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| Sunday, 14 December 2003 |
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Furore over setting up of new biodiversity Institute by Shanika Sriyananda The draft bill to establish a National Institute of Bio-diversity (NIB) is now under the 'microscope' of a prominent environmental protection organization, which opined that such an institution is un-necessary as already there are enough state-run institutions to protect the country's fauna and flora. They accused the Ministry attempting to commercialise Sri Lanka's bio-diversity giving more opportunities for private sector participation. The bill has been drafted by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to give effect to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) under 'Regaining Sri Lanka' concept. The Environmental Foundation Ltd. (EFL) which strongly protested against the move to establish a separate authority to deal with the country's bio-diversity said that the proposal was an attempt to privatise the natural resources. Rohan Wijesinhe, Chairman EFL told the 'Sunday Observer' that the strengthening of institutional powers of the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWLC) was more effective than introducing a separate institute with 'superpowers'. "The Country's bio-diversity is protected under the Fauna and flora Protection Ordinance and the DWLC is the custodian of the natural habitats. If there is a need for more protection, a few amendments to the existing laws will be adequate", he said. The EFL also claimed that the draft bill would make gene technologists to by-pass the existing laws. "The NIB can maintain its own libraries, laboratories, specimen repositories, study sites and databases. There are no restrictions to how many or where they are established. The institution can also 'loan' specimen for foreign researchers", he said. "The draft provides facilities to individuals or organisations to engage in activities for the conservation but there are no guidelines to select the individuals, NGOs or foreign institutions", Wijesinhe pointed out. The EFL strongly believes that the proposed institute is a big threat to Sri Lanka's bio-diversity and intends to take legal action if the government try to set up the NIB. "We are looking into the legal implications in it", Wijesinhe said adding that the EFL hope the government would consider its request 'not to establish the NIB'. |
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