Regional Capacity- Building workshop For Ecosystem Conservation and Restoration to Support Achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets Country profile of Sri Lanka and present status of NBSAPs Hasula Wickramasinghe & C S Kariyawasam Ministry of Environment and Renewable Energy, Sri Lanka
Overview Location- Indian sub continent Land Area - 65 610 km2 Population 20 M Distinct climatic zones wet intermediate & dry
Main Ecosystem Types - Forests (rain forests, montane cloud forests, dry zone monsoon forests, arid thorn scrub forests) - Wetlands (103 major rivers, 12000 irrigation tanks) - Coastal and marine (coral reefs, mangroves, sea grass beds, salt marsh vegetation, sand dunes, beaches)
River basins River system
Protected Area System of Sri Lanka Strict Nature Reserves (SNR) -03 National Parks (NP) - 21 Nature reserves - 05 Sanctuaries - 63 Buffer zone - 00 Refuge - 00 Marine Reserves 02 World/National heritage wilderness areas 03 Conservation Forests - 55 Forest reserves 360 Other state forests-n/a International Biosphere Reserves (MAB) - 04 National Biosphere reserves 31
Forest PAs (16.1%) Wildlife PAs (12.4%)
Minneriya Maduru Oya Wilpattu Kumana Horton Plains Bundala Yala
IBAs
Sri Lanka - Biodiversity Hotspot Sri Lanka is recognized as one of the Biological Hotspots in the world together with the Western Ghats of India Sri Lanka has a very high endemism per unit area. Region including Western Ghats and Sri Lanka is considered as one of 34 biodiversity hot spots identified in the world (Mittermeier et.al., 2005)
Number of species discovered within a decade Taxonomic group 1993 2012 Freshwater shrimps 21 23 Freshwater crabs 7 51 Freshwater fish 51 91 Amphibians 39 111 Reptiles 155 211 Mammals 90 125
National Redlist 2012-Fauna Taxon group Total species Total Threatened Spiders 501(257) 62(24) Freshwater crabs 51(50) 46(45) Dragonflies 118 (47) 61(40) Ants 194 (33) 59(8) Bees 130 106 Butterflies 245 (26) 99 (22) Landsnails 253 (205) 179 (162) Freshwater fish 91 (50) 45 (39) Amphibians 111(95) 73 (71) Reptiles 211 (124) 107 (87) Birds 240 (27) 67 (18) Mammals 95 (21) 53 (18)
Photo Mendis Wickramasinghe Panthera pardus kotiya- endemic sub species
Troides darsius - Sri Lanka Birdwing (National butterfly)
National Redlist 2012-Flora Total No Endemics Angiosperms 3154 894 Gymnosperms 2 0 Pteridophytes 336 49
Endemic Orchids Photos Suranjan Fernando
Salient Features of Biodiversity Resources in Sri Lanka High taxic diversity Diverse ecosystems Unique endemism Rich traditional knowledge, cultural heritage and customs related to Agro biodiversity Genetic resources Historic and pre historic biodiversity (Palaeobiodiversity) Internationally important ecosystems Committed conservation sentiments nurtured in Buddhism Promising ecotourism destination Eco-laboratory for biodiversity research
Threats to Sri Lanka s biodiversity Habitat loss and fragmentation (Land Use Changes/Habitat degradation Over exploitation of biological resources (Loss of traditional crops, CWRs, livestock varieties/breeds and knowledge base) Spread of alien invasive species Climate Change Environmental Pollution
The Road Map to NBSAP NBSAPs ACTIONS Sri Lanka Green Strategy 10 Thematic Missions Mainstreaming Arm Presents the country s economic policy strategies and actions for next six years POLICY
NBSAP Updating Process Previous NBSAPs Programmes & Actions Screening 2020 Aichi Targets CBD Guiding Principles CBD Strategic Plan NBSAP Guidance Regional WS Recommendations National Policies National Target Setting and indicators development Proposed new programmes & activities for 2020 Implementation 2014-2020 Progress monitoring
5 350 4.5 300 4 3.5 250 70% Over 90 % forests are covered by the PA system population density person/sq km Dense Natural Forest 3 200 2.5 150 2 1.5 100 22% 1 50 0.5 In 1990 Logging Ban In Natural Forest 0 0 1950 1956 1983 1992 1999 1950 1956 1983 1992 1999 Average annual deforestation rate of 1.14 percent. Between 2000 and 2005 this accelerated to 1.43% per annum.
Lessons Learnt Close Canopy Forest Sector Wildlife Sector Initial declaration of most of the protected areas in Sri Lanka was not targeted for BD conservation >50% Biodiversity is outside the protected areas!!!
>50% the total population
Requirements for National BD Strategies & Action Plans Focus on achieving 2011-2020 Strategic Plan and Aichi BD Targets Adequate baseline information/data for review and assessments Integrate BD targets into relevant sectoral and cross sectoral strategies and plans Identify economic benefits of ecosystem services Identify proper indicators for monitoring & measuring Create effective awareness among stakeholders
Photo Ranil Nanayakkara Thank You!