The Knowledge About the Biodiversity and Biodiversity Conservation of the Society

Abstract

This research was conducted based on a questionnaire survey related to Biodiversity and Conservation to reveal the status of awareness of the terms “Biodiversity and Biodiversity Conservation” among the Sabaragamuwa University community and to acquaint them with biodiversity conservation. One hundred and twenty individuals including males and females above 20 years of age were randomly selected from the Sabaragamuwa University premises to conduct this questionnaire. They were categorized as academic staff, non-academic staff, and students. To begin the questionnaire survey, we first asked what biodiversity is and what biodiversity includes. Furthermore, we asked about the consumption of bushmeat by humans, knowledge of people on environmental protection agencies in Sri Lanka, the knowledge about the endangered animal species in Sri Lanka, knowledge of forest products, climatic change and threats to wildlife in Sri Lanka, and some suggestions were gained from the individuals to protect Biodiversity in Sri Lanka. The data obtained from this questionnaire were recorded and the results were analyzed. According to the results, 99% of the them know about the term “Biodiversity” but most people do not have a proper knowledge about what biodiversity is. Most of them were well aware of the Department of Wildlife Conservation and Central Environmental Authority as Environmental protection agencies. Sinharaja forest was observed as the most visited protected area. Elephants and Leopards are known by respondents as endangered animal species in Sri Lanka. All respondents (100%) believe that most of the threats to biodiversity occur due to human activities and 90% of them consume bushmeat knowingly contributing to such threats to biodiversity