News
Birds return to forest patches where Lantana was removed: Study

Weeding out the invasive tropical American shrub, Lantana camara, appears to alter the composition of bird species in a forest, according to a new study conducted in Central India.However, the research was carried out over only three years. Long-term assessments of how birds and insects respond to the removal of this invasive species are needed, the study published in journal Restoration Ecology, stressed.
Lantanas arrived in India as a decorative shrub in the British colonial period but quickly took over several ecosystems as an invasive plant. The shrub can spread on the forest ground, climb over trees an a creeper and entangle with other native plants with ease.
The researchers focused on tropical dry forests, which don’t often get enough attention. “Peatlands or humid forests get more emphasis for their ability to sequester carbon,” Pooja Choksi, who has just completed her PhD at Columbia University and the lead author of the study, told Down To Earth.
Though dry forests sequester less carbon, people heavily depend on them, she added. Forest restoration by removing lantana was done for the convenience of people, Choksi highlighted. Local communities carried out the removal, the state forest department and a non-governmental organisation.
The team used sound recorders to assess how lantana removal in Madhya Pradesh’s Bichhiya, a critical tiger conservation site, impacted animals that vocalise in frequencies between the frequency range of 2-8 Kilohertz. Bioacoustics, which is the study of animal vocalisations, helps researchers monitor species.
They focused their research on three forest sites: Restored, unrestored, and those with little or no lantana. The team found no difference in species richness or the cumulative number of species across the sites.But differences emerged when they looked at the composition of bird communities or differences in species present at a site.
“What is interesting is that restoration for people’s livelihoods and convenience does not hurt biodiversity,” Choksi highlighted.
They also found differences in acoustic space use (ASU), which quantifies the amount of time soundscapes (animal sounds) are active in 24 hours. A higher ASU can indicate more diversity or abundance of vocalising species.
This change could be temporary, the expert speculated. When lantana is removed, it causes a shift in habitat. Some species will likely leave while others move in, she added.
“When such sudden changes happen, animal communities could be reorganising their community,” she said, adding that long-term studies could provide more concrete answers.
Choksi and her team are currently analysing the data to get a better understanding of the effects a change in soundscapes and the vocalising species composition could mean.
“We have seen a change in composition, but does that mean we are seeing more pollinators or more insectivores — we are currently assessing that,” she said.
Choksi plans to investigate the links between socio-ecological changes and restoration and how people perceive Lantana camara and forest restoration.
– Down to Earth
Business
Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves up by USD 2billion over the past year – Acting Finance Minister

Acting Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya during a press conference held today (21) at the Presidential Media Center, focusing on the theme of ‘Collective Path to a Stable Country’ said that over the past year, the government successfully increased the country’s foreign reserves from 1.8 billion dollars to 3.8 billion dollars.
He added that in August 2022, the exchange rate stood at Rs. 361 per dollar, but by August 2023, one dollar could be acquired for Rs. 321. This shift is not the result of artificial control but rather a reflection of the rupee’s value adjusting in response to supply and demand for the dollar, which holds significant economic importance.
The interest rate for deposits, previously at 14% in 2022, has been lowered to 11%, while the loan interest rate, previously at 15.5%, has been reduced to 12% this year. Notably, last year, the primary account deficit was Rs. -247 billion, but this year it has turned into a surplus of Rs. 27 billion. This marks the first surplus in the primary account balance in over 40 years.
Tourist arrivals, which numbered 496,430 in 2022, have surged to 904,318 during the first two quarters of this year. Equally impressive is the growth in tourism earnings, which rose from 832.6 million US dollars in 2022 to 1,304.5 million US dollars in the first two quarters of this year, reflecting a remarkable 56.7% increase compared to the previous year.
In the past year, the amount of money remitted by Sri Lankans living abroad to Sri Lanka has surged from 2,214.8 million US dollars to 3,862.7 million US dollars this year, marking a remarkable 74.4% increase according to data from the Ministry of Finance.
On August 1, 2022, the QR code system was introduced as a measure to manage petroleum demand due to foreign exchange shortages. This led to a significant disparity between normal demand and supply, resulting in a notable increase in diesel consumption by 28% and petrol consumption by 83% in June 2023, when the QR system was partially relaxed. However, as of September 1, the QR code system, which directly impacts economic growth, has been completely lifted.
Upon assuming office, President Ranil Wickremesinghe faced a daunting challenge of addressing a 14-hour power outage, which had a direct impact on the economy. Presently, the government ensures a continuous and stable electricity supply to the population.
As of August 23, 2023, there were 1467 imported goods banned due to foreign exchange shortages. Currently, the ban applies to only 279 items. Furthermore, the import of vehicles, which had been halted in 2020, now includes buses and trucks for public transport.
In April 2022, the country faced difficulties in meeting its debt obligations. However, the government has since secured the first installment under the International Monetary Fund’s Extended Credit Scheme, contributing to stabilizing the country’s economy compared to the previous year.
(PMC)
News
President Wickremesinghe meets US President Joe Biden in New York

President Joe Biden of the United States and President Ranil Wickremesinghe engaged in a cordial meeting in New York on Thursday (20).
The high-profile meeting took place amidst a lavish dinner hosted by President Biden, for all the heads of state who had participated in the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
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