestation in degraded watershed catchments using approaches from Global Environment Facility projects, amphibian rescue modeled on efforts by IUCN Amphibian Specialist Group, and human-wildlife conflict mitigation trials informed by case studies from Nepal and India.

Education and Community Outreach

Outreach programs partner with educational institutions such as Royal College, Colombo, St. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia, and teacher-training efforts linked to Ministry of Education (Sri Lanka). Curricula integrate materials aligned with campaigns from WWF, BirdLife International, and UNESCO World Heritage Centre for sites like Sinharaja Forest Reserve. Community workshops have been held in fishing villages near Trincomalee and agricultural communities in the Dry Zone with support from local civil society groups and international volunteers coordinated through platforms like Volunteer Service Overseas.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding sources include grants and collaborative agreements with multilateral funders such as Global Environment Facility, European Union, and bilateral development agencies including United States Agency for International Development and Japan International Cooperation Agency. Strategic partners encompass Department of Wildlife Conservation (Sri Lanka), Central Environmental Authority (Sri Lanka), international NGOs such as WWF, IUCN, and Fauna & Flora International, and academic partners like University of Peradeniya and the University of Colombo. Corporate partnerships and philanthropic support have been solicited from domestic conglomerates and international foundations following models used by Tony Elumelu Foundation and conservation donors with precedents at The Rockefeller Foundation.

Category:Environmental organisations based in Sri Lanka