Montane ecosystems refer to any ecosystems
found in Mountains, and Montane Forest in Wikipedia is defined as: Montane forests
differ from lowland forests in the same area.[5] The climate of montane forests is
colder than lowland climate at the same latitude, so the montane forests often
have species typical of higher-latitude lowland forests.[6] Humans can disturb montane forests
through forestry and agriculture.[5]
See details of the previous post for the context in which this entry is written and are interlinked.
In Rohan Pethiyagoda,
a biodiversity scientist’s lecture recently, he pointed out how some of the aforesaid
forests at the Horton Plaines National Park were in fact dying and pointed out to
scientific data on extremely high levels of LEAD in a country that really does not
spew out a lot of lead, leading to some concern about how the global effects of
lead discharge, perhaps India, perhaps further afield, also affect our own environment,
and following on from that our very existence!
The mist particles
of Cloud Forests were apparently better at giving plants nutrients, but at the same
time, they can also absorb effluents in the air too! This is obviously an area of
concern that our scientists, must be aware of, study its effects and possible progression,
and if serious get the International Communities cooperation to reverse this trend,
which if anything will lead to the complete destabilization of our ecosystem before
our eyes, and we can do nothing about it.
This is the
very existence of our Country that we are talking about. It is important therefore
for the Government to takes steps to identify the gravity of this problem, and take
necessary steps to minimize its effects, or scientifically evaluate the extent of
the threat and the consequences of it.
This is simply
an example of the need for the use of current techniques, and new technology, to
be able find reasons for the problems, suggest solutions to them, and measure the
effects of the damage and map out a path of eliminating the threat.
This is a
clear example of what our scientists can get their teeth into, through international
collaboration. After all, those who get first class honors degrees in Sciences are
snapped up by US Universities to do post graduate work. It is time they take a topic
such as this, get further research funding for it, and study the effects of external
factors on our environment and come up with solutions.
It is incumbent
upon the Government to encourage this work, assist these students and use the brain
power we already have to work for the survival of Sri Lanka.
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