Promoting community participation in integrated coastal management in the North Western Province of Sri Lanka

Home stay unit in Kalpitiya, Kalpitiya © Kumudini Ekaratne IUCN, 2012

Objectives

Main Objective:

To institutionally, economically and technically empower representatives of 90 primary stakeholders groups groups (i.e., fishermen, women in coastal communities, eco-tour operators, eco-tour guides and home stay owners) and 20 secondary stakeholder groups (i.e. local NGOs, entrepreneurs and local businesses), through the Sri Lanka nature forum, to engage more effectively in local and regional making processes affecting the co-management and future development of the coastal ecosystem in the North West Province (NWP), by August 2012.

Immediate objectives:

To institutionally and technically empowering 80 coastal and lagoon fishing communities, together with 2° and 3° stakeholder groups, enabling them to be effective and responsible partners in the future co-management and the development of the fisheries and coastal resources in the NWP by June 2012
To diversify the household income generating opportunities and reduce the dependency on informal credit of 750 households engaged in the exploitation of fisheries and coastal resources in the NWP by June 2012.
To practically demonstrating ‘best practice’ in the development and co-management of community based eco-tourism as an integral part of sustainable Integrated Coastal Management in the NWP by January 2012.

Background

To ensure more equitable, less destructive and thus more successful and sustainable co-managament and development of the coastal ecosystem in the North Western Province (NWP) by 2015.

Target beneficiaries

The main beneficiary groups include members of the Fishermen’s Cooperative Societies, women groups, and those involved in the ecotourism sector.

Outputs

The Following are three components that are associated with the outputs:

Strengthened fishing community participation in the co-management of fisheries and coastal resources
Promoted alternative IGP and increasing access to forma credit through Micro Finance among women and fisheries and coastal resource users in the NWP
Ensured ‘best practice’ in the promotion of whale watching and other eco-tourism developments in the NWP

Detailed outputs can be seen in the Log Frame.

Country

Sri Lanka

Location

The project was implemented in over 50 coastal villages, in nine coastal Divisional Secretariat Divisions in Puttalam District, in the North Western Province of Sri Lanka

Topic

Duration

1st Jan 2010 to 1st Aug 2011

MFF Grant Amount

USD 259,354.70

Co-financing Partner

Project Implementation Agency: Sri Lanka Nature Forum (SLNF)

Project Partners:

National Federation of Fishermen's Cooperative Societies (NFFCS): Is a national body representing over 150 Fishermen's Cooperative Societies. They promote sustainable fisheries and the welfare of fishermen and their families in Sri Lanka.
Twelve Hearts Community Development Society (THCDS): Is involved in the implementation if community development and environmental awareness programmes.
Turtle Conservation Project (TCP): devises and facilitates the implementation of sustainable marine turtle conservation strategies through education, research and community participation in Sri Lanka.
Wilpotha Women's Savings Effort (WWES): promotes savings and micro-finance for enterprise development. They recieve funding in support of projects that have included enterprise promotion, business planning, handicrafts, cashew production, water management and nutrition.
Mihikatha Environmental Organisation of Mahaweha (MEOM): is a local NGO working with women's groups in four Grama Savaka Divisions in Puttalam District. Their main activities are linked to prompting micro credit. They are also involved in issues affecting women and children and in promoting environmental awareness.
Humanitarian Brotherhood Foundation (HBF): focuses on micro-financing with women's groups and currently manages over USD 150,000 in revolving credit. They receive funds to implement projects that promote micro-finance, organic agriculture, awareness on HIV Aids and early childhood development.
Nature Conservation Group (NATCOG): campaigns for sustainable practices in the marine aquarium trade; engages in surveys on marine mammals and reptiles and creates awareness about marine mammal by-catch in the tuna and shark fishery.