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Strict Embargo: Tuesday 26 July 2016 (04.01 GMT/12.01Am EDT) Media Contacts: Simon Forrester +44 (0)7932 755515 [email protected] Rachel Thackray +44 (0)7973 618304 [email protected] Strict embargo: Tuesday 26 July 2016 (04.01 GMT/12.01am EDT) Leading the fight against climate change: Pioneering Sri Lanka Mangrove protection programme marks World Mangrove Day with big successes President of Sri Lanka to open world’s first mangrove museum 26 July 2016, World Mangrove Day: A year into a groundbreaking program to protect all mangroves in Sri Lanka—and just in time for World Mangrove Day—the forests are being mapped and protected, and women and youth are receiving microloans and job training. And as mangroves, which sequester much more carbon than other types of forests, emerge as a key weapon in the fight against climate change, the program is poised to become a model for other countries worldwide. Funding for the program is now secure, as island conservation organisation Seacology announced it had achieved its target of raising $3.4 million for the five-year project, which will enable Sri Lanka to become the first country in the world to protect all of its mangrove forests. The funding is part of a pioneering partnership among Seacology, the Sri Lankan government, and local NGO Sudeesa, who hope the project will be a model for mangrove forest conservation around the world. The project combines legal protection, education, and conservation on the ground, whilst supporting sustainable economic development for Sri Lanka’s coastal communities. “Mangroves swiftly absorb carbon dioxide and inject oxygen into the atmosphere, maintaining an ecological balance that is vital for the environment. It is my belief that the mangrove restoration project will generate much needed awareness among key stakeholders such as the community, leisure sector personnel, tourists, and the general public. I wish to thank Sudeesa and Seacology for this much needed initiative; it is my hope that this would be the beginning of a long term effort to sustain the mangroves for greater conservation benefits.” — The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe Funded by Seacology, the world’s first mangrove museum will be officially opened by Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena on World Mangrove Day (26 July). The new museum, located next to the mangrove forest in Chilaw, will provide a base for training adults in mangrove forest conservation and educating children about the value of mangrove forests. Over 20,000 children are expected to visit the museum in the first year. The Sri Lankan government has also incorporated mangrove forest conservation into the national curriculum. La unched in May 2015, this ambitious project has already achieved significant results: • The Sri Lankan government has identified all of the country’s 37,050 acres of mangrove forests and has surveyed and demarcated almost half of them. The surveys identified previously unknown mangrove forest areas, which have been marked for replanting or protection. The government has also introduced legislation to protect mangroves and assigned forest officers to help guard them. • Sudeesa has created three nurseries to cultivate half a million seedlings as part of the project’s goal of replanting more than 1,000 acres of mangrove forests in 2016. A further 8,600 acres will be replanted during the project’s lifetime. To date, over a quarter of a million mangrove seedlings (comprising 22 species native to Sri Lanka) have been grown; more than 50,000 of them have been planted with the help of the Sri Lankan Navy, schoolchildren, and community members. • Sudeesa is providing job training and microloans, financed by Seacology, to women and youth in coastal communities. This encourages alternatives to cutting mangroves, such as sustainable farming and ecotourism, which generate income for poor families and protect mangrove forests. Since launching the project’s Livelihoods Programme, 438 community organisations have been set up in nine coastal districts, 575 women have completed a three-day training programme, 348 youths have completed a seven-day programme, and 381 women have received microloans to support new sustainable businesses. In return, each community organisation has agreed to help to protect 21 acres of mangrove forests. In the last 50 years, over half the world’s mangrove forests have been destroyed. In Sri La n k a , almost three quarters of the mangrove forests have been lost since the beginning of the 19th century, largely due to the devastating Civil War (1983-2009) and to the destruction of mangroves for fuel, conversion to shrimp farms, croplands, and development. After years of instability, the Sri Lankan government is now leading the world in mangrove forest conservation, and Sri Lanka is set to become a model for others to follow. “Sri Lanka is showing the world that it is possible to conserve mangrove forests whilst also improving the lives of local people, restoring wildlife habitats, and helping to ameliorate climate change. This inspirational project is an excellent example of what can be achieved for mangrove forest protection. We hope that other countries with mangrove forests will follow Sri Lanka’s lead and replicate the success of this model.” — Ms. Dhammika Wijayasinghe, Secretary General, Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO : Working at a grassroots level, this innovative project has transformed the lives of some of the poorest people in Sri Lanka whilst offering protection for mangrove forests. “This project shows how important it is to work with local people to protect mangroves. By offering training and funding to develop alternatives to cutting mangroves, the project’s Livelihoods Programme is alleviating poverty as well as protecting mangroves. It’s a w in-win situation.” — Duane Silverstein, Executive Director, Seacology Although fully funded, there is still work to be done. Over the next four years: • The Sri Lankan government will demarcate, legally declare, and gazette all mangrove land, and will deploy forest officers to protect the forests; • Sudeesa will continue to cultivate mangrove seedlings to replant in coastal provinces, restoring at least 9,600 acres of degraded shoreline; • Sudeesa will train an additional 6,925 women and 7,152 youths, and will offer more 14,619 microloans to meet the project’s target of providing alternative job training and microloans to 15,000 women and youths in 1,500 communities; • Project partners will share information and best practices with other countries, showcasing Sri Lanka as a model. Although the project’s funding target of $3.4 million has been met, Seacology will continue to raise money to boost funding for the Livelihoods Programme, enabling more Sri Lankans to take out microloans, get job training, and find alternatives to cutting mangrove forests. More/... NOTES TO EDITORS INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY on Wednesday 20 July (London): Duane Silverstein, Executive Director, Seacology and one of the world’s leading experts on islands and island conservation. (Speaks English) NEW PHOTOS and B-ROLL FOOTAGE available INFO G RAPHICS a n d CA SE STUDIES a v ailable Media Contacts: Simon Forrester +44 (0)7932 755515 [email protected] Rachel Thackray +44 (0)7973 618304 Background information • Mangrove forests sequester more carbon per equivalent area than other types of forests and so play an important role in ameliorating climate change. Their root systems serve as nurseries for many species of fish which populate coral reefs, and they act as buffer zones to limit damage caused by tsunamis and storms. • Seacology: www.seacology.org Seacology protects the marine and terrestrial environments of islands around the world. Since 1991, California-based Seacology has launched 275 projects in 57 countries, protecting nearly 1.5 million acres of threatened island habitat. • Sudeesa: Sri Lanka based NGO Sudeesa (formerly known as the Small Fishers Federation of Sri Lanka) improves the lives of low-income families by providing appropriate skills and investments for environmentally friendly vocations which safeguard Sri Lanka’s coastal ecosystems. • UNESCO World Mangrove Day: 26 July is officially recognised by UNESCO as International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem. The Mangrove Action Project has been commemorating 26 July as Mangrove Action Day for the last 15 years but this is the first time that the day has been officially recognised and celebrated in this way, acknowledging the increasing importance of mangrove forests for combatting climate change and protecting islands from tsunamis, hurricanes and storms. • The Seacology-Sudeesa Mangrove Museum is situated adjacent to mangrove forest in Chilaw, Pambala lagoon, in Sri Lanka’s Puttlam District. • The mangrove replanting has taken place in various locations including Kalpitiya islands, Nachchikalliya in Northwestern Province, and Jaffna Peninsula in Northern Province. SEACOLOGY contacts Executive Director, Seacology: Duane Silverstein: + (US) 510 282 3505 (mobile) 510 559-3505 Seacology office: + (US) 510 559 3505 [email protected] ENDS .
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