Two Red Data Lists of Freshwater Fish and Flora unveiled

The two Red Data Lists of Freshwater Fish and Flora in Sri Lanka were unveiled at the Environment Ministry yesterday.

The Ministry has begun compiling a new edition of the Red Data Book, which is to be compiled every five years.

Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera and Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe made this launch using Zoom technology. “This report provides an assessment of all animal and plant conservation conditions found in Sri Lanka. We have to focus on conserving those flora and fauna when implementing development projects. Today we are releasing the two most important red lists in the Red Data Book. Red databases of 11 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, butterflies, dragonflies, ants, bees, spiders, freshwater crabs, and land Snails are nearing completion. Further studies are being carried out on 12 other species. Completion of those 12 sections sets up the Red Data Book,” Minister Amaraweera said.

Prof. Devaka Weerakoon, Prof. Cyril Wijesundera and Dr. Subhani Ranasinghe of the University of Colombo, who contributed to this study, also spoke at the launch.

Biodiversity Secretariat Director Padma Abeykoon and Additional Secretary R.S.A.R.R. Rupasinghe 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 1,139 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. Twenty nine 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.