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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Strengthening the Marine Management Unit of the Department of Wildlife Conservation in Sri Lanka

(
Intergovernmental organization
)
#OceanAction41704
    Description
    Description
    The Department of Wildlife Conservation is the government organization responsible for the protection of fauna and flora and the establishment and management of marine protected areas in Sri Lanka. The department implements the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance. In order to fulfill the requirements of protecting marine species and managing the marine protected areas, the department established a unit - Marine Management Unit under the Natural Resources Management Division with the support of the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2015.

    Objective
    The International Union for Conservation of Nature initiated the strengthening of the marine management units capacity by providing training in snorkeling and field identification of marine species. The proposed voluntary commitment is to further strengthen the capacity of the marine management unit in conducting habitat assessments, monitoring the status of threatened and vulnerable species and managing marine protected areas.

    Implementation methodologies
    1. Conduct field training in identification of marine organisms such as hard and soft corals, other marine invertebrates inhabiting coral reefs and seagrass meadows.
    2. Develop skills in assessing the status of coral reefs and seagrass meadows.
    3. Training in assess the status of threatened and vulnerable species.
    4. Provide training in management of marine protected areas from planning to implementation.

    Follow-up mechanisms

    1. Continued support in the field on species and habitats
    2. Continuous monitoring of the progress of the marine management unit
    3. Provide additional support and training to new recruits to the marine management unit

    Governance mechanisms
    1. Coordination by the Department of Wildlife Conservation



    Partners
    Department of Wildlife Conservation (Government), Ministry of Sustainable Development and Wildlife (Government).

    Goal 14

    Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

    Goal 14

    14.1

    By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

    14.1.1

    (a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density

    14.2

    By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

    14.2.1

    Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas

    14.3

    Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels

    14.3.1
    Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations

    14.4

    By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

    14.4.1
    Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

    14.5

    By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

    14.5.1
    Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas

    14.6

    By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation

    14.6.1

    Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

    14.7

    By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism

    14.7.1

    Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries

    14.a

    Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries

    14.a.1
    Proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology

    14.b

    Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets

    14.b.1

    Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries

    14.c

    Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"

    14.c.1

    Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources

    Name Description
    14.a Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
    14.c Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"
    Training modules in assessing the status of the health of sensitive habitats such as coral reefs and seagrass meadows
    Species identification guides for selected species of marine organisms including threatened and vulnerable species
    Guidelines for the management of marine protected areas specially suited for Sri Lanka
    Other, please specify
    Ecosystems Conservation and Management Project (Department of Wildlife Conservation), National Budget allocation for the Department of Wildlife Conservation
    Other, please specify
    Equipment for training of marine unit staff (Department of Wildlife Conservation)
    Staff / Technical expertise
    IUCN technical expertise
    Title Progress Status Submitted
    Partnership Progress 2019-05-29 On track
    False
    Action Network
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    Timeline
    01 January 2017 (start date)
    01 January 2019 (date of completion)
    Entity
    International Union for Conservation of Nature
    SDGs
    Geographical coverage
    53, Horton Place Colombo 7, Sri Lanka
    Other beneficiaries
    Communities
    Ocean Basins
    Indian Ocean
    Communities of Ocean Action
    Scientific knowledge, research capacity development and transfer of marine technology, Implementation of international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Coral reefs
    Countries
    Sri Lanka
    Sri Lanka
    Contact Information

    Ananda Mallawatantri, Country Representative