Failing to invest the necessary amount may result even in bigger expenditures on biodiversity restoration and management. More than that, if effective measures to address climate change related issues are not taken, by 2050 the country may face a 1.2 percent loss of annual GDP.
Sri Lanka remains one of the most varied from biodiversity point of view countries in the world and has the highest biodiversity density in Asia. At the same time, it is ranked second country worldwide most affected by extreme weather conditions and calamities in 20 years since 1998.
A remarkably high number of species found in Sri Lanka are endemic to the country – 27 percent of its flowering plants and 22 percent of the mammals. There are 24 wildlife reserves in Sri Lanka, which are home to a wide range of native species. They include Asian elephants, leopards, sloth bears, small lories, purple-faced langur and others. Some of the species found in Sri Lanka remain endangered, e.g. wild boar.
Sri Lanka is home to about 123 species of mammals, 179 species of reptiles, 122 species of amphibians, which is the richest density of amphibians in the world, 227 species of birds. There are 3210 types of flowering plants in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka Has to Invest USD170 mln to Preserve Its Biodiversity
News in Asia
The Roadmap for Sustainable Finance report reveals that over the next five years Sri Lanka needs to invest Rs. 30 billion (USD170 mln) to achieve national biodiversity targets.