ECO-V has been promoting bio diversity conservation among local communities by empowering them with knowledge and skills to protect their own environment. Novel approaches are used in creating awareness such as conducting participatory scientific research in their localities and establishing bio diversity gardens, models or plots in their localities.
Currently ECO-V is working on Urban Biodiversity Conservation. ECO-V maintains two plots of urban gardens named Eco Garden and Metta Garden. Both gardens are small plots situated next to ECO-V office dedicated for urban fauna mainly Bees, Butterflies and wild plants with the aim of urban Biodiversity conservation. These gardens are used for training next generation under the topics of “climate change adaptation, urban organic agriculture, Spirituality and Natural Environment, Horticulture therapy, Sustainable Waste management, Butterfly and Bee Gardening”
Our Bio Diversity Conservation Projects
Spot-Winged Thrush
(Zoothera spiloptera)
Spot-winged Thrush (Zoothera spiloptera) is an endemic song bird in Sri Lanka. 3 years research work has been conducted for Kanchana’s MPhil thesis and was the time that she was planning to start ECO-V with some collogues.
Abstract of the thesis
http://archive.cmb.ac.lk:8080/research/bitstream/70130/1409/1/M.Phil%2001.pdf
Peak Wilderness Sanctuary
The Peak Wilderness Sanctuary combines an area of extremely high biodiversity with one of the holiest places in Sri Lanka. Each year nearly 2 million pilgrims come to Adam’s Peak, which inevitably results in a problem of waste disposal, with much non-biodegradable material such as polythene being brought into the area. After winning a Rufford Small Grant in 2001, and Whitley Award in 2002, ECO-V initiated first ever research and long term conservation plan at the sanctuary with the support of the Department of Wildlife Protection in Sri Lanka.
Read about it on WFN
https://whitleyaward.org/winners/spot-billed-pelican-sri-lanka/
Spot billed Pelican
( Pelecanus philippensis)
ECO-V was the first team to start scientific research on Spot billed pelicans in Sri Lanka in 2002. With the success of the field and conservation work, conducted by ECO-V and some work in India, Pelecanus philippensis was upgraded from vulnerable to Near Threatened status in the IUCN Red Data book.
Read more on CLP website
ECO-V Pelican Conservation work
Purple Faced Leaf Langur
(Semnopithecus vetulus nestor)
Western Purple Faced leaf Langur (Semnopithecus vetulus nestor)
ECO-V started field research on this species in 2008. After initial surveys and awareness programmes conducted along with some public exhibitions for two years the project was handed over to another conservation organization in 2010.
Eurasian Otters
(Lutra lutra)
Eurasian Otters (Lutra lutra)
ECO-V started field research on this species for the first time in Sri Lanka, but after a year of initial work it was stopped as no funds could be secured for further studies.
Photo by Ed van duijn on Unsplash