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Prof. Priyan Perera

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Prof. Priyan Perera

 

Prof. Priyan Perera
Professor and Head of the Department
B.Sc. (Hons), M.Sc. (Env. Science), M.Sc. (Forestry), Ph.D. (Louisiana State, USA)
Department of Forestry and Environmental Science,
University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka

Phone: Office: 112-758411     Mobile: 071-8656457  
Email: priyan(at)sjp.ac.lk  

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Honorary Research Fellow in Environmental and Conservation Sciences
College of Science in the Health, Engineering and Education
Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia
Priyan.Perera@murdoch.edu.au

Research interest : Recreation Ecology, Ecotourism, Biodiversity, Wildlife, Sustainability Certification and Forest Certification.

CV:

Educational Qualifications

  • PhD, Forestry (2011), School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
  • MSc, Environmental Sciences (2009), School of Coast & Environment, Department of Environmental Science, Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
  • MSc, Forestry (2008), School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
  • BSc, Forestry and Environmental Science [Special], (2003), Department of Forestry & Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka

International Appointments, Positions & Memberships

  • Honorary Research Fellow, College of Science in the Health, Engineering and Education, in the discipline of Environmental and Conservation Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia (2020 onward)
  • Advisor – Carbon Offsets & Credits (2023); (August 2023 onward) https://sccnhub.com/about/advisors
  • South Asian Region Co-Chair – IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Species Survival Commission (SSC) Pangolin Specialist Group (2022 onward)
  • Commission Member – IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Species Survival Commission (SSC) Pangolin Specialist Group (2017 onward)

Areas of Specialty & Research Interests:

  • Ecotourism, Recreation Ecology and Sustainable tourism
  • Wildlife conservation and Management
  • Protected area management and wildlife tourism in protected areas
  • Sustainability Certification, Forest Certification and Sustainable forestry
  • Environmental Management; Climate Actions and GHG management

Publications in Refereed International Journals indexed in Scoupus SCI/SSCI (Q1/Q2)

  1. Jayapali, U., Perera, P., Cresswell, J., & Dayawansa, N. (2023). Does anthropogenic intervention on habitats influence the activity budget and home range size of Toque Macaques (Macaca sinica)? Insight into the Human-Macaque conflict. Trees, Forests and People (Online), 13.
  2. Perera, P., Jayakody, C. Jayapali, U., & Newsome, D. (2023). Challenges and opportunities for the resumption of nature tourism in post-pandemic Sri Lanka. International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks.
  3. Perera, P., & Vlosky, R. (2023). Tropical Forestry: Conservation, Management and Utilization: An Introduction to the Special Issue. Trees, Forests and People, 100395.
  4. Rupasinghe, L., Perera, P., Bandara, R., Amarasekera, H & Vlosky.R. (2023). Insights into Properties of Biomass Energy Pellets Made from Mixtures of Woody and Non-woody Biomass: A Meta-Analysis. Energies., (ISSN 1996-1073).
  5. Sumudu Marasinghe, Priyan Perera, David Newsome, Sarath Kotagama, Chathuri Jayasinghe (2022). Understanding the impact of recreational disturbance caused by motor vehicles on waterbirds: A case study from the Bundala Wetland, Sri Lanka. Journal of Coastal Conservation. 26 (2), 1-21
  1. Perera, P., Mallikage, S. T., Newsome, D., & Vlosky, R. (2022). Profiling of Shelter Campers, Their Attitudes, and Perceptions towards Environmental Impacts of Campsite Use and Management: Evidence from National Parks of Sri Lanka. Sustainability, 14(20), 13311.
  2. Perera, P., Jayewardana, P., Creswell, J., & Newsome, D. (2022). SCUBA Diver Environmental Orientation and Perceptions of Diving Impact Management on Coral Reefs: Evidence from Sri Lanka. Tourism in Marine Environments, 17(1-2), 1-2.
  1. Bandara, W. A. R. T. W., Ranasinghe, O., Perera, P., Vlosky, R., & Kizha, A. R. (2022). Potential to use invasive plants in biomass energy production: A case study Prosopis juliflora in coastal wetlands of Sri Lanka. Trees, Forests and People, 10, 100330.
  1. Perera, P., Rupasinghe, R. L., Weerasekera, D., Vlosky, R., & Bandara, R. (2022). Revisiting Forest Certification in Sri Lanka: The Forest Management and Export Wood-Based Manufacturing Sector Perspectives. Forests, 13(2), 179.
  2. Perera, P., Karawita, H., & Jayasinghe, C. (2022). The applicability of camera trap data to monitor the cryptic Indian pangolin (Manus crassicaudata) populations: A survey from a tropical lowland rainforest in Southwest Sri Lanka. Global Ecology and Conservation, 34, e02046.
  3. Hirusha Randimal Algewatta, Priyan Perera (2022). Updates on methods to estimate the size of Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) scale seizures using scale frequencies and scale morphology. Nature Conservation. 46,1-16.
  4. Mallikage, S.T, Perera, P., Newsome, D., Bandara, W.A.R.T.W., & Simpson, G. D. (2021). Effects of Recreational Camping on the Environmental Values of National Parks in Sri Lanka. Tropical Life Sciences Research. 32(3), 119–145.
  5. Shahsika Himandi, Priyan Perera, Hiran Amarasekera, Rajitha Rupasinghe, Richard Vlosky (2021). Wood Residues in the Moratuwa Woodworking Industry Cluster of Sri Lanka: Potential for Sector Synergies and Value-added Products. Forest Products Journal. 71 (4), 379-390
  6. Algewatta, H. R., Perera, P., Karawita, H., Dayawansa, N., Manawadu, D., & Liyanage, M. (2020). Updates on the morphometric characterization of indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) in Sri Lanka. Animals, 11(1), 25.
  7. Perera, P., Algewatta, H. R., & Vidanage, B. (2021). Record of the world’s biggest pangolin? New observations of bodyweight and total body length of the Indian Pangolin Manis crassicaudata Gray, 1827 (Mammalia: Pholidota: Manidae) from Mannar District, Sri Lanka. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 13(1), 17564-17568.
  8. Marasinghe, S., Perera, P., Simpson, G. D., & Newsome, D. (2021). Nature-based tourism development in coastal wetlands of Sri Lanka: An Importance–Performance analysis at Maduganga Mangrove Estuary. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 33, 100345.
  9. Perera, P., & Karawita, H. (2020). An update of distribution, habitats and conservation status of the Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) in Sri Lanka. Global Ecology and Conservation, 21, e00799.
  10. Perera, P., Algewatta, H. R., & Karawita, H. (2020). Protocols for recording morphometric measurement of Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata). MethodsX, 7, 101020.
  11. Karawita, H., Perera, P., Dayawansa, N., & Dias, S. (2020). Dietary composition and foraging habitats of the Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) in a tropical lowland forest-associated landscape in southwest Sri Lanka. Global Ecology and Conservation, 21, e00880.
  12. Karawita, H., & Perera, P. (2020). Dataset of distribution, habitats and conservation status of the Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) in Sri Lanka. Data in brief, 28, 104999.
  13. Karawita, H., & Perera, P. (2020). A method for rapid assessment of the distribution and conservation status of Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) in an extended geographical region. MethodsX, 100912.
  14. Simpson, G. D., Sumanapala, D. P., Galahitiyawe, N. W., Newsome, D., & Perera, P. (2020). Exploring motivation, satisfaction and revisit intention of ecolodge visitors. Tourism and hospitality management, 26(2), 359-379.
  15. Marasinghe, S., Simpson, G., Newsome, D., & Perera, P. (2020). Scoping recreational disturbance of shorebirds to inform the agenda for research and management in Tropical Asia. Tropical Life Sciences Research 31 (2), 51–79.
  16. Prakash, S. L., Perera, P., Newsome, D., Kusuminda, T., & Walker, O. (2019). Reasons for visitor dissatisfaction with wildlife tourism experiences at highly visited national parks in Sri Lanka. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 25, 102-112.
  17. Karawita, H., Perera, P., Gunawardane, P., & Dayawansa, N. (2018). Habitat preference and den characterization of Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) in a tropical lowland forested landscape of southwest Sri Lanka. PloS one, 13(11), e0206082.
  18. Perera, P., Wijesinghe, S., Dayawansa, N., Marasinghe, S., & Wickramarachchi, C. (2017). Response of tropical birds to habitat modifications in fragmented forest patches: A case from a tropical lowland rainforest in south-west Sri Lanka. Community Ecology, 18(2), 175-183.
  19. Sumanapala, H. D. P., Kotagama, S. W., Perera, P. K. P., Galahitiyawe, N. W. K., & Suranga, D. A. C. S. (2017). Comparison of characteristics of Asian and non-Asian tourists visiting eco-lodges in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Journal of Social Sciences, 40(2), 119-126.
  20. Alwis, N. S., Perera, P., & Dayawansa, N. P. (2016). Response of tropical avifauna to visitor recreational disturbances: a case study from the Sinharaja World Heritage Forest, Sri Lanka. Avian Research, 7(1), 1-13
  21. Jayawardhane, J. K. P. C., Perera, P. K. P., Lokupitiya, R. S., Amarasekara, H. S., & Ruwanpathirana, N. (2016). The effect of quality attributes in determination of price for plantation-grown Teak (Tectona grandis) logs in Sri Lanka. Annals of Forest Research, 59 (1), 1-12.
  22. Perera, P., Senevirathna, M. C., & Vlosky, R. P. (2015). Recreationist perspectives, attitudes, and perceptions towards national park management in Sri Lanka. Tourism: An International Interdisciplinary Journal, 63(4), 497-514.
  23. Perera, P. K. P., & Lam, N. (2013). An environmental justice assessment of the Mississippi river industrial corridor in Louisiana, US using a GIS-based approach. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 11(4), 681-697.
  24. Perera, P., Vlosky, R. P., & Wahala, S. B. (2012). Motivational and behavioral profiling of visitors to forest-based recreational destinations in Sri Lanka. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 17(4), 451-467.
  25. Vlosky, R., Gazo, R., Cassens, D., & Perera, P. (2009). Changes in value-added wood product manufacturer perceptions about certification in the United States from 2002 to 2008. Drvna industrija: Znanstveni časopis za pitanja drvne tehnologije, 60(2), 89-94.
  26. Perera, P., Vlosky, R. P., Dunn, M. A., & Hughes, G. (2008). US home-center retailer attitudes, perceptions and behaviors regarding forest certification. Forest Products Journal, 58(3), 21-25.
  27. Perera, P., Vlosky, R. P., Hughes, G., & Dunn, M. A. (2007). What do Louisiana and Mississippi nonindustrial private forest landowners think about forest certification?. Southern journal of applied forestry, 31(4), 170-175.
  28. Perera, P., Vlosky, R. P., Amarasekera, H. S., & De Silva, N. (2006). Forest Certification in Sri Lanka. Forest Products Journal, 56(11/12), 1-5.

Books & Book Chapters

  • Perera, P., Marasinghe, S. Simpson, G. & Newsome, D. (2022). Recreational Disturbance of Shorebirds in Tropical Asia” – SpringerBriefs.
  • Newsome, D., Perera, P. (2023). Nature-based tourism: before, during and after COVID- 19. In: Mandić, A., Valia, S.K. Routledge Handbook of Nature-based Tourism Development. Routledge, London and New York.
  • Mahmood, T., Mohapatra, R. K., Perera, P., Irshad, N., Akrim, F., Andleeb, S., … & Panda, S. (2020). Indian Pangolin Manis crassicaudata (Geoffroy, 1803). In Pangolins (pp. 71-88). Academic Press

Research Grants and Awards

  • Identification of Key Saw-log Quality Attributes to Develop a Harmonized Log Grading System for the Timber Industry in Sri Lanka. University Research Grant ASP/06/RE/SCI/2012/05 (Amount 2000 USD)
  • Estimating the Distribution and Abundance of Indian Pangolin Manis crassicaudata in a Tropical Lowland Forest Habitat in South West Sri Lanka. Small Grant Program of the Biodiversity Secretariat, Ministry of Environment and Renewable Energy. (Amount 2500 USD)
  • Investigation of the Behaviour and Ecology of Indian Pangolin Manis crassicaudata in a Tropical Lowland Forest Habitat in South West Sri Lanka. University Research Grant ASP/SCI/2015/07 (Amount Rs. 10,000 USD)
  • Ecotourism in Coastal Wetlands: Meeting the Dual Mandates of Recreation and Conservation. National Research Council Grant 16:128 (2016) (Amount 12,500 USD)
  • Study of behavior in captivity and dietary ecology of Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) in a tropical lowland forest habitat in southwest Sri Lanka. University Research Grant
  • ASP/01/RE/SCI/2017/14 (Amount 3500 USD)
  • Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) for Sri Jayewardenepura: Restoration and Sustainable Management of Diyasary Urban Wetland Ecosystem, Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte, Sri Lanka. UNDP GEF Small Grants (USD 50,000.00)
  • Gap Analysis Against the 2020 Farm Requirements on Certified Tea Estates in Sri Lanka and
  • Assessment of the Spatial Intensity and Impact of wire-snare poaching on non-target threatened Mammals in upcountry Tea Landscapes of Sri Lanka 2021, Funded by Rainforest Alliance, (Amount: 10,000 USD)
  • Opportunities to improve cooking stoves in use on tea plantations to offset tea industry level carbon footprint 2020 – Funded by Ethical Tea Partnership, UK (Amount: 10,000 USD)

Ongoing Projects

  • Ecotourism in coastal wetlands of Sri Lanka: Assessing the recreational disturbance on coastal avifauna and Understanding visitor perspectives
  • Behavior, Ecology and Conservation of Indian Pangolin Manis crassicaudata in Sri Lanka
  • Behavior, Ecology and Conservation of Hog Deer in Sri Lanka (in collaboration with Geoffrey Bawa Trust)
   
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