“There should be no greater priority than ensuring that the quality of the air we breathe, the rainfall that provides our sustenance and the host of ecosystem services that make human life possible, are protected for our children and their generations.”
– Dilmah Founder, Merrill J. Fernando
Did you know that there is a species of shrub frog named after Dilmah?
Pseudophilautus dilmah, believed to be endemic to Sri Lanka, was discovered in 2015 at Loolecondera estate, Sri Lanka’s first tea plantation. At just 2cm in length, this species has been found to be genetically distinct from the rest of the species of the same genus. So far, there are 78 known species of the genus Pseudophilautus, eleven (14%) of which have been discovered through Dilmah Conservation’s dedication to document the rich amphibian biodiversity of Sri Lanka. It is for this reason that this particular species was named after Dilmah.
While frogs might be seen as unsightly creatures by many, they in fact play a significant role in their respective environments. Due to their thin skins, frogs are generally very sensitive to changes in their surroundings, making them good indicators of impending variations or threats to the environment. The scientific community therefore often closely observes frog behaviour in a given environment, referring to them as ‘forest’s barometers’ for the information that they inadvertently volunteer.
Commenced in 2007, Dilmah Conservation initiates and supports environmental and wildlife conservation efforts, while progressively adopting and promoting sustainable business practices. Pseudophilautus dilmah was discovered through the organisation’s programme for identifying lesser-known and under-studied species in Sri Lanka as part of Dilmah’s commitment to biodiversity conservation.
