Sri Lanka has one of the highest species densities in the world including a number of endemic plants and animals. Unusually for a moderately sized island it also has large mammals. It is one of the best places in the world for seeing and photographing Blue Whales, Sperm Whales, Leopards, Asian Elephants and Sloth Bears, dubbed Sri Lanka's 'Big Five'. It also has the largest annually recurring 'Gathering' of wild elephants of anywhere in the word; a truly spectacular event. This book brings together all of Sri Lanka's top wildlife stories, many of which have come to light only in the last few years. Further chapters detail wildlife watching opportunities for primates, birds, reptiles, turtles, butterflies and dragonflies; a description of the parks and reserves by habitat type; and a wildlife watching calendar to help plan a trip. Throughout the book there are extracts from 'A Naturalist's Journal' which in the form of a first person commentary take readers to specific habitats in search of the animals to be found there.

Crop wild relatives (CWR) are plant species which are more or less closely related to crops. They are a vital resource by providing a pool of genetic variation that can be used in breeding new and better adapted varieties of crops that are resistant to stress, disease, drought and other factors. They will be increasingly important in allowing crops to adapt to the impacts of climate, thus safeguarding future agricultural production. Until recently, the main conservation strategy adopted for CWR has been ex situ - through the maintenance of samples as seed or vegetative material in various kinds of genebank or other facilities. Now the need to conserve CWR in their natural surroundings (in situ) is increasingly recognized. Recent research co-ordinated by Bioversity International has produced a wealth of information on good practices and lessons learned for their effective conservation. This book captures the important practical experiences of countries participating in this work and describes them for the wider conservation community. It includes case studies and examples from Armenia, Bolivia, Madagascar, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan, which are important centres of diversity for crop wild relatives, and covers four geographical regions - the Caucasus, South America, Africa and the Asia-Pacific Region. It provides practical, relevant information and guidance for the scaling-up of actions targeting CWR conservation around the world.

Photographic identification guide to the 280 flower species most commonly seen in Sri Lanka which is perfect for resident and visitor alike. Over 300 high quality photographs from Sri Lanka's top nature photographers are accompanied by detailed species descriptions, which include nomenclature, size, distribution and habitat. The user-friendly introduction covers geography and climate, the different habitats and flower structure. Also included is a complete checklist of the flowers of Sri Lanka

A gripping series about saving Earth's most endangered creatures-- and fighting for survival! Sink or swim! Twelve-year-old Adrianna Villalobos and her older brother Feye travel the globe with their parents, the hosts of a suspenseful nature show called "Wild Survival!" The show features daring animal rescues and the work the family does at their animal sanctuary. This time the family is off to Sri Lanka. They’ve heard a rumor that an extremely rare Pondicherry shark might have been sighted. Once they arrive, Adrianna, Feye, and their parents discover the rumored Pondicherry shark is the main attraction in a restaurant aquarium. Is this shark really the one they’re looking for? And if it is, can they convince the restaurant’s owners to release it back in the wild? Packed with animal facts and illustrations, as well as non-fiction backmatter, Wild Survival is a compelling series for anyone fascinated by the natural world.

Known as the "King" of spices, black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) and the "Queen" of spices, cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum M.), both perennial crops of the tropics, are the most important and most widely sought after spice crops of the world. They both have many uses, for example, both are used as flavourings and as a medicine. This book provides a comprehensive review of these two very important spice crops, covering origin, history, geographical distribution, production, economy and their uses. Discusses the two major spices of great economic value to the developing world The author is an eminent scientist who has won numerous awards for his work in this area