Home / Recent news / Sri Lanka advances NBSAP implementation in northern province through district-level engagement on blue carbon ecosystems
Sri Lanka advances NBSAP implementation in northern province through district-level engagement on blue carbon ecosystems
Home / Recent news / Sri Lanka advances NBSAP implementation in northern province through district-level engagement on blue carbon ecosystems
Sri Lanka advances NBSAP implementation in northern province through district-level engagement on blue carbon ecosystems
Sri Lanka has taken a key step toward accelerating the implementation of its National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan (NBSAP) by integrating both top-down and bottom-up approaches. As part and parcel to this effort, the Ministry of Environment recently focused on identifying biodiversity priorities in the Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi Districts of the Northern Province through targeted engagement with government officials operating at the district level.
This initiative was conducted through a specialized awareness program organized by the Biodiversity Division of the Ministry of Environment, the national host of the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership. The workshop, titled “Restoration, Conservation, and Sustainable Use of Blue Carbon Ecosystems in Sri Lanka for relevant officers of the Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu Districts”, brought together over 65 officials from key government agencies. Participating institutions included the Department of Forest Conservation, Department of Wildlife Conservation, Central Environmental Authority, Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department, National Aquaculture Development Authority, Sri Lanka Coast Guard Department and the Environmental Division of Sri Lanka Police.
The program aimed to enhance the understanding of district-level officials on the importance of blue carbon ecosystems, particularly mangroves, seagrass ecosystems and mud flats, in biodiversity conservation. Sessions provided technical insight on ecosystem restoration, species identification, and the prevailing legal frameworks for the conservation and sustainable use of mangrove habitats. Interactive group discussions and field visits were conducted to help participants identify pressing local issues related to biodiversity conservation. It was highly emphasized the importance of not disturbing other blue carbon ecosystems like seagrass and salt marshes when implementing mangrove restoration programmes.
A key highlight of the workshop was a field demonstration on mangrove ecosystem restoration, conducted using the National Guidelines for the Restoration of Mangrove Ecosystems in Sri Lanka prepared by the Ministry of Environment. These insights will be further developed into proposals for support through the NBSAP Accelerator’s MatchMaking Mechanism.
Expert contributions were provided by Prof. Sevvandi Jayakody of Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Chairperson of the Mangrove Expert Committee and a member of the national Task Force for Blue Carbon Ecosystem Restoration; Dr. Manoj Prasanna from the Ministry of Environment; and Surani Pathirana, Assistant Director at the Ministry of Environment and, a focal point for NBSAP implementation acceleration. The workshop also featured Ranoshi Siripala, the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership’s in-country facilitator, who outlined the roles and responsibilities of participant institutions in achieving NBSAP goals and shared opportunities available for collaborative implementation support.
The engagement of district-level officials through this workshop represents a critical move toward understanding local conservation needs and aligning them with national biodiversity goals, targets and actions particularly in relation to Sri Lanka’s valuable blue carbon ecosystems.
Learn more about Sri Lanka and the progress of other country members on our Recent News page. Curious about the Facilitator Programme? Learn more about its critical role in accelerating NBSAPs here.
Sri Lanka has taken a key step toward accelerating the implementation of its National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan (NBSAP) by integrating both top-down and bottom-up approaches. As part and parcel to this effort, the Ministry of Environment recently focused on identifying biodiversity priorities in the Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi Districts of the Northern Province through targeted engagement with government officials operating at the district level.
This initiative was conducted through a specialized awareness program organized by the Biodiversity Division of the Ministry of Environment, the national host of the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership. The workshop, titled “Restoration, Conservation, and Sustainable Use of Blue Carbon Ecosystems in Sri Lanka for relevant officers of the Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu Districts”, brought together over 65 officials from key government agencies. Participating institutions included the Department of Forest Conservation, Department of Wildlife Conservation, Central Environmental Authority, Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department, National Aquaculture Development Authority, Sri Lanka Coast Guard Department and the Environmental Division of Sri Lanka Police.
The program aimed to enhance the understanding of district-level officials on the importance of blue carbon ecosystems, particularly mangroves, seagrass ecosystems and mud flats, in biodiversity conservation. Sessions provided technical insight on ecosystem restoration, species identification, and the prevailing legal frameworks for the conservation and sustainable use of mangrove habitats. Interactive group discussions and field visits were conducted to help participants identify pressing local issues related to biodiversity conservation. It was highly emphasized the importance of not disturbing other blue carbon ecosystems like seagrass and salt marshes when implementing mangrove restoration programmes.
A key highlight of the workshop was a field demonstration on mangrove ecosystem restoration, conducted using the National Guidelines for the Restoration of Mangrove Ecosystems in Sri Lanka prepared by the Ministry of Environment. These insights will be further developed into proposals for support through the NBSAP Accelerator’s MatchMaking Mechanism.
Expert contributions were provided by Prof. Sevvandi Jayakody of Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Chairperson of the Mangrove Expert Committee and a member of the national Task Force for Blue Carbon Ecosystem Restoration; Dr. Manoj Prasanna from the Ministry of Environment; and Surani Pathirana, Assistant Director at the Ministry of Environment and, a focal point for NBSAP implementation acceleration. The workshop also featured Ranoshi Siripala, the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership’s in-country facilitator, who outlined the roles and responsibilities of participant institutions in achieving NBSAP goals and shared opportunities available for collaborative implementation support.
The engagement of district-level officials through this workshop represents a critical move toward understanding local conservation needs and aligning them with national biodiversity goals, targets and actions particularly in relation to Sri Lanka’s valuable blue carbon ecosystems.
Learn more about Sri Lanka and the progress of other country members on our Recent News page. Curious about the Facilitator Programme? Learn more about its critical role in accelerating NBSAPs here.
The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership is a country-led initiative that supports the implementation of NBSAPs to collectively achieve the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. It is co-chaired by Colombia and Germany, supported by the governments of Germany, Norway, Canada and France, and coordinated by a Global Coordination Unit hosted by the Secretariat of the CBD, UNDP and UNEP.
The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership is a country-led initiative that supports the implementation of NBSAPs to collectively achieve the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. It is co-chaired by Colombia and Germany, supported by the governments of Germany, Norway, Canada and France, and coordinated by a Global Coordination Unit hosted by the Secretariat of the CBD, UNDP and UNEP.
