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Biodiversity Division
- Biodiversity Division
Project on Partnerships and Innovative Financing to Mainstream Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Management (SLM) in the Wet Climatic Zone of Sri Lanka
Project objective: This project aims to integrate biodiversity conservation and sustainable land management practices within the private sector tea and rubber plantations in the wet climate zone of the country.
The project outputs and outcomes of the project are as follows;
Component 1: Conservation and Restoration of High Conservation Value Forests (HCVFs) in the Wet and Intermediate Climatic Zones
Outcome 1: Enhanced conservation of biodiversity rich forest high conservation value forests (HCVFs) and natural habitats within tea and rubber plantations
Output 1.1: GIS database of plantations developed and applied to identify map remaining high conservation value forests, natural habitats and land degradation
Output 1.2: Conservation Plans for target pilot sites developed through a detailed ground surveys and biological assessments
Output 1.3: Technical advisory, extension services and best practices supported to accelerate implementation of Conservation Plans for target sites
Output 1.4: Capacity of stakeholders, including estate workers strengthened to effectively manage priority conservation areas and adopt sustainable plantation and agriculture practices
Component 2: Innovative Public Private Community Partnerships for Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Land Management in Plantation Sector
Outcome 2: Harnessing innovative private sector financing for conservation of biodiversity and Land Degradation Neutrality in plantations secured
Output 2.1: Models for public-private participation and financing aimed at conserving HCVFs and natural habitats and sustainable diversification for plantations developed and tested
Output 2.2: Technical support, extension services and capacity development for smallholders to incorporate sustainable and gender sensitive practices in biodiversity conservation and land management into their current plantation/business model
Output 2.3: Strengthen certification process for sustainable production and mechanisms and develop a mechanism to recognize and reward achievements
Output 2.4: Demonstrate sustainable livelihood and land use diversification to benefit plantation communities and small and medium holders
Component 3: Knowledge Management, Gender Mainstreaming, Learning, and Monitoring and Evaluation through awareness and collaborative support for Private-Public Community partnerships in biodiversity conservation in the plantation sector enhanced through effective knowledge
Outcome 3: Awareness and collaborative support for Private-Public-Community partnerships in biodiversity conservation in the plantation sector enhanced through effective knowledge management, gender mainstreaming and M&E
Output 3.1: Information systems
Output 3.2: User-friendly information management system established and operational
Output 3.3: Knowledge management and information systems developed to facilitate replication and scaling up of project approaches across other landscapes in the country
Output 3.4: Monitoring and evaluation plans implemented and adaptive management adopted
Project Stakeholders (main): Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Plantation Industries, National institute of Plantation management, Forest department, Department of wildlife conservation, Department of National Botanic Gardens, Tea Research Institute, Rubber Research Institute, Central Environmental Authority, Department of Agriculture, Department of Export Agriculture, Hadabima Authority of Sri Lanka, Tea Small Holder Development Authority, Regional Plantation Companies, District Secretariats in six districts(Galle, Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Matara, Nuwara Eliya, Kegalle), Regional Planation Companies etc.
Project on Implementation of the National Biosafety Framework in accordance with the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (National Biosafety Project)
Implementation of the National Biosafety Framework in accordance with the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is a GEF funded project and is being implemented by the Ministry of Environment through the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations from 2017. The project objective is to strengthen Sri Lanka’s regulatory, institutional and technical capacities for the effective implementation of the National Biosafety Framework in conformity with the Cartagena Protocol. Biodiversity division of Ministry is the National Executing Agency (NEA) for this project. This project is addressing the 1) Strengthening policy, institutional, and regulatory frameworks for biosafety, 2)Enhancing system for Risk Assessment (RA), Risk Management (RM), and Risk communication (RC), 3)Developing technical capacity for detection and identification of living modified organisms (LMOs) and strengthening biosafety related infrastructure, 4) Knowledge development, public awareness, education and participation.
The Convention on Biological Diversity was opened for signature at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992. It entered into force on 29 December 1993 and currently has 196 parties. The Principal objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity are the Conservation of Biological Diversity, sustainable use of biological diversity, and the fair equitable sharing of the benefits arising from its utilization. The convention recognizes that the key to maintaining biological diversity depends upon using this diversity in a sustainable manner.Sri Lanka has signed the convention in June, 1992 and ratified in March 1994.The Ministry subject of Environment acts as the national focal point for the convention while Biodiversity division coming under its purview acts as the implementing centre of actions.
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international agreement which aims to ensure the safe handling, transport and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health and specifically focusing on trans - boundary movements. It was adopted on 29 January 2000 and entered into force on 11 September 2003. Sri Lanka has signed the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in 2000 and ratified in 2004.
The Ministry subject of Environment acts as the national focal point for the protocol while Biodiversity Secretariat coming under its purview acts as the implementing centre of actions.
Although the advancement of modern biotechnology is still at an early stage in the country, the Government of Sri Lanka has been taking several steps to ensure the safe use of LMOs, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and Food Feed and Processed Products (FFP). Recognizing the need for ensuring the regulation of biotechnology research and development activities, the Biodiversity Secretariat implemented the National Biosafety Framework Development Project in 2005, which led to the formulation of the National Biosafety Framework (NBF) in 2005.