BERI

Each feathered traveler of the skies brings music, color, and grace to our landscapes. Migratory birds are nature's true wonders, covering incredible distances—sometimes more than 8,000 km in a single journey! Did you know these avian explorers are helpful to us too? They help pollinate plants and spread seeds, playing a vital role in ecosystems across the globe. And here’s a fun fact: During their journeys, some of them lose up to 50% of their body weight!🪶

Sri Lanka serves as both a winter retreat and a stopover site, providing rest and food along their migratory path. Over 200 species visit our country’s shores every year. From Asia to Africa, they travel thousands of miles for warmth, food, and shelter, making our island a temporary home.

This year, as we celebrated World Migratory Bird Day on last 12th of October, the spotlight was on the essential role of insects in supporting their journeys. Insects are vital food sources for migratory birds and these tiny creatures help sustain birds during their long travels and play a crucial role in their breeding success. As we admire their beauty, let’s also remember the importance of preserving habitats for both birds and insects, ensuring they thrive together in harmony.

📸: Lathmi Wickramasinghe & Gavin Bartholomensz
Thema Collection Sustainability at Thema Collection Aliya Resort & Spa

We are happy to announce that Mr. Himash Rajarathna from Horizon Campus , Malabe & Researcher at BERI, has been awarded the Best Presenter Award for his research titled “Assessing the Diversity and Conservation Needs of Order Squamata in Mandaramnuwara, Sri Lanka.” A research supported by Tea & Experience Factory by Thema Collection under the BERI Programme. This achievement was recognized during the 5th Conference on Applied and Pure Sciences (ICAPS 2024), held on October 11, 2024, at the Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Medhisha Gunawardena, Consultant – Board of Management/BERI, Environment Management and Sustainability Consultant, Thema Collection for his visionary conceptualization, guidance, and unwavering commitment to advancing meaningful research through the Biodiversity Educational Research Initiative (BERI).

A special appreciation goes to the research group, including Avishka Harshamal, Chamal Lakshan, Prabodani Hansika, and Ravishka Jayasuriya, for their valuable contributions. We would also like to express our sincere thanks to Mr. Chandula Janith Hettiarachchi, Research Coordinator at BERI, for the leadership and guidance.

We are happy to be part of this collective effort to advance environmental sustainability. Join us in our commitment to protect our planet!

"Peekaboo! One camouflaged step at a time!"

Meet the Sri Lankan Leaf-nosed Lizard, a master of disguise! Endemic to Sri Lanka, this unique reptile has evolved remarkable camouflaging skills. Its leaf-shaped nose helps it blend seamlessly into its surroundings, making it difficult to spot in the wild!

Fun fact: Leaf-nosed lizards are arboreal, meaning they spend most of their time in trees. Their sharp claws and long tails make them agile climbers, perfectly adapted to life in the dense forests of Knuckles in Sri Lanka.


Thema Collection Sustainability at Thema Collection

"Playful waves and joyful jumps!" 🐬

Dolphins surely know how to have a good time! Their fun flips and synchronised swimming aren’t just for show—they’re their way of staying connected with the pod. These social animals live in groups called pods, which can consist of up to 12 individuals, but in some areas, they form superpods with hundreds of dolphins!

And dolphins use something like ocean sonar, called echolocation to hunt and navigate. They emit high-frequency clicks and listen to the returning echoes to determine the location of objects and prey.

It’s a timely reminder of their wonders as we mark World Dolphin Day, a celebration of these creatures with big hearts and social smarts and the efforts to protect them in their natural habitats.


Thema Collection Sustainability at Thema Collection

"The eyes of the wild tell stories—strong, silent, and free. Together, they thrive under open skies"

Elephants are not just majestic in appearance, but they're also some of the most intelligent and emotionally complex creatures in the wild. They can recognize themselves in mirrors, showing self-awareness that is rare among animals. Elephants also form deep family bonds, walking for miles together to find food and water—always protecting the youngest in the herd. 🧠💕

Fun fact: Did you know that elephants can communicate through vibrations felt in the ground? They use these low-frequency rumbles, known as infrasound, to send messages across distances as far as 10 kilometres! 🌍🐾

Every wrinkle, every step, every glance—they carry the wisdom of the wild with them, showing us what it means to be resilient and free.


Thema Collection Sustainability at Thema Collection 📸: Akash Ukwatta

At BERI, we go beyond studying biodiversity and sharing knowledge. We actively build collaborations with other sustainability-related entities to enhance the understanding of biodiversity’s value and inspire a sense of environmental responsibility among individuals and communities.

Take a look at the collaborations we’ve undertaken over the past few years:

1. Reforestation & Biodiversity Enhancement Project in collaboration with the Forest Department

2. Thema Talks: ‘Low Carbon Emissions in Sri Lanka's Hospitality Industry’ session in collaboration with The Barnhouse - Sri Lanka, Sherwood by The Barn, and Control Union Sri Lanka.

3. Launch of ‘TiP Toons’ Cartoon Series in collaboration with Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka (Tourism SUSL)

4. 3rd Citizen Scientist’s Symposium organised by the Young Zoologists' Association of Sri Lanka.

5. Horizon Campus Research Symposium

6. A shramadana Campaign to clear the invasive species in Minneriya conducted in collaboration with the Federation of Environmental Organizations - Sri Lanka (FEO), Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO), and Department of Wildlife Conservation, Sri Lanka (DWC) for 'Project Agada’

As the third pillar, ‘Collaboration’ plays a vital role at BERI. We go beyond studying biodiversity and sharing knowledge; we actively partner with universities, government bodies, and other environmental entities. Our goal is to enhance understanding of biodiversity’s value and inspire a sense of environmental responsibility among individuals and communities. By fostering these partnerships, we aim to empower them to make sustainable choices.

Biodiversity Educational Research Initiative (BERI), is an initiative of Thema Collection that aims to protect Sri Lanka's biodiversity through research, awareness creation & capacity-building and collaboration. Our program supports both local and international students in researching to understand the challenges facing our environment and develop effective strategies to address them.


Sustainability at Thema Collection WWF National Geographic TV Discovery

🍀 Introducing the main pillars of Biodiversity Educational Research Initiative (BERI)!

📕 At BERI, research stands as one of our core foundations. We recognize the crucial importance of studying the biodiversity of Sri Lanka to address the existing knowledge gaps. One such gap lies in understanding the impact of climate change on the country's rich biodiversity, where data deficiency poses a challenge. We strive to bridge this gap through our research initiatives.

➡ Biodiversity Educational Research Initivative (BERI), is an initiative of Thema Collection that aims to protect Sri Lanka's biodiversity through research, awareness creation & capacity-building and collaboration. Our program supports both local and international students in conducting research to understand the challenges facing our environment and develop effective strategies to address them.

Sustainability at Thema Collection

🦋 Biodiversity Educational Research Initiative (BERI), is an initiative of Thema Collection that aims to protect Sri Lanka's biodiversity through research, awareness creation & capacity-building and collaboration. Our program supports both local and international students in conducting research to understand the challenges facing our environment and develop effective strategies to address them.

🌳 Since 2019, we have embarked on an incredible journey of biodiversity research around diverse habitats of our beloved resorts of Thema Collection, and we are thrilled to share our progress with all of you!

Stay tuned as we share exciting updates from our ongoing research and conservation projects.

📸📚 Let's celebrate the beauty of biodiversity and be the change-makers for a better tomorrow! 💪💙

Sustainability at Thema Collection Maxime Wickramasinghe Medhisha Gunawardena The Naturalist

Happy World Lizard Day! 🦎🦎

Nestled within the lush landscapes of Sri Lanka 🇱🇰 are some of the world's most fascinating lizards🦎 . These tiny yet remarkable reptiles play a vital role in maintaining the delicate balance of nature and deserve our utmost protection.

Sri Lanka's lizards are also intricately woven into the cultural fabric of the island. They've inspired countless stories, myths, and even art✨. Their vibrant colors and unique behaviors showcase the incredible diversity of life on the island. Many species of lizards are found nowhere else on Earth, making them an essential part of Sri Lanka's biodiversity💚 .

👉This is why we must step up as stewards of the environment and protect these charismatic reptiles🦎💚. By conserving their habitats and implementing sustainable practices, we can ensure that these lizards continue to fulfill their vital roles in the ecosystem 🤝💯.

Here are some interesting facts about lizards in Sri Lanka✨🇱🇰



Sustainability at Thema Collection Thema Collection Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN) Medhisha Gunawardena The Naturalist

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Thema Talks: Sri Lanka's Biodiversity in a Global Context. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting. Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Thema Talks: Sri Lanka's Biodiversity in a Global Context. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.