By Daya Gamage
New York (Asiantribune.com): “Sri Lankan rainforests are home to nearly all of the country’s endemic plants and about 75 percent of the endemic animals. The rich array of fauna and flora places Sri Lanka among the world’s top 18 biodiversity hotspots.
UNESCO has designated four natural forests in Sri Lanka as UNESCO World Heritage Sites; Sinharaja, Knuckles, the Peak Wildernes and Horton Plains. The Slender Loris, long thought to be extinct, was recently rediscovered after 60 years in the Central Highlands. We have set a target of increasing the country’s forest cover to 33% of the land area by year 2016.”
Dr. Palith Kohona, Sri Lanka ambassador to the United Nations made the above remarks in the course of his presentation to the US General Assembly’s Sustainable Development Session at New York.
The Ambassador further stated: “We will support REDD-Plus activities, which are country driven and voluntary. These activities must receive adequate predictable and sustainable financing and technological support. Indigenous people and local communities are also involved in the implementation of REDD plus process.”
On the climate change agenda Dr. Kohona made the following presentation to the UN Second Committee of Sustainable Development that dealt with the climate change issue.