Increasing the resilience of coastal and riverine communities to climate change and other threats, by conserving the ecosystems of the Maya Oya and associated coastal wetlands in Sri Lanka

Shoe makers from Maha oya area, Katana © Kumudini Ekaratne IUCN , 2012

Objectives

To empower stakeholders to conserve river basin and coastal areas to increase resilience towards current and future threats.
To support advocacy, awareness and capacity building on the conservation of ecosystems and increasing resilience of coastal and riverine communities (especially with regard to replicating).

Background

The goal of this project is to increase resilience and adaptation of coastal and riverine communities to climate change and other threats, by conserving the ecosystems of the Maya Oya and associated coastal wetlands in Sri Lanka.

Target beneficiaries

The beneficiaries of this project include coastal communities in Negombo, Katana, Dankowuwa and Wennappuwa. The main target groups relevant to this project include those involved in the fishing, mining and tourism trades, which are all directly associated with the riverine and coastal environment.

Outputs

Nature, magnitude and distribution of current and future threats to ecosystem services and wellbeing, including those linked to climate change, identified through integrated ecological-hydrological-livelihood assessment and modeling.
Critical ecosystem services that benefit livelihoods are identified and valued.
Practical and policy relevant information will be disseminated for planning, management and conservation purposes of ecosystems and issues arising on loss of livelihoods and other conflicts will be addressed.
Degraded and sensitive riverine coastal areas are identified, restored and conserved, with the active support and participation of local communities.

Country

Sri Lanka

Location

Negombo and Katana DS Divisions in the Gampaha District (Western Province) and Wennappuwa and Dankotuwa DS Divisions in the Puttalam District in the North-Western Province, Sri Lanka

Topic

Duration

1st Sep 2009 to 30th Nov 2011

MFF Grant Amount

USD 151,895

Co-financing Partner

Environmental Foundation Ltf (EFL) is the lead implementing agency of the project. The main partners include the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB), and the Open University of Sri Lanka (headed by Dr. Nalin Wikramanayake), with additional partnerships with the Coast Conservation Department and Irrigation Department, and several community based organizations, including the Traditional Sand Miners Association (of Maya Oya). The partners have been directly involved in commenting on, and contributing to, the proposal itself.

Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) regulates mining and exploitation of mines and minerals, and issues licenses for extration. It is involved in assesssing threats, research, restoration and monitoring.
The team from the Open University of Sri Lanka is currently working on pollution and degradation of the Maya Oya, and also on monitoring and predicting the coastal erosion that is the result of excessive sand mining in the Maya Oya.
The Irrigation Department is mandated to conserve and manage all inland water bodies including rivers and river reservations. It assists in the restoration and conservation of river banks and associated ecosystems.
The Coast Conservation Department (CCD) is mandated to conserve and regulate activities within the coastal zone. They provide a technical and advisory role to the project.
The Traditional Sand Miners Association (TSMA) operate in the area as a representative of the local community. They are in charge of restoration and providing support in carring out livelihood training and capacity building workshops.

CC: Sylvia Abeywardena
Personal Assisstant to Chairperson
Environmental Foundation Ltd
146/34, Havelock Road
Colombo 05, Sri Lanka
Tel: 94 11 2502609, 94 11 739 6700/05
Fax: 94 11 4528483
Email: efladmin@sltnet.lk