Turning science into action: Prof. Gothamie Weerakoon calls out Biodiversity “Narratives

From the vantage point of a scientist who has spent years mapping the hidden lives of lichens across South and Southeast Asia, Prof. Gothamie Weerakoon offers a stark diagnosis: biodiversity loss is accelerating while much of what passes for progress remains rhetorical. She argues that conservation must pivot from polished narratives to verifiable change on the ground, where ecosystems either recover or continue to unravel.

Beyond slogans: what real action looks like

According to Prof. Weerakoon, credible biodiversity action is rooted in specific places and backed by measurable outcomes. That means establishing ecological baselines, quantifying impacts, and independently verifying results over time. Where companies can demonstrate reductions in deforestation, the recovery of native habitats, or the return of key species, claims of “nature-positive” can be taken seriously. Where outcomes remain vague, framed as aspirations, or reliant on offsets while core harms persist, the balance tilts toward greenwash.

The offshoring problem

She warns that in many global supply chains, environmental burdens are relocated rather than reduced. Consumption in wealthy markets often drives land-use change in biodiversity hotspots. Export-oriented agriculture, plantation expansion, and poorly regulated extraction shift ecological costs to countries with weaker oversight. Improvements in one jurisdiction can disguise growing damage elsewhere.

From voluntary pledges to binding rules

Voluntary corporate commitments have moved the conversation forward but yield uneven results. Prof. Weerakoon argues for clear, enforceable standards that ensure consistent accounting, transparent reporting, and real accountability. Any global system, however, must remain flexible enough to respond to local realities and avoid penalizing developing economies that need support to build monitoring capacity and implement safeguards.

High-impact sectors, high stakes

Large-scale monocultures, unmanaged logging, mining, fossil fuel extraction, and industrial fishing continue to erode ecosystems at speed. These sectors operate under weak or fragmented regulation, and their diffuse, cross-border supply chains complicate responsibility. Unlike carbon, biodiversity is multidimensional and place-based, making impacts harder to quantify—and easier to ignore.

Planning with science from day one

Weerakoon is clear: conservation and development can coexist only if ecological constraints are hard-wired into project design. Strategic planning must avoid sensitive habitats, incorporate wildlife corridors, and fund long-term restoration. Environmental impact assessments, ecological mapping, and predictive models can illuminate trade-offs in ways that decision-makers cannot dismiss—if those tools are mandatory and rigorously enforced.

Finance is waking up—slowly

While awareness of nature-related risk is rising in financial institutions, short-term returns still dominate. Reporting frameworks are evolving, but verification is inconsistent and penalties for destructive investment remain rare. Prof. Weerakoon calls for binding criteria, independent audits, and integration of biodiversity risk into credit, insurance, and portfolio decisions.

Communities as rights-holders, not afterthoughts

Token consultation cannot substitute for shared authority. Prof. Weerakoon urges legal recognition of community rights, participatory planning, and co-management of protected and restored areas. Traditional ecological knowledge should inform decisions alongside scientific data. This approach not only improves outcomes but reduces conflict and strengthens stewardship.

What can move now in Sri Lanka

• Restore mangroves and coastal wetlands to buffer storms, store carbon, and rebuild fisheries.
• Design wildlife corridors to reconnect fragmented habitats and reduce human–wildlife conflict.
• Use GIS mapping and real-time monitoring to target high-risk deforestation and encroachment.
• Support sustainable livelihoods—agroforestry, diversified farming, and community forestry—to relieve pressure on natural ecosystems.

Shielding biodiversity hotspots from short-termism

Protection hinges on zoning that prioritizes high-value ecosystems, rigorous environmental assessments, and recognition of ecosystem services in national accounts. When forests, wetlands, reefs, and grasslands are valued for the water, food, disaster protection, and cultural benefits they provide, their preservation becomes an economic imperative, not a charitable add-on.

Accountability across borders

Holding companies to account for transboundary harm remains challenging. International agreements, due-diligence rules in supply chains, and evolving disclosure systems can help. Civil society, courts, and investors also have roles to play. But without credible enforcement and shared data, harmful practices can simply migrate.

Close the transparency gap

Corporate biodiversity reports frequently lack standardized metrics, comprehensive impact data, and third-party verification. Prof. Weerakoon calls for harmonized indicators and mandatory audits so that claims can be tested—and trusted.

Economies built with biodiversity, not against it

Integrating biodiversity into growth strategies is not a brake on development but a foundation for resilience. Nature-based solutions—such as regenerative agriculture, mangrove rehabilitation, and watershed restoration—deliver economic returns by stabilizing soils, safeguarding pollination, reducing flood risk, and sustaining fisheries.

South Asia’s risk ledger

The region faces profound long-term costs if ecosystems continue to degrade: declining crop yields from soil loss and pollinator decline, collapsing nearshore fisheries, heightened disaster exposure where forests and wetlands are stripped away, and greater vulnerability to climate shocks. These are systemic risks that compound over time.

Science people can use

Data must be made legible to policymakers and the public. Maps, dashboards, and clear storytelling can turn complex ecological processes into evidence that drives decisions. Public engagement is essential: when communities understand what is at stake locally, political incentives shift.

Financing that endures

Conservation models overly dependent on international aid are fragile. Durable funding requires a portfolio approach—public budgets, private capital, payment for ecosystem services, and community enterprises—aligned to long-term stewardship rather than short-term projects.

Who holds the lever?

Responsibility is shared across governments, businesses, and consumers, but public policy sets the rules of the game. Strong governance—clear standards, tough enforcement, and targeted incentives—can tilt markets toward restoration and away from degradation. For Prof. Weerakoon, the test is simple and non-negotiable: show, with evidence, that biodiversity loss tied to specific activities is declining over time. Anything less is just another narrative.