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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Support to the Government on Marine and Coastal Resource Management and Sustainable Livelihoods in Northern Sri Lanka

(
Intergovernmental organization
)
#OceanAction41695
    Description
    Description
    As a follow up to IUCN led Gulf of Mannar Living Resources Study and deliberations between India and Sri Lanka in December 2014, in New Delhi, India, we wish to continue our support to Government of Sri Lanka to implement the nine recommendations arrived, among other things. One important area highlighted is the creation of enabling environment for communities to work with policy planners and adopt sustainable and resilient livelihoods to the extent that pressure on living resources are reduced to a sustainable level.

    Coastal and marine resources in Northern Sri Lanka and the populations dependent on these resources are impacted by the climate vulnerabilities due to sea level rise, sea water intrusion into low coastal areas, prolonged droughts, localized floods and more frequent storm surges and cyclones. Human activities linked to destructive harvesting of marine and coastal living resources; lack of ecosystem services and knowledge of environmental processes; poor understanding of human actions and climate change impacts; land activities that are polluting and destroying habitats; and the prevailing extreme poverty of certain segments of the coastal population have been identified as the causes and barriers for sustainable and resilience based development.

    Objectives:
    1. To enhance the capacity of coastal resource managers through Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) learning programmes.

    2. To assist the sustainable management and protection of marine and coastal ecosystem in Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar.

    The following interventions are expected to be undertaken with the technical support of the partner agencies:
    1. Preparation of sustainable development plan for 23 coastal islands in Palk Bay including alternative livelihoods for coastal communities to minimise pressure on coastal resources.

    2. ICM learning programmes for coastal managers.

    3. 100 km of North Western coastline protected with mangroves and other coastal forest plantation (500 ha approx.)

    4. 20,000 ha of marine habitat mapped and conserved in the area of Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar (coral reef dominated).

    Follow-up mechanism
    1. Continued support to the Government of Sri Lanka
    Partners
    IUCN (IGO)
    National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) (Government, Scientific Community)
    Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) (Government)
    Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) (Government)
    Department of Coastal Guards (DCG) (Government)
    Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management (CCD) (Government)
    Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWLC) (Government)
    Small Fisheries Federation of Sri Lanka (SUDEESA) (Local NGO)
    Ocean University of Sri Lanka (OCUSL) (Academic Institution)

    Goal 13

    Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

    Goal 13

    13.1

    Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries

    13.1.1

    Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population

    13.1.2

    Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030

    13.1.3

    Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies

    13.2

    Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning

    13.2.1

    Number of countries with nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, national adaptation plans and adaptation communications, as reported to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

    13.2.2

    Total greenhouse gas emissions per year

    13.3

    Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning

    13.3.1

    Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment

    13.a

    Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation and fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its capitalization as soon as possible

    13.a.1

    Amounts provided and mobilized in United States dollars per year in relation to the continued existing collective mobilization goal of the $100 billion commitment through to 2025

    13.b

    Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities


     

    13.b.1

    Number of least developed countries and small island developing States with nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, national adaptation plans and adaptation communications, as reported to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

    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
    14.2 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
    14.4 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
    14.7 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
    Characterization of 23 coastal islands in Palk Bay
    Generate minimum of 300 livelihood opportunities
    20,000 ha of marine habitat mapped and conserved in the area of Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar
    500 ha of coastal forest plantation
    In-kind contribution
    Coordination and Training Skills: IUCN
    In-kind contribution
    Equipment and Infrastructure: DWLC, NARA
    In-kind contribution
    Man power: SLN, SUDEESA, DCG
    Staff / Technical expertise
    Obtaining assistance from partners - DWLC, NARA, SUDEESA, OCUSL
    Title Progress Status Submitted
    Partnership Progress 2020-02-21 On track
    Partnership Progress 2018-09-07 On track
    False
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    Timeline
    01 January 2018 (start date)
    01 December 2022 (date of completion)
    Entity
    International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) - Sri Lanka
    SDGs
    Geographical coverage
    Colombo, Sri Lanka
    Other beneficiaries
    Direct Beneficiaries - 5,000 vulnerable coastal population in the North-West region of Sri Lanka supported by the project.
    Indirect Beneficiaries - population of 50,000 receiving reduced exposure and more awareness of climate change.
    Ocean Basins
    Indian Ocean
    Communities of Ocean Action
    Marine and coastal ecosystems management, Sustainable fisheries, Sustainable blue economy, Mangroves, Coral reefs
    Website/More information
    N/A
    Countries
    Sri Lanka
    Sri Lanka
    Contact Information

    Ananda Mallawatantri, Dr.