Land Accounting for SDG Monitoring and Reporting

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1 Regional Expert Workshop on Land Accounting for SDG Monitoring and Reporting Bangkok - Thailand September 2017

2 Mrs. Niroshinie De Silva Assistant Director Ministry of Mahaweli development & Environment Mrs. Ranjani Gunawardana Statistician Department of Census and Statistics

3 Outline Main Environmental issues in Sri Lanka Approaches of Land / Forest accounting The role of the DCS Results Challenges while achieving objectives Policy applications Further work

4 Main Environmental Issues Deforestation. Mangrove degradation. Coral reef destruction. Soil degradation. Air pollution. Water pollution. Waste management. Climate change vulnerability.

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6 Approach The National Environmental Policy The Constitution of Sri Lanka makes it "The duty of every person in Sri Lanka to protect nature and conserve its riches". The National Environmental Policy acknowledges this duty and seeks to provide the direction according to which steps will be taken to conserve and manage Sri Lanka's environment in all its aspects. The National Environmental Policy renews the commitment of government, in partnership with the people, effectively to manage the environment for the benefit of present and future generations. The aim of this policy is to ensure sound environmental management within a framework of sustainable development in Sri Lanka. This Policy is supported by many other policies and strategies developed for other sectors. The National Environmental Policy emphasizes that caring for the environment is the bounded duty of any institution, government or non-government, and of any individual that used, or otherwise carries out an activity that has an impact on, the resources of the environment.

7 Approach Objectives 1. To promote the sound management of Sri Lanka's environment in its entirety without compromise, balancing the needs for social and economic development and environmental integrity, to the maximum extent possible while restricting inimical activities. 2. To manage the environment by linking together the activities, interests and perspectives of all groups, including the people, non-government organizations and government at both the central and the local levels. 3. To assure environmental accountability.

8 What we have: Statistics on; The role of the DCS Production, Consumption & Accumulation of goods & services (economic activities/products) Environmental statistics on; Energy, Water, Air, Land, Natural Mineral Resources, Soil and sub-soil resources, Forest and timber resources, Aquatic resources, Solid waste and emissions, Ecosystems,

9 The role of the DCS Environment Industries Corporations Government Households Economy Products (Goods & Services produced and consumed in the economy) Natural Inputs (Natural Resources Mineral, Timber, Forest, Aquatic, Water etc ) Sequence of SNA Accounts, GDP Residuals (Including Air emission, Return flows of water etc ) SEEA accounts (Environmentally adjusted GDP, Green GDP)

10 The role of the DCS SNA Sequence of accounts SEEA sequence of accounts (Depletion adjusted Value Added, Green GDP) SUT PSUT Environmental Asset accounts While economies are exploding, its environment is imploding Green GDP= GDP - Environmental costs - social costs

11 The role of the DCS Tables and accounts to be compile Responsible agencies Responsible person for each table and account Country coordinator Other contacts Data sources Primary data source agencies Meeting with selected stakeholders or agencies Time schedule Trainings Technical assistance from UN or other agencies

12 Dense forest (Canopy Cover over 40%) 22% Sparse Forests (Canopy Cover 10-40%) 7 % Mangroves Dry Monsoon Savannah Montane Forests Lowland rain Forests

13 Extent of Forests by forest types in 2010 Forest Type Extent-ha Percentage Lowland Rain Forests 123, Moist Monsoon Forests 117, Dry Monsoon Forests 1,121, Montane Forests 44, Sub Montane Forests 28, Riverine Dry Forests 2, Mangrove Forest 15, Savannah Forest 68, Open and Sparse Forest 429,485* 6.5 Total 1,951,

14 Forest Cover % Deforestation in Sri Lanka 50% 45% 44% 40% 35% 30% 25% 27% 24% 23% 22% Dense Forests 20% Open Forests 15% 10% 5% 8% 7% 7% 0%

15 Declaration of Forests as protected areas. Reserved Forests : 1,090,314 ha Conservation Forests : 133,802 ha National Heritage Wilderness Area : 11,127 ha

16 Forest Cover Forest Cover Enhancement 50% 45% 44% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 27% 24% 23% 22% 30% 32% Dense Forests Open Forests 15% 10% 5% 8% 7% 7% 0%

17 Strategic Approach to Natural Resource Management The environmental strategies in the different sectors, if implemented, will go a long way towards ensuring that environmental care and sound environmental management are exercised. Nevertheless, matters of policy, planning, and regulation and control relating to the natural resources, and issues relating to natural resource management that cut across many sectors, cannot be fully addressed through sector-based action alone. The recommended strategic approach to dealing with the key environmental resources is as follows. Land Water Atmosphere Biological Diversity Role of Civil Society

18 Outcomes to be achieved The National Environmental Policy provides the direction and framework for managing and caring for the environment. The implementation of the policy has to recognize the impact of human activity on the natural resources individually and on the environment as a whole in Sri Lanka at the present time. In relation to the four basic natural resources of land, water, atmosphere and biological diversity, the application of the National Environmental Policy should focus on achieving the outcomes set out below. Land Water Atmosphere Biological Diversity Forestry and Wildlife Conservation Agriculture, Plantations, Land development and Mining Fisheries, and Coastal and Marine Area Management Industry and Tourism Energy and Transport Health, Sanitation and Urban Development

19 Challenges in the ENV Depreciation of Forest Cover (Deforestation) Land Degradation ( Soil Erosion, River Sedimentation; Desertification,) Scarcity of Drinking Water to the Community Environmental Pollution (Air, Water & Soil ) Loss of Biodiversity ( Degradation and loss of Habitats ) Ozone Layer Depletion Green House Gas Emission and Climate Change Environmental & Natural Disaster and Earth Slides Lack of Proper Recognition of Environmental Values in Environmental Accounting Unsustainable Management of Natural Resources Unsustainable Development Activities (Unsuitable Agriculture Expansion and Settlements) Uncontrolled Mining of Sand and other Minerals Introduction of Genetically Modified Organisms Solid, Hazardous and Industrial Waste generation Health Hazards Related to Environment Pollution. Wildlife Depletion Coastal Erosion

20 Challenges in forest management Development pressure Population Pressure Unsustainable agricultural practices Cattle damages Illegal felling and poaching Natural causes (Invasive plants, die back, pest and diseases) Elephant damages (Plantation)

21 Challenges for collecting data Data collection on type of asset and environmental related statistics Economic & Political Statistical mandate Large geographical area - Mountainous region, Plains, with high degree of biodiversity. Conflict on the ownership of resources Data Related (existing) Different organizations having different mandates involved in data collection. Varying levels of specialization and technical capabilities. specific purposes with specific set of indictors at specific time intervals. data dissemination policies may vary from organizations to organizations A Solution to this Problem Mandate Establishing correlation between the existing databases of heterogeneous entity and linking them together and building up a database for the use of national accounting purposes Mechanisms need to be developed for the dissemination of necessary data on agreed principles 21

22 Challenges for collecting data Future Data Requirements Selection of Indicators Existing system supports the methodology based on the System of National Accounts (SNA). Human welfare indicators are qualitative in nature and falls beyond the ambit of a market economy. The environmental services are a complex set of interactions between the biotic and abiotic elements. What are the specific indicators for which estimations / predictions are required and how will it be integrated with the overall system? Existing Land-Use data not sufficient Depletion of Land / Forest quality Water Supply and Demand Analysis Water use according to Industry, urban, rural & Agriculture Total demand Quantification of Water resources Both surface and Ground water Augmentation of water resources Mineral resources Quantification of resources Rate of extraction 22

23 Challenges for collecting data Measurement issues Efforts should be made to identify data gaps at country level and address it Data on some indicators are already available. They are to be organized in time series manner Studies may be conducted to work out ratios Some of the indicators may be interpolated and extrapolated with base year value 23

24 Policy applications Resources such as land, water, air, minerals and biodiversity will be managed in a manner consistent with the viability of ecological processes. Environmental management will be through participatory, transparent, predictable and accountable decision-making processes at all levels. In addition to protecting the environment from abuse, management systems will take into account the need to restore environments damaged in the past. Environmental management systems will be encouraged to be flexible so as to adapt to changing situations (e.g. climate change, invasive species and living genetically-modified organisms) and adopt the Precautionary Principle. The economic value of environmental services will be recognized so as to assure the sustainability of such services for the benefit of the people. 6. The state of the environmental will continuously be assessed and reported on through an appropriate institutionalized monitoring framework based on a comprehensive set of indicators.

25 Policy applications The institutional framework for sound environmental management will be strengthened through capacity-building, legislative instruments and improved inter-institutional coordination and linkages. "Life cycle" and 'cleaner production' principles will be applied to improve the efficiency of natural resource use and to improve environmental quality. Responsible public-private and community partnerships and linkages will be promoted at all levels of environmental management and conservation. Education at all levels, together with research, will be promoted in a manner designed to increase the level of awareness of all aspects of the environment and its care and management among all stakeholders. Socially responsible behaviors will be encouraged and further developed through an effective framework of awareness building, incentives and enforcement. International commitments will be honored as part of our responsibility to the national and global communities.

26 Further work The government of Sri Lanka has adopted the target to increase the size of land covered by forests to 32% by In order to achieve this, the government intends to reforest degraded forests, to increase urban forests, and to improve the forest plantations. Sri Lanka s government aims to address these problems by implementing waste sorting systems in households, improved waste collection by municipalities and cities, composting systems and systematic treatment of hazardous waste from the industry and clinics.

27 Forestry Sector Mater Plan The first Forestry Sector Master Plan was prepared in Although this plan made a valuable contribution to improve the database needed for planning and to introduce a systematic approach to develop countries forest resources, it also had deficiencies due to its pioneering nature. The main drawback of the plan was having too narrow a scope and not addressing environmental aspects of forestry adequately while failing to get involved all the key stakeholders in the planning process. In order to address the deficiencies found in the first forestry master plan, an environmental review was carried out in 1989 by the government. Based on the recommendations of this review, the current master plan was prepared in 1995 covering bio-physical, environmental, socio-political, and economic aspects of the forestry sector. The plan covers the period The Forestry Sector Master Plan puts particular emphasis on: Conserving the remaining natural forests to maintain biological resources (flora & fauna) as reservoirs of biodiversity. Empowering people and rural communities to manage and protect multiple use forests mainly for their own benefit. Building partnerships in forestry development activities. Developing home garden and other agro forestry systems as well as forest plantations to meet peoples basic needs and to supply industrial wood. Policy and legal reforms. Developing and strengthening forestry institutions, both state and NGOs.

28 Thank You For Your Kind Attention 28