🌿 Nations Trust WNPS Lecture: Future of Sri Lanka's Wildlife Heritage

• Event Overview: The Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS), supported by Nations Trust Bank, will host its September Monthly Lecture on 17 September at 6.00 p.m. at Jasmine Hall, BMICH. The public event is free to attend. • Keynote Speaker: Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) Director General Ranjan Marasinghe—the 35th DG appointed in January 2026—will present on “Sri Lanka’s Wildlife Heritage: Conserving Nature for Future Generations”. • Scope of Protected Areas: DWC manages over 1.25 million hectares of protected land, safeguarding local ecosystems while supporting ecological, cultural, and ecotourism values. • Key Pressures & Challenges: • Habitat Loss & Conflict: Rising pressures from habitat fragmentation, development, and intensifying human-elephant conflict as wildlife moves into agricultural zones. • Balancing Priorities: Addressing enforcement limits, illegal activities, and political/livelihood pressures alongside conservation mandates under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance. • Tech-Driven Conservation: DG Marasinghe brings expertise in geoinformatics, utilizing GPS, satellite remote sensing, and GIS mapping for elephant movement tracking and corridor management.