A Regional Synthesis of Results and Lessons From

Home , Baa Atoll, Porteresia

A Regional Synthesis of Results and Lessons from Mangroves for the Future Small Grant Projects: 2009–11 The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of Mangroves for the Future or IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

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Citation: Mangroves for the Future (2012). A Regional Synthesis of Results and Les- sons from Mangroves for the Future Small Grant Projects: 2009–11. Bang- kok, Thailand: Mangroves for the Future and Gland, Switzerland: IUCN.

ISBN: 978-2-8317-1518-6

Available from: IUCN Mangroves for the Future Publications Services Asia Regional Office Rue Mauverney 28 IUCN (International Union for Conservation 1196 Gland, Switzerland of Nature) Tel +41 999 0000 63 Sukhumvit Road, Soi 39 [email protected] Bangkok 10110, Thailand www.iucn.org www.mangrovesforthefuture.org A Regional Synthesis of Results and Lessons from Mangroves for the Future Small Grant Projects: 2009–11 Contents

List of abbreviations vi Foreword viii Executive summary ix

Part 1 Regional Synthesis of Results and Lessons

Introduction 1 About the Small Grants Facility 1 The MFF Programmes of Work and project selection 2 Scope and structure of the synthesis 3 The regional context 4 Project results and lessons 5 Thematic areas addressed 5 Social and economic considerations 9 Knowledge-building and management support 11 Conclusions and lessons from project implementation 14 Strengths of the SGF 14 Weaknesses of the SGF 15 Ensuring success and sustainability 16 General conclusions and recommendations 18 Bibliography 21

Part 2 Achievements of the Small Grants Facility Projects by Country

INDIA 25 1.1 A critical evaluation of the impacts of alternative livelihood programmes to reduce dependence on the Sundarbans mangroves 27 1.2 Sustainable freshwater aquaculture in the mangrove-dominated Indian Sundarbans 29 1.3 Mangrove restoration: participatory assessment of current practices 31 1.4 Sustainable coastal livelihoods through Integrated Mangrove Fishery Farming Systems (IMFFS) 33 1.5 Coral reefs of India – status, threats and conservation measures 35 1.6 Demarcating safe zones for harvesting edible bivalves in mangroves along the Goa Coast by determining trace metal levels 37 1.7 Floristic diversity and natural recruitment of mangrove species in selected mangrove habitats of South Gujarat 39 1.8 Conserving and regenerating mangroves at Mithapur 41 1.9 Status of shelterbelts along India’s southern coast 43 INDONESIA 45 2.1 Managing the Angke Kapuk wetland to conserve its natural resources 47 2.2 Rehabilitation and sustainable use of mangrove forests in Pesantren village 49 2.3 Pesantren and community involvement in managing disaster risks in coastal areas through mangrove planting 51 2.4 Empowering coastal communities in mangrove forest areas 53 ii MALDIVES 56 3.1 Environmental awareness media project 57 3.2 Increasing awareness about waste management 59 3.3 Establishing a waste disposal site 61 3.4 Strengthening the waste management system on Noonu Manadhoo Atoll and greening the island 63 3.5 A print media awareness campaign to protect mangrove habitats in the Maldives 65 SEYCHELLES 67 4.1 Development and production of two children’s educational activity books and a scientific toolkit for the Aldabra Atoll World Heritage Site 69 4.2 Conserving turtle rookeries on Mahé through improved public awareness and community involvement 71 4.3 “Mangroves are a Must!” Promoting mangrove conservation awareness and education in the face of climate change in the Seychelles 73 4.4 Building the capacity of artisanal shark fishers to participate fully and effectively in the Seychelles National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks 75 4.5 Rehabilitation and sustainable management of the North-East Point marsh 77 4.6 Enhancing community participation in sustainable coastal management 79 4.7 Building the capacity of Roche Caiman community to adapt to climate change and other threats 81 4.8 Where did all the soil go? Coastal monitoring as a tool for developing local capacity, raising public awareness and assessing long-term environmental change 83 SRI LANKA 85 5.1 Replanting mangroves in Batticaloa lagoon 87 5.2 Coastal planting on Hadjiar Beach 89 5.3 Coastal planting on Ethukkaal Beach 91 5.4 Training and supporting fisher families in Kattankudy to establish banana- based home gardens 93 5.5 Goat farming as an alternative income-generating activity for fisher families 95 5.6 Raising buffalo to enhance the income of widows and their families in Pottuvil (Phase 1) 97 5.7 Raising buffalo to enhance the income of widows and their families in Pottuvil (Phase 2) 99 5.8 Generating additional income for fisher families through poultry farming 101 5.9 Replanting mangroves in Pottuvil lagoon 103 5.10 Coastal green belt planting and livelihood improvement 105 5.11 Rehabilitation and reconstruction of Pottuvil mangrove nursery 107 5.12 Piloting seaweed farming as an alternative livelihood activity for coastal communities in Panama and Pottuvil 109 5.13 Cultivating bamboo as a wood substitute to protect mangroves and control erosion at Rekawa lagoon 111 5.14 Removing cattail from a village drainage canal 113 iii 5.15 Training and supporting fisher families in Ussangoda to establish home gardens 115 5.16 Enhancing the incomes of fisher families through handicraft production 117 5.17 Developing ecotourism as an alternative to environmentally harmful activities 119 5.18 A participatory mangrove management programme 121 5.19 Building capacity of schoolchildren as a forerunner to sustainable mangrove ecosystem conservation initiatives (Phase 1) 123 5.20 Building capacity of schoolchildren as a forerunner to sustainable mangrove ecosystem conservation initiatives (Phase 2) 125 5.21 Restoring a village tank 127 5.22 Piloting sea bass cage culture as an alternative livelihood for the fishing communities of Maduganga estuary 129 5.23 Piloting red tilapia cage culture as an alternative livelihood in the Maduganga estuary 131 5.24 Establishing a community biogas plant 133 5.25 Publishing an environmental magazine, Madupuwath 135 5.26 Educating people about the threats to the Maduganga ecosystem 137 5.27 Enhancing schoolchildren’s knowledge of mangrove ecosystems by training their teachers 139 5.28 Removing pond apple from parts of the Maduganga wetland 141 5.29 Improved community management of the Maduganga wetland 143 5.30 Empowering fisherwomen by generating additional income from the cultivation of Aloe vera (Phase 1) 145 5.31 Empowering fisherwomen by generating additional income from the cultivation of Aloe vera (Phase 2) 147 5.32 Sustainable livelihood development for low-income families in the Puttalam lagoon area 149 5.33 Replanting mangroves and introducing eco-friendly home gardening 151 5.34 Community-based mangrove planting at Kurakkanhena 153 5.35 Replanting mangroves in the Dutch Canal to enhance ecosystem productivity 155 5.36 Fuel-efficient stoves for coastal communities 157 5.37 Preserving Puttalam lagoon for future generations 159 5.38 Safeguarding mangroves through awareness programmes 161 THAILAND 163 6.1 Conserving wetlands on the Andaman coast 165 6.2 Conserving mangroves as a local food source 167 6.3 Raising awareness and promoting the use of local knowledge in managing coastal resources 169 6.4 Building a community network for managing mangroves and other coastal resources 171 6.5 Participatory rehabilitation and conservation of aquatic habitats at Mae Nang Khao 173 6.6 Restoring mangroves for nak thale (otters) 175 iv 6.7 Strengthening the capacity of a community network for managing Phuket’s coastal resources 177 6.8 Strengthening coastal livelihoods and community-based tourism 179 6.9 Mangroves for the future 181 6.10 Planting Pandanus palm to protect mangroves 183 6.11 Rehabilitating mangroves and beach forests at Khlong Prasong 185 6.12 Building community capacity for managing coastal resources at Talingchan 187 6.13 Collective rehabilitation and conservation of mangroves at Ban Don Bay 189 6.14 Rehabilitating and conserving habitats for clams 191 6.15 Strengthening conservation of mangroves and other marine and coastal resources at Thong Toam Yai Bay 193

v Abbreviations

ABTA Arugam Bay Tourism Association ACBG Aldabra Children’s Book Group AEC Atoll Ecosystems Conservation Project ASF Artisanal Shark Fishers ASFA Artisanal Shark Fishers’ Association BOBLME Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem Project CBDRM-NU Community-Based Disaster Risk Management – Nahdlatul Ulama CBO Community-based organization CEGA Community-Based Eco-guide Association CFL Compact Fluorescent Light CSR Corporate Social Responsibility DMCR Department of Marine and Coastal Resources DOE Department of Environment DS Divisional Secretariat ECO-CEN Ecocare Centre for Environmental Education and Conservation EDC Eco-Development Committee EPTRI Environment Protection Training and Research Institute FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FD Forest Department FPC Forest Protection Committee GCE General Certificate of Education GEER Gujarat Ecological Education and Research Foundation GEF Global Environment Facility GIF Green Islands Foundation GIFT Genetically improved farmed tilapia GTZ German Technical Cooperation HELP-O Human & Environment Links Progressive Organization ILHAAR Illustrious Happening of Arts IMFFS Integrated Mangrove Fishery Farming System IPPM Community Research and Development Institution of Makassar IUCN International Union for the Conservation of Nature JFM Joint Forest Management JGM Jakarta Green Monster JMM Joint Mangrove Management LDDFA Livestock Development Dairy Farmer Association LED Light Emitting Diode LKR Sri Lankan Rupee LULC Land Use/Land Cover MANDRU Institute for Alternative Development and Regional Cooperation MCRCF Marine and Coastal Resources Conservation Foundation MCSS Marine Conservation Society Seychelles MDF Maduganga Development Foundation MFF Mangroves for the Future MoEF Ministry of Environment and Forests MPCC Multi-Purpose Community Centre vi NAQDA National Aquaculture Development Authority NCB National Coordinating Body (of MFF) NEUF National Ethnic Unity Foundation NGO Non-governmental organization NIO National Institute of Oceanography NPOA National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks NSAP National Strategy and Action Plan (of MFF) OPED Organization for Protecting and Ensuring Democracy PEARLS Peaceful Environment Assured Right Lasting Solutions POW Programme of Work (of MFF) RDC Ruhunu Development Consortium RSC Regional Steering Committee (of MFF) RUK Rekawa, Ussangoda and Kalametiya S4S Sustainability for Seychelles SBC Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation SDMRI Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute SEEDO Social, Economic and Environmental Development Organization SGF Small Grants Facility (of MFF) SIF Seychelles Islands Foundation SSA Seychelles Scouts Association TCSRD Tata Chemicals Society for Rural Development TRASS Terrestrial Restoration Action Society Seychelles UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNEP United Nations Environment Programme UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization VFC Village Forest Council WCS Wildlife Clubs of Seychelles

vii Foreword

This regional synthesis of results and les- previous or existing coastal initiatives, con- sons has been compiled to share the efforts tributing to wider results. The Small Grants undertaken by coastal managers and Facility is complemented by medium, large local communities under the Mangroves and regional grant facilities which allow MFF for the Future (MFF) Small Grants Facility to address coastal issues at multiple scales between 2009 and 2011. It aims to capture and through a range of modalities. the coastal issues they sought to address, MFF would like to thank the thousands the actions they took, the challenges they of coastal community members and other faced, and the successes they achieved. stakeholders who have participated in the We hope that by sharing these experi- small grant projects to date. Without their ences, other coastal stakeholders in Asia care and concern for their coastal environ- and around the world will benefit from their ment, few positive long-term changes could efforts, learn from their experiences, and have been achieved. We also acknowledge use the solutions they have developed to the hard work and dedication of the organi- build a more prosperous and resilient future zations that have implemented small grant for all coastal communities. projects, and their valued role as MFF part- MFF thanks Terry Clayton and his team, ners in coastal ecosystems management. who sifted through a large volume of informa- MFF would also like to acknowledge tion and consulted extensively with national the oversight and guidance provided by the coordinators to compile this review. MFF also members of its National Coordinating Bod- acknowledges the efforts of its senior advisor, ies in India, Indonesia, Maldives, Seychelles, Don Macintosh, who provided much assist- Sri Lanka and Thailand, who implemented ance in developing this review. the first round of grants, and who have now MFF administered its first round of small been joined by Pakistan and Viet Nam in the grants from 2009 to 2011. It is currently second round. administering a second round from 2012 to Lastly, MFF would like to thank its core 2014. The small grant projects are integral to institutional partners – UNDP, IUCN, Care MFF as they achieve direct, tangible results International, FAO, UNEP, Wetlands Interna- in coastal areas. They are guided by MFF’s tional, Norad and Sida – for their long-term National Coordinating Body in each country commitment to the initiative. Our funding to ensure their relevance to national priori- partners Norad and Sida deserve special ties. They also are used to address common acknowledgement and appreciation for their coastal issues at a regional level by provid- generous support of this work on behalf of ing a venue to explore new ideas and solu- the millions of people who inhabit coastal tions that can be scaled-up or replicated by areas, and whose livelihoods and well-being others. Other small grant projects build on depend on coastal resources.

MFF Co-Chairs

Joseph D’Cruz Aban Marker Kabraji UNDP IUCN viii Executive summary

Managing coastal ecosystems sustainably is information recorded in project reports, the vital if they are to remain healthy and so con- overall outputs have been substantial and tinue providing the goods and services that their longer-term impacts are expected to be many people depend on for their livelihoods. highly beneficial to their target communities: To this end, the MFF Small Grants Facility (SGF) funded 79 small grant projects in six Rehabilitation and conservation: countries between 2009 and 2011. > 12,519 hectares demarcated or brought All six countries (India, Indonesia, Mal- under protection or management by dives, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Thailand) communities. face common pressures and conflicts in > 234,150 new trees planted (95% man- their coastal areas. Habitat loss and deg- groves). radation, coastal erosion, and the loss of > New areas identified or demarcated for biodiversity and productivity are among special purposes such as avoiding heavy the main challenges, and rapid population metal contamination, cultivating marine growth is putting further pressure on vulner- species, or for nurseries and demonstra- able coastal areas. tion plots. Local partners, mainly NGOs and community groups and associations, brought Building capacity: their knowledge, skills and experience to > Over 5,000 people participated in aware- bear to meet numerous challenges in coastal ness-raising programmes. resources management, ranging from purely technical ones to complex social, economic Livelihoods: and political issues. Valuable lessons have > Over 700 people were trained in alterna- been recorded for the benefit of future tive income-generating activities. projects and programmes, for example on the strengths and weakness of small grants Information: as a funding mechanism. > Hundreds of publications, brochures, Collectively, the 79 SGF Phase 1 projects posters, films and multimedia products contributed to rehabilitating thousands of were produced, many in local languages. hectares of mangroves by mobilising people > Numerous press and media events, as to participate in site demarcation, mangrove well as training and awareness-raising replanting, and tending. In the process, local activities, were arranged, with an empha- NGOs and community organizations gained sis on participation by a wide range of civil invaluable knowledge, contributed a great society actors. deal of information to local and national authorities, and improved their capacities for Perhaps the most important lesson to management. The projects have increased emerge from the SGF Phase 1 projects con- awareness of the value of mangrove ecosys- cerns the effectiveness of small grants. The tems, both within communities and among SGF offers a proven mechanism for engag- the local and national agencies responsible ing with local groups who are well-positioned for coastal resources management. to mobilize people around issues of local Many of the projects launched activities concern. that also had immediate, positive impacts The main strength of the SGF is that it on the livelihoods of poor coastal communi- puts money in the hands of local NGOs, ties who depend on the goods and services community-based organizations (CBOs) provided by mangroves. Judging from the and other civil society organizations. Small ix grants also bring with them a sense of offi- This synthesis covers the results from the cial endorsement and credibility invaluable 79 completed SGF projects. Together with to proponents seeking co-financing from the individual project profiles in Part 2, it offers the private sector, or cooperation with local policy makers, coastal management practi- authorities, or both. Moreover, involvement in tioners, community leaders and project staff an SGF project also offers leverage to local a wealth of information and lessons to help NGOs or CBOs applying for funding from ensure the success of future projects and other sources to support post-MFF project other efforts to improve coastal ecosystem activities or other projects. management.

x Part 1

Regional Synthesis of Results and Lessons Introduction

Launched in December 2006, the MFF initiative builds on a history of coastal man- 3.1 agement efforts before and after the 2004 3.2 3.5 3.3 Indian Ocean tsunami, especially the call to 3.5 3.4 sustain the momentum and partnerships generated by the immediate post-tsunami 3.5 response. MFF’s initial focus was on the countries hit hardest by the tsunami: India, Indonesia, Maldives, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Thailand. It has since expanded to MALDIVES include Pakistan and Viet Nam, and will 3.5

continue to reach out to other countries in 3.5 the region facing similar challenges, with the overall aim of promoting a regional approach to integrated coastal resources management. The MFF initiative seeks to achieve MALDI demonstrable results through regional cooperation, national programme support, private sector engagement and community action.

Results are being achieved through con- 4.3 4.4 4.8 certed actions and projects to generate and 4.1–4.7 share knowledge more effectively, empower INDIAN institutions and civil society, and enhance the 4.1 governance of coastal ecosystems. SEYCHELLES Although MFF has chosen mangroves as its flagship ecosystem, the initiative embraces all coastal ecosystems, including other wetlands, coral reefs, seagrass beds, The link between strategy (the NSAP) beaches, estuaries and lagoons. Its manage- and action (projects and other activities) is ment strategy is based on specific national provided by 15 Programmes of Work (POWs) and regional priorities for long-term sustain- which guide the overall implementation of able management of coastal ecosystems. MFF (see Table 1 below). Each MFF project At the regional level, MFF is guided by must address at least one of these POWs, a Regional Steering Committee (RSC) com- based on the priorities identified in the rel- posed of representatives from its member evant NSAP. countries and core institutional partners. The RSC agrees on the strategic direction About the Small Grants Facility for MFF and decides on the broad allocation The SGF is a project funding mechanism of project resources to member countries. In overseen by the NCB in each MFF member each country, a National Coordinating Body country. It is a key element of MFF’s strategy (NCB) oversees MFF’s activities at a national to deliver results from the national to local lev- level, including SGF projects, ensuring they els, emphasising community-based action. are consistent with the national priorities set SGF projects are awarded primarily to organ- out in each country’s MFF National Strategy izations working with coastal communities on 1 and Action Plan (NSAP). priorities identified in each country’s NSAP. 1.8

1.7 INDIA 1.1 1.2

1.9

1.3 1.6 1.9 THAILAND 1.3 1.9 1.4 1.9 1.9 6.14 6.15 1.9 6.1 6.13 1.5 6.5 6.11 6.2 6.12 SRI LANKA 6.4 5.1–5.4 6.10 5.30–5.38 6.3 5.5–5.9 6.6–6.9 5.22–5.29 5.10–5.12 VES 5.13–5.21

INDIAN INDONESIA

2.1 2.4 OCEAN 2.2 2.3 OCEAN

The SGF was launched in June 2008 governance by supporting integrated coastal General location of SGF Phase 1 with an initial allocation of US$100,000 for management and, in some cases, by influ- projects. For details see individual each member country. Grants are limited to encing relevant national policies. project profiles. 18 months and in Phase 1 were divided into two categories: less than US$10,000, and The MFF Programmes of Work between US$10,000 and US$25,000. and project selection By the end of 2011, 79 approved projects To support country-level implementation, had been completed. These focused on sup- the general guidelines for the SGF devel- porting NGOs and CBOs to meet the needs oped by the MFF Secretariat have been of coastal communities. Most small projects adapted by each member country to bet- have contributed to alleviating poverty and ter reflect the geographic and thematic pri- empowering communities through the devel- orities identified in their NSAP, especially opment of sustainable livelihoods. They have priorities in relation to the Programmes of also stimulated changes in behaviour that Work. This ensures that each country has are reducing pressure on natural resources, full ownership of the SGF, since the NCB and at the same time have created new or is able to endorse national SGF guidelines, additional sources of income. The projects issue calls for proposals, and select grant- have also contributed to improving coastal ees based on the best proposals to meet 2 national priorities. The NCBs also oversee ity among the projects, identifying common SGF projects while they are being imple- determinants of success, common chal- mented and, increasingly, NCB members lenges, and the prospects for sustainability, are becoming involved in project monitor- replication and scaling-up. ing and knowledge management activities The second part is composed of short based on project results. profiles of each project, organized by country. Each profile gives information on the problem Scope and structure of the context and target beneficiaries, the project’s synthesis objectives, outputs and impacts, the grant This synthesis covers 79 SGF projects value and duration, and primary contact implemented in India, Indonesia, Maldives, details. This information was derived mainly Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Thailand between from project reports provided by the IUCN or 2009 and 2011. It is divided into two parts. UNDP country office responsible for manag- The first assesses the main points of similar- ing the SGF in each MFF country.

Table 1. The 15 MFF Programmes of Work that guide SGF project design and selection. APPLY EMPOWER ENHANCE KNOWLEDGE CIVIL SOCIETY GOVERNANCE

1. Improving knowledge 6. Promoting civil 11. Supporting national for management society engagement coastal programmes 2. Designing sound 7. Building capacity for 12. Strengthening integrated coastal rehabilitation management coastal planning 3. Adopting reef-to-ridge 8. Supporting environmentally 13. Contributing to marine approaches sustainable livelihoods protected areas 4. Integrating economic 9. Improving community 14. Promoting management valuation resilience assessment and monitoring 5. Applying monitoring, 10. Financing coastal 15. Encouraging sustainable learning and evaluation conservation business practices

3 The regional context

Although MFF’s member countries vary already be seen. In some areas, intensive widely in terms of their size, demography, fishing has reduced endemic coastal fish biogeography, culture, economy and poli- stocks by between 70% and 90% in just 30 tics, they enjoy similar benefits from and years (Hongskul, 1999). Half of the world’s face similar challenges to coastal resources wetlands were lost in the 20th century, as management. Coastal ecosystems buffer were half of all mangroves. More than three- against erosion, filter pollutants, and provide quarters of the world’s reefs are under threat food, shelter and breeding habitats for a wide from fishing, coastal development, pollution, range of organisms. Coastal regions also and the thermal stress associated with cli- provide critical inputs for industrial develop- mate change (Burke et al., 2011). Pollution ment, including water and land for shipping from industry, agriculture and expanding set- and maritime infrastructure; opportunities for tlements are degrading the quality of much of economic and recreational activities such as the world’s fresh water. These problems are fishing and diving; and raw materials such particularly acute in island countries, whose as salt and sand. As population density and coasts often constitute their entire territory economic activity increase in coastal zones, (Curran, 2002). so the pressures on coastal ecosystems also A recent report prepared for the Bay of increase. Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME) The US government’s Socioeconomic Project (Townsley, 2010) highlights the Data and Applications Center estimates that prevalence of poverty among communities 40% of the world’s population lives within 100 dependent on coastal and marine resources. kilometres of a coastline (SEDAC, 2011). In This dependence is frequently identified with Indonesia, Maldives, Seychelles and Sri particular social or ethnic groups. Coastal Lanka, virtually the entire population can be and marine areas still have a relatively diverse said to live in coastal areas, whereas one-fifth range of resource niches, creating many of India’s huge population is estimated to live opportunities for exploitation. That many of at or near the coast (do Rosário, 2002). Thai- these niches are, or were until recently, open- land has the smallest proportion of coastal access or common property resources, inhabitants at 18% of its population (Depart- has made them particularly important for ment of Mineral Resources, 2011). Yet this still the poor. However, the low social status of equates to 12 million people and, moreover, many users of coastal and marine resources Thailand has invested heavily in coastal infra- also limits their access to political power and structure to accommodate the many millions representation when their traditional rights of tourists attracted to its coastal areas each to coastal resources are threatened. Com- year. Coastal tourism is also important to the pounding their lack of empowerment, those economies of the other MFF countries, espe- who depend on coastal and marine ecosys- cially the Maldives and Seychelles, where it is tems for their livelihoods are influenced by a the main source of foreign exchange. Thus, wide range of policies and policy processes, sustainable tourism, along with sustainable often in unrelated sectors. The impacts of fisheries, provide examples of the national conflicts between policies in different sectors priorities shared by all countries. are often felt most strongly in coastal areas In terms of the health of coastal eco- because of the high and multiple develop- systems, a number of worrying trends can ment pressures they face.

4 Project results and lessons

Thematic areas addressed The following analysis summarizes the main tion (POW 2); Promoting civil society engage- contributions made by the SGF projects ment (POW 6); Supporting environmentally according to the POWs they supported. sustainable livelihoods (POW 8); and Improv- The 79 projects covered by this synthesis ing community resilience (POW 9). contributed to all but one of the 15 POWs. Some examples of SGF projects that Across the six countries, POWs 1, 2, 6, 8, addressed these priority POWs are provided and 9 emerged as the major focus of project below. initiatives (see Figure 1). Although it is MFF policy that every project should address at PROGRAMME OF WORK 1: IMPROVING least one of the thematic areas represented KNOWLEDGE FOR MANAGEMENT by the POWs, many projects were relevant Fully one-third of the SGF projects made to more than one POW (so the figures below contributions to improving knowledge for add up to more than 79). coastal resources management. These took

29 26 23

9 9 5 3 3 2 3 1 0 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 101112131415 PROGRAMME OF WORK

Figure 1. Contribution of SGF projects to MFF POWs.

Three of the six countries (India, Sey- various forms, including identification of new chelles, Thailand) each implemented projects species and habitat conservation areas, that collectively addressed all five priority coastal resources monitoring, and knowl- POWs, i.e. the ones that were a major focus edge about important commercial or pro- of SGF interventions (see Figure 2). The prev- tected species such as sharks and turtles. alence of these particular POWs in the analy- Selected examples are presented below to sis demonstrates the regional importance of illustrate the wide range of knowledge gen- the thematic areas they represent, namely erated. This was a particular focus of sev- Improving knowledge for management eral Indian SGF projects because the coun- 5 (POW 1); Designing sound coastal rehabilita- try’s NCB has identified filling knowledge 20

18 Sri Lanka

12 10 Thailand 8 India Seychelles 6 Indonesia 4 Maldives 2

0 POW 1 POW 2 POW 6 POW 8 POW 9

Figure 2. Country contributions to priority MFF POWs. gaps to support management as a priority > A volunteer conservation group in Siab for its NSAP. Yuan fishing village in Chumphon province established mangrove reforestation Discovery of new species and resources; and rehabilitation zones, a conservation identification of special zones zone for razor clams (Solen spp.), and a > Locally available salt marsh grass (Por- community aquaculture zone (Thailand teresia coarctata) was used as an eco- Project 6.14). friendly prawn feed for Macrobrachium culture in the Sundarbans, to provide an Compiling information to improve man- alternative to commercial feeds made agement by local government agencies from trash fish and molluscs (India > A comprehensive analysis was made of Project 1.2). alternative livelihood activities carried out > Safe zones for harvesting edible bivalves by the West Bengal Forest Department were identified by determining trace in 50 villages with Joint Forest Manage- heavy metal concentrations in commer- ment committees, together with recom- cially important clam (Paphia malabarica) mendations for improving the relationship and oyster (Crassostrea gyphoides) spe- between the Forest Department and local cies, thereby protecting consumers from people (India Project 1.1). health risks (India Project 1.6). > Analysis of the strengths and weaknesses > Two species of mangrove believed to be of the mangrove restoration techniques locally extinct in Gujarat were rediscov- used in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, ered (Bruguiera cylindrica and Bruguiera and the institutional issues concerning gymnorrhiza), and the Purna estuary the roles and responsibilities of the For- was recommended for designation as est Departments, Joint Mangrove Man- a mangrove biodiversity “hotspot” (India agement committees and Village Forest Project 1.7). Councils (India Project 1.3). 6 > Preparation of a database, maps and Rehabilitating coastal habitat; halting comprehensive status report on coastal erosion forest shelterbelts (created by planting > Fishers living around Batticaloa lagoon mangroves or Casuarina) for five south- grew seedlings of several mangrove spe- ern Indian states and the Union Territory cies, plus Hibiscus and Cerbera, which they of Pondicherry. This project was designed planted at six sites in the lagoon to help to help meet the coastal planning needs restore the lagoon fishery, the mainstay of of India’s Ministry of Environment and For- their livelihoods (Sri Lanka Project 5.1). ests (India Project 1.9). > Bamboo seedlings were propagated by fisher folk living around Rekawa lagoon, Knowledge for managing commercially then planted either in home gardens as valuable species supporting local liveli- a substitute for the wood used for con- hoods structing houses or scaffolding, or along > The nesting success rates of turtles (an watercourses to reduce soil erosion (Sri important tourist attraction) on beaches Lanka Project 5.13). in southern Mahé was increased by rais- > A village mangrove conservation group in ing public awareness of the risks to tur- Phang Nga province rehabilitated 32 hec- tles, and by providing training in moni- tares of degraded mangrove forest and toring and managing key turtle nesting established two large areas of mangrove beaches (Seychelles Project 4.2). as aquatic habitat protection and com- > A shark identification key in Creole, the munity forest zones. Juvenile fish were local language of the Seychelles, was also released to help rehabilitate the fish prepared to enable artisanal shark fish- stocks that many of the village house- ers to contribute to national efforts to holds depend on for their livelihoods monitor shark catches, and to par- (Thailand Project 6.5). ticipate in efforts to ensure sustainable shark fishing practices (Seychelles Reducing human impact on coastal Project 4.4). resources > Households in several villages in Phang > The harbour, waste management cen- Nga province took part in compiling tre, beaches and other public areas on data on mangrove plants and animals, Manadhoo Island were cleared of waste together with local knowledge of edible by the island’s residents. A household products from mangroves in the form of waste management campaign, plus tree mangrove-based food recipes (Thailand planting on an eroded beach site, also Project 6.2). contributed to raising the profile of environmental protection and rehabilitation PROGRAMME OF WORK 2: DESIGNING (Maldives Project 3.4). SOUND COASTAL REHABILITATION > A 12m³ biogas unit for producing cooking Coastal rehabilitation efforts under POW fuel from organic household waste was 2 were directed mainly at rehabilitating installed to help households in Madug- degraded or damaged mangrove areas by anga estuary reduce their dependency replanting them with nursery-grown seed- on mangrove fuelwood. By consuming lings. Some projects also initiated activi- household waste, the biogas unit also ties to reduce human impacts on existing reduced pollution from the dumping of coastal resources, and a few tackled coastal kitchen waste in the estuary (Sri Lanka 7 erosion. Project 5.24). PROGRAMME OF WORK 6: hood support activities are easy to initiate PROMOTING CIVIL SOCIETY but difficult to sustain, so they were often ENGAGEMENT conducted in the context of environmentally Many project implementers felt they were sustainable activities. Surprisingly, many “engaging civil society” if people attended projects that generated some form of liveli- training or awareness-raising sessions. hood support did not designate POW 8 as a Although these activities are valid forms of focus in their project reports, so the propor- engagement, they do not guarantee the tion of projects contributing to this POW is delivery of project outputs or sustainability probably closer to three-quarters. The exam- of results. Conversely, helping people to form ples below range from habitat conservation new or strengthen existing associations and to protect fishery-based livelihoods, to aqua- networks can contribute to more effective culture and non-fishing alternative income and longer-term engagement. A number of generation. Activities in areas other than fish- projects were able to achieve this. ing were a focus of many Sri Lankan SGF projects; these revealed the need to support > ECO clubs were set up in Mithapur, marketing, as well as the production side of Gujarat, involving 2,500 youths in 25 rural the activity, when introducing new livelihood schools. Through educational activities, opportunities. the clubs familiarized children with the issues and opportunities for mangrove > Collective action was taken to rehabilitate conservation. Self-help groups were also and protect mangroves in Ban Don Bay in established for disadvantaged women, southern Thailand to safeguard the liveli- who were given paid work in mangrove hoods of small-scale fisher households nurseries. Beyond the project level, these (Thailand Project 6.13). and other community activities are being > Six fishermen from two fisher cooperative supported by a major corporation, Tata societies were trained to farm Eucheuma Chemicals, through its Society for Rural seaweed. Although technically success- Development, which will ensure long- ful, the project identified a need for greatly term engagement of these groups in the scaling up seaweed production to target local community (India Project 1.8). export markets. The potential of these > An Artisanal Shark Fishers Association markets also needs to be analysed (Sri was formed and registered to facilitate Lanka Project 5.12). information sharing and full representa- > A community-based ecotourism group tion of shark fishers on a national steering developed ecotourism facilities at committee (Seychelles Project 4.4). Lunama lagoon, a biodiversity-rich area > An alliance of 365 students, middle-class in Hambantota district. Two camp sites people and suburban community mem- and a birdwatching centre contributed bers was established in Phuket to pro- to generating income for villagers as an tect mangroves and mangrove otters as alternative to environmentally harmful a flagship species (Thailand Project 6.6). activities (Sri Lanka Project 5.17). > Twenty widowed women in Pottuvil PROGRAMME OF WORK 8: gained employment producing broiler SUPPORTING ENVIRONMENTALLY chickens as an alternative income-gen- SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS erating activity (Sri Lanka Project 5.8). Nearly half of the SGF projects undertook > Fifteen fisher families in Puttalam lagoon, some form of livelihood assistance. Liveli- in particular the women, were trained to 8 cultivate Aloe vera as a supplementary incorporating guidance on mangrove source of income. They were also given rehabilitation and disaster prevention other help to produce and market this measures into religious messages deliv- multi-purpose plant (Sri Lanka Projects ered by a respected cleric (Indonesia 5.30 and 5.31). Project 2.3). > The district of Roche Caiman sits on land PROGRAMME OF WORK 9: IMPROVING reclaimed from the sea, and is considered COMMUNITY RESILIENCE vulnerable to climate change and natural Building community resilience is a com- hazards. The project helped this commu- plex challenge requiring improvements to nity to learn about climate change and a number of assets: environmental quality, disaster risk reduction. It also helped the infrastructure, food and livelihood secu- community to identify other environmen- rity, health care, social services, educa- tal needs and future projects (Seychelles tion, empowerment and so on. Small grant Project 4.7). projects can be expected to make only a modest contribution to resilience by address- Social and economic ing one or two of these elements. Thus, at considerations least two-thirds of the projects counted The previous section gave project exam- mangrove replanting, alternative livelihoods, ples to illustrate the main thematic areas or other relatively simple measures such as addressed by the SGF. Similar examples are ending coastal tree felling (Sri Lanka Project provided here to highlight the main lessons 5.4) towards improving resilience. A project about the social and economic factors influ- on the tsunami-impacted east coast of India, encing project success. Many of these exam- a project in Java implemented by a commu- ples in fact serve to illustrate two or more nity-based disaster risk management group, of these lessons, since the success factors and another in Seychelles, took a more com- were interrelated and mutually supportive in prehensive approach, as summarized below. contributing to positive outcomes.

> Many coastal states in India have intro- Working with people: getting involved duced coastal shelterbelts to protect About one-fifth of the projects reported on against storms and control erosion, and the importance of community involvement, to provide other environmental benefits. offering two valuable insights into how this These shelterbelts, or “bio-shields”, were can be achieved. Firstly, external recogni- mapped and documented to guide state tion, in the form of awards or participation in and national government agencies on national events, was shown to be a powerful best practices concerning their use for motivator raising the profile of projects and disaster mitigation and environmental creating opportunities for wider dissemina- investment (India Project 1.9). tion of results. Secondly, registering local > An Islamic approach to mangrove reha- associations can give people greater capac- bilitation and disaster risk reduction ity to act together, and thereby promote was adopted in Lamongan, East Java, long-term sustainability of project results. by involving Islamic leaders, Pesant- Two examples illustrating these lessons are ren (religious schools), and community given below. members in mangrove planting and conservation activities. This project > The Mitra Bahari Farmers Group in central 9 demonstrated the effectiveness of Java implemented a project to plant mangroves and demonstrate best practices aquatic resources. New activities such for mangrove aquaculture and goat rear- as aquaculture or ornamental fish rearing. The project helped to create a sense ing could help to mitigate this problem, of unity in the community and gained as could building trust between the com- wider recognition for the Farmers Group, munity and the Forest Department (India especially when one of its members won Project 1.1). second place in a national competition > Traditional fishers in Maduganga estu- (Youth Pioneer in Marine Area Award) ary were trained to cultivate sea bass (Indonesia Project 2.2). (Lates calcarifer) in cages to improve > A “Mangroves are a Must!” campaign their income and reduce pressure on was launched by the Wildlife Clubs of mangroves and the wild fish stock. To Seychelles. Six mangrove teams were help themselves in this new venture, the established to promote wetland conser- fishers also had to acquire new knowl- vation through partnerships and collec- edge and skills on related topics such as tive action by stakeholders in the target management, bookkeeping and market- communities, with encouragement from ing (Sri Lanka Project 5.22). government. Some of these communities have registered as associations and are Working with people: effecting change now applying for their own funding sup- As noted above, change means changing port (Seychelles Project 4.2). attitudes and practices. The most effective way of doing this, as many projects illus- Working with people: changing mindsets trated, is to demonstrate tangible benefits As many project implementers discovered, from the changes proposed. Another effec- individuals seldom perceive their own activi- tive strategy is to designate a “flagship” spe- ties as harmful to the environment. So it can- cies which can provide a powerful focus for not be assumed that people automatically mobilizing public action on local environmen- understand the relationship between their tal issues. environment and their personal physical and economic well-being. Changing peoples’ > A project to improve the health of the attitude can be difficult and time-consuming, Angke Kapuk wetland near Jakarta as it often requires persuading them to aban- included activities to sort and recycle don or modify their traditional attitudes and waste by composting and making recy- practices, and even to learn and apply new cled paper products. Led by a women’s skills (for example recycling and composting group, the project helped change peo- waste instead of discarding it in mangroves ple’s perception of waste, recognising it or on beaches). as an asset rather than something to be thrown into the river upstream of the wet- > Human pressure on the Sundarbans land, as they were accustomed to doing mangroves is compounded by a wide- (Indonesia Project 2.1). spread failure to understand that many > Mangrove-dependent villagers living near local economic activities are harmful to the Khlong Tha Rua Mangrove Forest the mangrove ecosystem (overfishing, for Reserve in Phuket reported the return of example). A review of previous community otters as a sign of environmental recovery livelihood projects by the Forest Depart- resulting from their efforts to rehabilitate ment showed that alternative livelihoods and conserve the reserve’s mangroves. were still based on traditionally exploited By identifying with the otter as a flagship 10 species, the community leaders advo- lessons for similar projects seeking to pro- cated for additional conservation areas mote alternative livelihood options. Firstly, and for replicating of their approach by the chances of success are greatly increased other communities, agencies and the if the proposed activity is in line with local private sector, including prawn farmers knowledge, skills and traditions. Secondly, (Thailand Project 6.6). however small an enterprise, it must be linked to a market chain to be commercially viable, Working with people: giving them space even if this is simply the local wet market in and real responsibility the nearest town. Thirdly, local income-gen- Long-term sustainability can only be erating activities can often take advantage ensured if project participants are willing of wider social trends, for example growing to step up and take responsibility. The first consumer preference for natural or organi- step in this process is to empower the tar- cally produced food and cosmetic products. get groups and allow them the space and freedom to operate. This gives people the > Fishers in Bira Lantebung in South opportunity and motivation to identify their Sulawesi, who depend mainly on gath- own problems, formulate and apply their ering crabs and other shellfish, were own solutions and, most importantly, to test trained in mud crab farming using cage their own innovations. units developed and tested by the community as part of a project that also > Women from low-income families liv- restored mangroves. A mud crab cul- ing near Puttalam lagoon were assisted ture business was then developed as a to form two women’s organizations, livelihood opportunity, which introduced through which they were able to engage new practices while still carefully respect- in business activities supported by a ing the strong customs of this traditional group revolving loan fund. They became community (Indonesia Project 2.4). empowered by being less economically > The introduction of Aloe vera cultivation dependent on their male family members, to fisher families at Puttalam lagoon was and also learned to solve other problems achieved quite easily. Yet, despite the and conflicts without outside intervention wide range of products using Aloe vera (Sri Lanka Project 5.32). in the medicinal, cosmetics, food and > A Mangrove Rehabilitation Network in beverage industries, the producers had Ranong province planted the mangrove to be helped to establish market linkages, palm, Nypa fruticans, to provide raw including a buy-back system (Sri Lanka materials for various marketable local Projects 5.30 and 5.31). products. Some villagers also found that Nypa palm could be used to control a Knowledge-building and climbing weed plant which can smother management support mangrove seedlings. Other local inno- Small grant projects can make valuable vations included a floating raft used to contributions to science exhibit youth conservation activities (Thai- As demonstrated in several cases, the out- land Project 6.1). puts of SGF projects can make valuable contributions to science and general knowledge. Livelihood activities need to be linked to In some cases this was the main purpose of market chains the project, particularly in India where several 11 Several SGF projects provided important projects were designed to fill gaps in knowledge about coastal resources management. as well as a wider audience. Two books In others, findings valuable to science were were designed to cater specifically for the an unexpected benefit from projects with a learning needs of primary and second- more developmental objective. ary schoolchildren; a third book was prepared for adults, including tourists, and > The mangroves in Gujarat were surveyed made available at the World Heritage Site to assess their distribution and plant Visitor Centre on Praslin. Despite employ- diversity. This resulted in the rediscovery ing professional educators in this work, of two mangrove species (B. cylindrica delivery of these educational materials and B. gymnorrhiza) believed extinct in proved challenging and time-consuming Gujarat, plus large populations of two (Seychelles Project 4.1). other species (Avicennia officinalis and > Environmental education programmes Sonneratia apetala) previously thought were provided to schoolchildren and rare in the state (India Project 1.7). community members living in the Madug- > A project in the Maldives collected refer- anga estuary. It proved difficult to change ence information on mangrove habitats the attitudes of community members, as throughout the country, the first time such they did not see their activities as detri- an extensive study had been carried out. mental to the health of the mangroves. The information obtained was dissemi- But persistence by the NGO implement- nated in various forms to the government, ing the project finally resulted in the com- NGOs, UNDP and island communities, munity agreeing to plant mangroves (Sri while several public meetings were con- Lanka Project 5.26). vened to define policy directions in man- > Traditional, mainly Muslim fisher families grove conservation and management in Krabi province took part in mangrove (Maldives Project 3.5). rehabilitation and conservation activities. However, the propagation of mangrove Project management requires under- seedlings was affected by drought and standing and perseverance water shortages, and rains and storms Taking time to understand local conditions damaged the seedlings after they and attitudes can be vital to project success, were planted out. Moreover, between especially when dealing with traditional com- December and February local people munities suspicious of external influences. were too busy with their normal work Educating people requires much thought to engage fully in project activities (Thai- and perseverance, and educational materi- land Project 6.11). als must be carefully tailored to their intended audiences. Activities sensitive to climate or Projects benefit from collaboration with weather conditions, such as mangrove plant- local government agencies ing, horticulture and agriculture, must be Projects in all six countries reported the timed carefully and risk factors (for example importance of engaging with local govern- flooding) taken into account. Project manag- ment. This “engagement” ranged from sim- ers should also be aware that local people ply informing local authorities about project may be unable to participate in activities dur- activities to setting up joint committees to ing peak seasons for farming or fishing. facilitate multi-stakeholder involvement in local resource-use planning. The level of > Educational materials about Aldabra Atoll engagement depended on whether the aim were developed for Seychellois children, was just to seek official endorsement of the 12 project, or actually to involve local authorities > Artisanal shark fishers in the Seychelles in project management. In many cases, the were helped to form an association, and most desirable outcome was for the project also provided with equipment to enable to help build trust between local government them to record shark catch data. Over agencies and the local communities (project time, the project built trust with the shark beneficiaries). In some projects, creating fishers, making it possible to persuade solidarity among several participating com- them that their association would have a munities helped attract greater government say in the government’s national plan of support. action for the conservation and management of sharks (Seychelles Project 4.4). > The project to improve the health and > The project to revive local knowledge security of the Angke Kapuk wetland about mangrove-based foods in Phang near Jakarta helped the community to Nga province used the issue of food engage and cooperate with key govern- security to promote mangrove conser- ment figures in the regional authority for vation. This helped to mobilize govern- North Jakarta by creating a Joint Working ment support, which included provision Committee for waste management (Indo- of a patrol boat for mangrove surveillance nesia Project 2.1). (Thailand Project 6.2).

13 Conclusions and lessons from project implementation

The SGF projects had a high rate of suc- > Contribute to wider national objec- cess in achieving their objectives and, in tives. In India Project 1.9, the Environ- some cases, produced additional and unex- mental Protection and Training Insti- pected results (specific outcomes from all the tute made a substantial contribution to projects are listed in the profiles in part two national policy on coastal shelterbelts. of this synthesis). They also had a number of Indonesia Project 2.1 produced data for a weaknesses, ranging from project design to national inventory of flora and fauna, and implementation and reporting. Seychelles Project 4.4 enabled artisanal Below is a summary of the main strengths shark fishers to provide valuable data for and weaknesses of the SGF projects, plus a national action plan for the conservation the factors that contributed to their success, and management of sharks. positive impacts, and sustainability. The main conclusions and important lessons from > Raise people’s expectations for posi- project implementation relevant to future tive outcomes. One strength of small projects are also identified. Examples from grant projects, often overlooked, is how each country are given where applicable. effectively they can raise expectations among poor or marginalized groups in Strengths of the SGF society. Expectations, or beliefs about The SGF offers a proven mechanism for what is possible, are a key driver in engaging with local actors who are well- changing attitudes and practices. Project positioned to mobilize people around issues 5.14 in Sri Lanka, for example, hoped to of local concern. Its main strength is that it enhance the income of the 25 paddy puts money in the hands of local communi- farmers clearing cattails from a village ties, often facilitated by an NGO or CBO. drainage canal. Also, wherever project SGF grants also bring with them a sense reports mentioned “building trust”, one of official endorsement and credibility invalu- can also read “building expectations”. As able to projects seeking cooperation with the coordinator of Thailand Project 6.1 local authorities, or co-funding from the pri- reported, “The project changed people’s vate sector, or both. Involvement in an SGF attitudes and outlook, encouraging them project also gives local NGOs or CBOs lever- to be more open and listen more closely age for securing funding from other sources to communal concerns”. Lastly, any to support post-MFF project activities. project which sets out to “raise aware- Besides these overall strengths, Phase ness” is indirectly addressing people’s 1 of the SGF demonstrated that small grant expectations. projects can offer other, more specific, advantages or benefits: > Encourage local innovation. One path to success which should not be > Provide opportunities for experi- overlooked is creating opportunities enced local implementers. NGOs and for people to innovate for themselves. CBOs have a long history of working with This was most apparent in some of local communities, and their staff gener- the projects in Thailand, where, for ally have a high level of knowledge and example, villagers planted Nypa palm skills (this is especially true in Thailand). to control weed growth in a Pandanus As a result, many of the projects appear nursery (Project 6.10) and constructed to be well-positioned to continue operat- artificial reefs using degradable materials ing in the longer term. (Project 6.15). 14 Weaknesses of the SGF When reporting on gender aspects, Although the SGF demonstrated a number many project managers who men- of admirable strengths, several limitations tioned women and women’s groups emerged that should to be considered when tended to do so in the form of general- planning future projects. The following limi- ities or stereotypes; for example, high- tations were common to projects in all six lighting the role of women as weavers countries. or keepers of culinary knowledge.

> Understanding of actions to achieve 3 Across all six countries, projects project goals. Many projects conducted seemed to have only a limited under- “awareness-raising” programmes or standing of the role of coastal ecosys- campaigns. The Maldives projects in tems (such as mangroves) in climate particular put a heavy emphasis on rais- change adaptation or mitigation. The ing awareness, yet project implementers only project to take explicit action on seem to have been unclear about what the impacts of climate change was exactly “awareness” is, or what rais- in Khlong Prasong (Thailand Project ing awareness means. Although it is a 6.11), where participants used con- worthwhile objective to produce aware- crete pipes to control beach erosion. ness-raising materials, such materials are not an end in themselves. The impact of 3 Many SGF projects did not address leaflets, billboards and radio spots can their communication needs ade- be increased greatly if they are part of an quately, or failed to realize the full intentional communications effort linked potential for conveying their results to longer-term goals. to a wider audience. Some notable successes in communicating project > Understanding of cross-cutting results to the national policy level were themes. Besides the 15 thematic POWs, achieved, however, for example on MFF introduced gender equality and the status of mangroves and coastal effective communications as two cross- shelterbelts in India (Project 1.9). The cutting themes important to all projects, item below on reporting and docu- and climate change as a third theme rel- mentation gives further insight into evant to many projects. Although most why many projects failed to achieve project teams had some prior knowledge effective communication. of these topics, it became clear during implementation that MFF should: a) invest > Reporting and documentation. This more in formal training to ensure that the seems to have been an area of some concepts involved are understood prop- difficulty. Project reports were noted erly; and b) teach project implementers sometimes to lack basic information, to use tools appropriate for management for example on contact details of local decision support and monitoring in rela- project managers, names and affiliations tion to these themes. This conclusion of important project stakeholders, and is supported by the following specific so on. Quantification was also some- observations: times absent where it should have been present, especially in the section on tar- 3 Overall, project performance in gen- get beneficiaries (for example, number of 15 der equality issues was inadequate. people in a target community, number of households earning an income from fishery. Likewise, there is a substantial litera- ing, and so on). It must be acknowledged, ture on poultry farming and aquaculture, however, that English often was not the and the roles these technologies can play first language of project coordinators, so in alleviating poverty. they may have had difficulty coping with MFF’s reporting requirements. This is > Private sector involvement. With a few another area of capacity building where important exceptions (India Project 1.8, technical backstopping and training Seychelles Project 4.6), limited private could make an important contribution to sector involvement was noted across all improving project communication. countries. Where the private sector was present, it was often seen as an adver- > Opportunities for communication sary, reflecting in part the culture of dis- between projects. Many of the local trust of the private sector among NGOs implementers demonstrated strong and CBOs. Future SGF projects should capacity for facilitating participation by a look at building bridges through alliances wide cross section of stakeholders. But with companies operating serious Cor- what appeared to be lacking was a simi- porate Social Responsibility (CSR) pro- lar spirit of participation among projects grammes. within a country and between countries. Naturally, local managers focus primarily Ensuring success and on their project’s immediate objectives. sustainability Yet communicating with each other about The countries covered by this synthesis differ project results and common issues could widely in terms of their geophysical, socio- yield synergies and help identify concepts economic, cultural and political characteris- for future projects. Thus, MFF should tics. Nevertheless it is possible to discern a invest in mechanisms that will promote number of underlying elements common to information sharing among projects and the success of many projects in all six coun- countries, beginning with those that will tries, which resulted in positive impacts and help SGF project managers to share and indicate good prospects for sustainability. exchange information more effectively, The following attributes featured consistently such as social media and web tools for in many of the small grant projects. information exchange. > Choosing local partners with expe- > Use of existing knowledge. Although rience and expertise. A key underly- local innovation should be encouraged ing factor in the overall success of the when needed, it is unnecessary to sup- projects was the knowledge, skill and port activities that reinvent the wheel. commitment of the local implementing Project managers could have taken more partners. Those who had been operat- advantage of the considerable knowl- ing for a number of years were more likely edge that exists in the literature on good to have the skills and dedication required practices, such as for mangrove seed- to mobilize the community and other ling production and replanting. Thailand stakeholders in support of the project and other countries, for example, have objectives. The Ban Don Bay Conserva- mangrove field stations with a great deal tion Network in Surat Thani province, for of documented knowledge available on example, was formed in the early 1980s what makes a successful mangrove nurs- (Thailand Project 6.13), and a number of 16 other grantees in Thailand were organiza- approaches or methods to create this tions formed to take action in the immedi- all-important ownership. One highly ate post-tsunami recovery period. effective technique was to demonstrate tangible benefits to people. This helped > Partnering with local institutions. persuade them that the innovations pro- Linking the project to existing institutions posed were both practical and directly helped to mobilize local capacity and beneficial, making them more willing to support, including endorsement and participate. active involvement by local government authorities. In Thailand, for example, the > Ensuring community involvement; Mangrove Resources Development Sta- providing a clear project vision. tions under the Department of Marine and Ensuring community involvement, having Coastal Resources (DMCR) were cited a clear project vision, having the ability in several project reports as important to enthuse and motivate stakeholders by sources of financial and technical sup- demonstrating success relevant to their port. In most countries, and especially professional interests, and addressing the Seychelles, enlisting the cooperation both personal and communal economic of local schools and engaging youth was concerns, were all underlying factors in an important factor contributing to project project success. The projects in Sri Lanka success, and one which also increased did particularly well in initiating small but the likelihood of sustainable results. In sustainable livelihoods projects using Indonesia, there was a notable example simple technologies and participatory of project engagement with Pesantren approaches which stimulated people’s (Islamic boarding schools) and religious interest and awareness. leaders as a key factor of success. Their involvement mobilized the community to > Providing open access to informa- a degree that would have been difficult to tion. Access to information is essential to achieve otherwise. empower informed decision making. To achieve this, projects should make infor- > Harnessing the knowledge and mation materials open access (i.e. freely capacity to mobilize people. One available to copy for non-commercial underlying factor in project success was purposes) and disseminate them widely the knowledge and capacity of local to interested parties. Project manag- implementers to mobilize the target com- ers reported that information materials munities and other important stakehold- were frequently used by groups such as ers, including local government officials. school environmental clubs, environmen- Above all, nearly all project implement- tal NGOs and youth groups during their ers were aware, or soon discovered, various events. If made freely available, that involving people in communities environmental messages in the form of and instilling a sense of ownership is songs, videos, radio spots and other perhaps the key factor in achieving a media products will continue to reach project’s objectives. Most projects found audiences for a long time to come.

17 General conclusions and recommendations

> Overall achievements. Collectively, as well as the financial resources to make the MFF SGF projects made substantial direct investments on behalf of the local contributions to rehabilitating, conserv- communities they represent. ing and managing local ecosystems; to building the capacity of both local NGOs > Endorsement and recognition. SGF and community organizations; and to funding also brought a sense of endorse- strengthening the livelihood options of ment that raised a project’s status and people in traditional coastal communities. made further development and subse- Although the number of people involved quent applications for funding more likely in some projects was quite small, the total to succeed. External recognition, in the number of beneficiaries in all six countries form of awards or participation in national is impressive, especially as not all projects events, was another powerful motivator systematically quantified their outputs. that raised the profile of projects. This helped to build confidence and promote > Thematic areas targeted. Reviewing wider interest in projects, leading to better the accomplishments of the first phase dissemination of results. Project planners of the SGF, it is clear that all 79 projects should look for ways to link project activi- contributed strongly to the MFF POWs ties with external rewards or other similar they targeted. Five of the 15 POWs were incentives. Similarly, formally registering strongly supported by projects in all six local associations or groups is recom- countries. In descending order of impor- mended as a way of improving people’s tance, these are: Promoting civil society capacity to act together and thereby pro- engagement (POW 6); Supporting envi- moting long-term sustainability of results. ronmentally sustainable livelihoods (POW 8); Designing sound coastal rehabilitation > Project ownership. Creating a sense (POW 2); Improving knowledge for man- of ownership among the intended ben- agement (POW 1); and Improving com- eficiaries is perhaps the central factor in munity resilience (POW 9). In summary, achieving a project’s objectives. The most the SGF projects have contributed most effective way to promote community to facilitating enhanced and informed involvement and ownership is to dem- governance by coastal decision-makers, onstrate tangible benefits, so people can and they have also improved community see that the project innovations are both well-being and coastal ecosystem health. practical and valuable; these attributes will in turn encourage participation. > Return on investment. A high return from quite modest financial invest- > Changing behaviour. People seldom ments was a key achievement of the see their activities as harmful to the envi- SGF, which provided a maximum grant ronment, so it cannot be assumed that of US$25,000 per project (many grants they understand the relationship between were much less). By carefully selecting their environment and their well-being. projects with potential for growth, SGF Changing peoples’ attitudes can be dif- grants served as seed money. Moreo- ficult and time-consuming, as they often ver, the grants placed funds directly in have to be persuaded to abandon or the hands of local organizations, mainly modify traditional practices, or learn and NGOs and CBOs, thereby giving them a apply new skills. The most effective way sense of official recognition and credibility, to change mindsets and practices is to 18 demonstrate tangible benefits from the is an important part of planning for sus- proposed changes. tainable outcomes.

> Culture and education. Fundamental > Communicating effectively. The SGF to achieving ownership and changing projects achieved impressive results in behaviour is developing a good under- communication, generating wide cover- standing of the target community and age in the media (print, radio, television how best to impart new knowledge. Tak- and online). They also developed a large ing time to understand local conditions range of promotional materials, includ- and attitudes is vital to project success, ing DVDs, t-shirts, pamphlets, posters especially when dealing with traditional and wall calendars, as well as training communities that may be suspicious of manuals and other educational materi- external interference. Educating people als. However, insufficient consideration requires much thought and persever- was given to understanding the profile ance, and educational materials must and information needs of the target audi- be tailored to their intended audiences. ences for these products. It is especially Involving local religious leaders or school important to provide information in a teachers can be an effective way of relevant form. To improve project com- imparting learning to communities. munications further, MFF should prepare a communications toolkit advising on > Enhancing livelihoods. When introduc- best practice and techniques to gener- ing alternative livelihoods, the chances of ate media and public attention, thereby success will be much higher if the pro- helping to extend the reach and impact posed activity is in line with local knowl- of project activities. edge, skills and traditions. Beneficiaries also need appropriate business skills > Project backstopping. Carefully tar- such as bookkeeping and marketing. geted backstopping, linked to capacity Production must be linked to a market building, could significantly improve the chain to ensure that activities are com- performance of future SGF projects, mercially viable for the producers. Con- particularly in management-related sideration of wider social and market areas such as reporting. MFF should trends may also be helpful, for example give further consideration to the types growing consumer preference for more and levels of backstopping that would naturally produced products. most benefit local project managers and other stakeholders. This recommenda- > Ensuring sustainability. Long-term tion applies particularly to the MFF cross- sustainability can only be ensured if cutting themes of gender equality, climate project participants are willing to step up change and effective communication, and take responsibility. The first step in which were often poorly understood by this process is to empower target groups project managers. and allow them the space and freedom to operate. This gives people the oppor- > Sharing information. It is clear that tunity and motivation to identify their own project managers can learn a great deal problems, formulate and apply their own from one another if effective informa- solutions and, most importantly, test their tion-sharing mechanisms are in place. 19 own innovations. Engaging young people Besides exchange visits where practical, MFF should consider using online and > Engaging the private sector. Although social media tools to facilitate information a small number of projects reached out sharing and exchange between projects. to the private sector, the huge potential for corporate involvement in the SGF > Building confidence. Confidence is went largely untapped. High-profile a key element in achieving project suc- activities such as mangrove rehabilita- cess. Project managers and partners are tion would seem to offer particularly generally sensitive to this intangible qual- attractive opportunities for investment ity, and often very good at building con- by businesses through their CSR budg- fidence among their target beneficiaries, ets. MFF should look carefully at ways which in turn helps to empower them. of increasing private sector involvement MFF should consider ways to record in future projects, including promoting or even measure gains in confidence as some of the successes from the SGF part of its monitoring, learning and evalu- projects in Phase 1 to potential private ation system. sector partners.

20 Bibliography

ADB (2006) From Poverty to Prosperity: in Indian coastal areas: the socioeconomic A Country Poverty Analysis for Indonesia. dimension. Littoral, 22–26 September 2002, Accessed online at http://www.adb.org/ Porto, Portugal. Accessed online at http:// Documents/Reports/Poverty-Assessment- www.teriin.org/teri-wr/coastin/littoral.pdf on INO/Poverty-Assessment-INO.pdf#page=19 3 September 2011. on 15 September 2011. Dougherty, M. (2006) Exploring New Modali- Barbier, E. and Sathirathai, S. eds (2004) ties: Experiences with Information and Com- Shrimp farming and mangrove loss in Thai- munications Technology. Interventions in the land. Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham. Asia-Pacific Region. A Review and Analysis of the Pan-Asia ICT R&D Grants Programme. Best, B. and Bornbusch, A. eds (2003) Glo- Elsevier, New Delhi. bal Trade and Consumer Choices: Coral Reefs in Crisis. Accessed online at http:// FAO (2001) World Fisheries and Aquaculture www.aaas.org/international/africa/coral- Atlas CD-ROM. Food and Agriculture Organi- reefs/Coral_Reefs.pdf on 12 August 2011. zation of the United Nations, Rome.

Burke, L., Kura, Y., Kassem, K., Revenga, C., FAO (2007) Mangrove Guidebook for South- Spalding, M. and McAllister, D. (2001) Pilot east Asia. RAP Publication RAP/2006/07, Analysis of Global Ecosystems: Coastal Eco- Food and Agriculture Organization of the systems. World Resources Institute, Wash- United Nations, Bangkok. ington, D.C. FAO (2009) Status and trends in mangrove Burke, L., Reytar, K., Spalding, M. and Perry, area extent worldwide. Accessed online at A. (2011) Reefs at Risk Revisited. World http://www.fao.org/docrep/007/j1533e/ Resources Institute, Washington, D.C. J1533E59.htm on 15 September 2011.

Curran, S. (2002) Interactions Between Hongskul, V. (1999) Into the Next Millennium: Coastal and Marine Ecosystems and Human Fishery Perspective. Accessed online at Population Systems: Perspectives on How http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/003/x6947E/ Consumption Mediates This Interaction. X6947E00.htm on 12 August 2011. Ambio: A Journal of the Human Environment 31 (4): 264–68. Accessed online at http:// IFAD (2009) Enabling poor rural people to www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1579/0044- overcome poverty in India. Accessed online 7447-31.4.264 on 3 September 2011. at http://www.ifad.org/operations/projects/ regions/Pi/factsheets/in.pdf on 15 Septem- Department of Mineral Resources (2011) ber 2011. Status of Coastal Geo-Environment in Thailand. Accessed online at http://www. IUCN (2005) Rapid environmental and dmr.go.th/ewtadmin/ewt/dmr_web/main. socio-economic assessment of tsunami php?filename=coastal_En on 3 September damage in terrestrial and marine coastal 2011. ecosystems of Ampara and Batticaloa districts of eastern Sri Lanka. Accessed online do Rosário, J.M., Lourenço, N., Russo Mach- at http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/ ado, C. and Rodrigues, L. (2002) Measur- rapid_ass_easte_sri_lanka.pdf on 15 Sep- 21 ing, monitoring and managing sustainability tember 2011. IUCN and UNDP (2006) Mangroves for the home/tags/sri%20lanka on 15 September Future Action Plan 2007–2011. Mangroves 2011. for the Future, Bangkok. SEDAC (2007) Percentage of Total Popu- Mangroves for the Future (2010) Mangroves lation Living in Coastal Areas. Accessed for the Future Annual Report 2010. Man- online at http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/ groves for the Future, Bangkok. es/papers/Coastal_Zone_Pop_Method.pdf on 3 September 2011. Mangroves for the Future (2010) An update on the MFF Small Grants Facility. Working The Fish Site (2009) Current Status of Paper 7, Mangroves for the Future, Bangkok. South East Asian Mangrove Ecosystems. Accessed online at http://www.thefishsite. Mangroves for the Future (2010) MFF Secre- com/articles/612/current-status-of-south- tariat Review of Implementation of the Small east-asian-mangrove-ecosystems on 15 Grant Facility. Working Paper 8, Mangroves September 2011. for the Future, Bangkok. Townsley, P. (2010) Review of Coastal and NACA (2009) Mangroves of Nakhon Si Marine Livelihoods and Food Security in Thammarat Province in southern Thailand: the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem Species diversity, community structure and Region. The Innovation Centre, University of current status. Accessed online at http:// Exeter, Exeter. www.enaca.org/modules/news/article. php?article_id=1822 on 15 September 2011. Warr, P. (2011) Thailand’s Development Strategy and Growth Performance. Working Population Reference Bureau (2011) Ripple Paper No. 2011/02, United Nations Univer- Effects: Population and Coastal Regions. sity, Tokyo. Accessed online at http://www.prb.org/ Publications/PolicyBriefs/RippleEffectsPop- World Bank (2010) Social protection in Mal- ulationandCoastalRegions.aspx on 3 Sep- dives: Overview. Accessed online at http:// tember 2011. web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/ COUNTRIES/SOUTHASIAEXT/0,,contentM Rural Poverty Portal (2010) Rural poverty in DK:22182432~pagePK:146736~piPK:1468 Sri Lanka. Accessed online at http://www. 30~theSitePK:223547,00.html on 15 Sep- ruralpovertyportal.org/web/guest/country/ tember 2011.

22 23 Part 2

Achievements of the Small Grants Facility Projects by Country

24 India

SGF project achievements The SGF projects in India generated a wealth Aquaculture initiatives, in the form of an of information on the status of mangroves integrated mangrove fishery farming system and coral reefs, and on current practices for in Tamil Nadu (Project 1.4) and eco-friendly mangrove rehabilitation. They also provided freshwater prawn culture in the Sundarbans examples of ways to involve local commu- (Project 1.2), are commendable in that they nities and the private sector in managing offer an income to local communities and coastal resources. There was a strong focus business-minded entrepreneurs, and this is on information for management (POW 1), helps to ensure sustainability. Local business with several projects contributing substan- people and aquaculture farmers are pursu- tially to the flow of information from the field to ing plans to replicate the integrated fishery local and national authorities. The project on farming model, and the owners of the pond coral reefs, for example, organized a national used to develop the model have pledged to conference and published 28 peer-reviewed support long-term monitoring of water con- papers on the status, threats and recom- ditions. mended conservation measures for India’s It is also commendable that India’s SGF coral reefs (Project 1.5). projects adopted various sustainability meas- Other projects produced maps and sur- ures. These included building capacity at vey data on biophysical and social factors various levels in both agencies and commu- affecting mangroves and the people who nities; institutionalizing adaptation measures; depend on the services provided by man- and integrating environmental awareness grove ecosystems. For example, one project activities into local school activities. produced a comprehensive status report on the distribution of India’s coastal forest Conclusions shelterbelts (Project 1.9). The mapping and MFF in India has focused in particular on survey results from this project have been improving the scientific knowledge base put in the public domain, and are – and will for integrated coastal management, and on continue to be – used by decision makers in managing coastal and marine biodiversity. coastal management and rehabilitation plan- Thus, most SGF projects in India were con- ning. Similar use is being made of data from cerned with research into ways to nurture a floristic survey of the mangroves in Gujarat sustainable coastal management or, as in (Project 1.7). the case of the shelterbelt mapping study An assessment of mangrove rehabilita- and the floristic survey projects, sought to tion projects and community empowerment add to existing scientific knowledge with a (Project 1.3) may have significant implications view to optimizing future coastal rehabilita- for guiding other similar projects, especially tion programmes. in achieving continuity through an inte- National symposia supported by MFF grated approach (such as co-management have greatly contributed to increasing knowl- schemes between the state Forest Depart- edge on both mangrove and coral ecosys- ments and local communities). A related tems. Information sharing with civil society project that assessed alternative eco-friendly is also helping to raise awareness of India’s livelihoods in the Sundarbans mangrove for- valuable coastal resources. est has resulted in a pledge by the West In most cases the principal project ben- Bengal Forest Department to maintain and eficiaries were local communities, many of periodically update the database on sustain- whom depend almost entirely on healthy 25 able livelihoods (Project 1.1). coastal ecosystems for their livelihoods and survival. Projects also targeted stakeholders such as NGOs and government departments involved in coastal environmental management and decision making.

SGF INDIA PROJECTS 1.1 A critical evaluation of the impacts of alternative livelihood programmes to reduce dependence on the Sundarbans mangroves 1.2 Sustainable freshwater aquaculture in the mangrove-dominated Indian Sundarbans 1.3 Mangrove restoration: participatory assessment of current practices 1.4 Sustainable coastal livelihoods through Integrated Mangrove Fishery Farming Systems (IMFFS) 1.5 Coral reefs of India – status, threats and conservation measures 1.6 Demarcating safe zones for harvesting edible bivalves in mangroves along the Goa Coast by determining trace metal levels 1.7 Floristic diversity and natural recruitment of mangrove species in selected mangrove habitats of South Gujarat 1.8 Conserving and regenerating mangroves at Mithapur 1.9 Status of shelterbelts along India’s southern coast

1.8 Ú INDIA 1.1 1.7Ú Ú 1.2 Ú1.9

Ú1.3 1.6Ú 1.9 1.9Ú 1.9 Ú1.3 Ú 1.4 1.9Ú 1.9 Ú1.5

General location of SGF Phase 1 projects in India

26 1.1 A critical evaluation of the impacts of alternative livelihood programmes to reduce dependence on the Sundarbans mangroves

opment. The methods used included ques- tionnaire surveys, focus group discussions, physical verification of assets and the analysis of secondary data from Gram Panchayats (local village councils) on infrastructure and facilities in the targeted villages.

Target beneficiaries Joint Forest Management (JFM) members, Forest Protection Committees (FPCs) and Eco-Development Committees (EDCs). These organizations all include women as members.

Outputs > A comprehensive analysis of past activities and programmes undertaken by the

Honey collectors in the Sundarbans, West Bengal, India © Pradeep Vyas India © Pradeep Bengal, West Honey collectors in the Sundarbans, West Bengal Forest Department in 50 village JFM Committees and their effec- Objectives tiveness under the Alternative Livelihoods The Sundarbans SGF project set out to eval- Programme. uate the impacts of livelihoods interventions > INDIA aimed at reducing local dependence on for- Recommendations for improving the rela- ests. It looked at eco-development activities, tionship between the Forest Department infrastructure and agricultural development, and local people – a relationship that is 1.1Ú afforestation, soil conservation, protection critical for long-term conservation of the of embankments and mangrove planting. Sundarbans ecosystem. The project also sought to evaluate and rate confidence-building activities in community > Recommendations for successful alter- development projects, and to evaluate differ- native livelihood interventions that will be LOCATION ent alternative and sustainable development needed to address conservation and live- Sundarbans, West Bengal, India initiatives. lihoods needs in the long run. PRIORITY POWS Knowledge for Management Background > An evaluation of past and present liveli- Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation The Sundarbans is one of the largest man- hoods projects to address the increas- Coastal Governance grove ecosystems in the world, covering an ingly important issue of climate change DURATION area of 9,400 km². Its 4.2 million inhabitants adaptation. 7 December 2008 to 31 August 2009, are unevenly distributed with a high popu- extended to 31 January 2010 lation density of 800 people/km², generat- Accomplishments and MFF GRANT AMOUNT ing considerable anthropogenic pressure challenges US$10,000 on the ecosystem. The West Bengal Forest A detailed report on biodiversity-dependent Department launched this project to review local livelihoods has been submitted to the past livelihood interventions and recommend Forest Department, including baseline data priority areas for funding to develop alterna- and trends in fishing (legal and illegal), wood tive, eco-friendly livelihoods that will balance gathering and honey collection over the past 27 biodiversity conservation with human devel- three decades. The project found that infrastructure development (wells, jetties, solar view of the dynamic nature of the ecosys- lighting and so on) has had a positive impact tem, climate change and human societies, it on the alternative livelihoods promoted in the was recommended that all future alternative region, so it should be a key element in any livelihoods projects should be limited to three future discussion on alternative livelihoods. years to be meaningful. The project also highlighted the need to develop disaster risk reduction strategies for Lessons learned biodiversity-dependent villages. Some local people do not see their activities The Forest Department has agreed to as harmful to the Sundarbans ecosystem, maintain and update the information data- an attitude that paves the way for rampant base, ensuring sustainability of project out- illegal activity such as overfishing. Changing puts. The success of confidence-building such attitudes is difficult and time-consum- measures between the Forest Department ing. Aquaculture may help to mitigate the and local communities has lessened human- problem to some extent, but beekeeping wildlife conflict. Local people now report is unpopular because of its cost and labour straying wild animals and trust the Forest requirements. Ecotourism has strong poten- Department to take appropriate action. tial, but the mechanism for sharing money earned from tourism by EDCs is currently Challenges inequitable and needs to be revised. Alter- Cyclone Aila struck West Bengal in 2009, native livelihood options based on aquatic causing delays in project implementation. resources, such as ornamental fisheries, crab In some cases it also affected the question- fattening and oyster culture, are more in line naire surveys, as answers tended to be “Alia- with local traditions, preferences and skills. biased” and unrepresentative of “normal” The project made a strong case for linking conditions. Framing survey questions proved infrastructure development with alternative challenging as each stakeholder group had livelihood schemes to ensure their success. many sub-groups (for example “fishers” include marine fishers, freshwater fishers, Partners and their contribution crab collectors and so on), each usually with WWF Bengal conducted the village surveys different competing needs and interests. In under the project.

CONTACT INFORMATION Mr Pradeep Vyas Director Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve

Forest Department, Government of West Bengal, Bikash Bhawan, 3rd Floor, North Block, Salt Lake City, Kolkata 700 091, India

Tel: +91 33 248 4288829 Email: [email protected]

28 1.2 Sustainable freshwater aquaculture in the mangrove-dominated Indian Sundarbans

growth of prawns. The key elements of this project included developing an alternative feed from salt marsh grass (Porteresia coarctata) to make scampi culture more sustainable and environmentally friendly, and raising awareness among farmers of the importance of maintaining water quality.

Target beneficiaries Local freshwater aquaculture farmers of the Indian Sundarbans.

Outputs > Water quality was tested in experimental scampi ponds using floral feed and the results compared with those from con- , West Bengal, India © University of Calcutta Bengal, West , Porteresia trol ponds using commercial meat-based

Collecting feed.

Objectives > Locally appropriate feed-preparation This project examined the protein content of technology was developed using locally salt marsh grass with a view to developing sourced marsh grass pulp as the main INDIA an eco-friendly, nutritious feed for freshwater feed ingredient. prawns. It adapted feed preparation technology to local conditions by using locally > The impact of formulated feed on prawn 1.2Ú sourced floral pulp as the main feed ingredi- biomass, survival rate, condition index ent, and assessed the impact of this floral (length and weight) and feed conversion feed on prawn biomass, survival rate, condi- ratio was investigated. tion index and feed conversion ratio. The goal of the project was to determine whether flo- > The relationship between protein-rich LOCATION ral feed can offer better aquaculture nutrition feed and protein levels in prawn tissue Sundarbans, West Bengal, India and cleaner, more eco-friendly prawn farming was tested through regular monitoring. PRIORITY POWS than commercially available feed. Knowledge for Management Accomplishments and Strategies for Management Background challenges Coastal Governance Aquaculture farmers in the Indian Sundar- The project successfully used science to DURATION bans are increasingly using organic fertilizer enhance traditional aquaculture practices. 2 December 2009 to 1 January 2011 and feeds for freshwater culture of scampi By demonstrating improved productivity MFF GRANT AMOUNT (Macrobrachium rosenbergii), a species of and pond health from using the new floral US$12,000 prawn that commands high export prices. In feed, the project won support from local recent times, interest has grown in the nutri- prawn farmers. At the same time, the new tional quality of coastal flora as an alternative feed enhanced water quality, which will in to the trash fish and mollusc flesh used in turn protect the existing mangrove habitat commercially available feeds, which degrade and help stabilize mudflats. Prawns reared on water quality, reducing the survival and floral feed also exhibited greater weights and 29 redder colouring (both attributes with high uptake by aquaculture farmers regionally and “Commercial feed contains consumer appeal), and grew more quickly nationally, and to ensure it can compete suc- trash fish and shrimp dust than prawns in control ponds. cessfully with commercial feeds. Demonstrating the increased effective- as a source of protein. The ness of locally sourced floral feed has moti- Contributions to cross-cutting residual commercial feed vated aquaculture farmers in the area to themes degrades water quality adopt the practice on a larger scale. The sur- Communications and gender equality vival rate of floral-fed prawns is 76%, com- A guide (in Bengali) was developed to cre- by increasing the organic pared with 70% for prawns fed on commer- ate awareness among local communities of carbon, nutrient load, cial meat-based feed. The project also found scampi and the benefits of rearing them on biochemical and chemical that using floral feed produces less waste floral feed. The project provided an alterna- and so helps to improve water quality. The tive livelihood for women in the form of pre- oxygen demand, and total project had the dual benefit of developing paring feed and developing a P. coarctata coliform bacteria.” an eco-friendly prawn culture practice and nursery to provide raw feed material. — DR ABHIJIT MITRA creating an alternative livelihood for women PROJECT LEADER through feed preparation and establishment Lessons learned of a nursery of P. coarctata grass to provide Thanks to intensive participatory testing with raw material. The government of West Ben- local communities and other stakeholders, gal has agreed to train local communities in this small-scale aquaculture initiative was feed production, thus guaranteeing project readily adopted and has strong prospects sustainability. for alleviating poverty, being environmentally sustainable and locally appropriate. Full own- Challenges ership and participation by beneficiaries and The challenge for this initiative lies in market- land owners are vital if such scientific exer- ing the floral feed product to encourage its cises are to be sustainable.

CONTACT INFORMATION Dr Abhijit Mitra Project Leader

Department of Marine Science, Uni- versity of Calcutta, 35 Ballygaunge Ci Circular Road, Kolkata 700 019, India

Email: [email protected]

30 1.3 Mangrove restoration: participatory assessment of current practices

sedimentation processes. The importance of hydrological regimes is now understood but weaknesses still remain. For example, 90% of the mangroves currently being planted are Avicennia marina, neglecting other species in need of regeneration (although in many highly saline areas only the salt-tolerant A. marina can be planted). Second, inadequate attention is given to community livelihood issues. Third, village planning institutions lack the technical, social and economic capacity to sustain mangrove restoration efforts. This project addressed these issues in the states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

Target beneficiaries Local communities and Joint Mangrove Man-

Assessing mangroves, Tamil Nadu, India © MSSRF Nadu, Tamil Assessing mangroves, agement (JMM) stakeholders.

Objectives Outputs The project’s objectives were to assess > Identification of the strengths and weak- INDIA current techniques for restoring degraded nesses of current techniques in mangrove Ú1.3 mangroves and for pioneer planting in new restoration by stakeholders (communi- areas, as well as the social and economic ties), and identification of opportunities benefits and constraints of these activities. to improve those techniques.

1.3 The project also looked at current institutional Ú mechanisms at the grassroots level and their > Identification of the strengths and weak- roles in mangrove restoration and protec- nesses of the participatory process fol- tion. It identified livelihood enhancement lowed by JMM and village institutions. and diversification opportunities which can LOCATION be integrated into restoration programmes, > Identification of gaps and remedial meas- Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, India and developed strategies to overcome the ures in the roles and responsibilities of dif- PRIORITY POWS technical, social, institutional and policy con- ferent stakeholders, particularly primary Knowledge for Management straints to planting. stakeholders such as local communities Strategies for Management and the state Forest Department (FD). Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation Background DURATION The importance of mangroves was recog- > Identification of opportunities to enhance 19 February 2010 to 1 February 2011, nized by wetlands managers in India in the income from mangrove planting and res- extended to 30 May 2011 early 1980s, leading to a complete turna- toration, and to reduce poverty amongst MFF GRANT AMOUNT round in forest policy from intensive exploi- mangrove-dependent communities. US$17,400 tation to full protection. During the early 1990s, management focused on restora- Accomplishments and tion, principally by replanting. The results challenges were generally poor as attention focused Stakeholders have indicated that mangrove on the forest component, neglecting other cover has increased considerably, and that 31 important aspects such as hydrology and dependence on mangroves for firewood has decreased. However, a weakening of Lessons learned FD involvement with community stakehold- Participatory analysis of community percep- ers may reduce planting success in future tions of mangrove management practices is initiatives. essential to understanding the associations Village Forest Councils (VFCs) need to be between these practices and communities. It strengthened and all stakeholder roles clearly is also necessary to refining future strategies defined. Monitoring and evaluation of the FD and policies on mangrove restoration and officials involved in VFCs should be instituted joint management. In most cases, commu- to gain community trust. Welfare schemes nities have not taken ownership of their man- in coastal areas need to be integrated with groves because JMM is perceived locally as management of mangroves, since these pro- an FD project, not a continuous process vides the core livelihood security for com- involving communities. Wherever a strong munities in the region. All-concrete houses partnership links communities, the FD and should be provided to residents, and poli- NGOs, the results in terms of both increases cies adopted to promote the supply of gas to in mangrove cover and community empow- mangrove-dependent households. erment are better and more sustainable.

CONTACT INFORMATION Dr V. Selvam Director M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation

111 Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area, Taramani, Chennai 600 113, India

Email: [email protected]

32 1.4 Sustainable coastal livelihoods through Integrated Mangrove Fishery Farming Systems (IMFFS)

response designed an integrated mangrove fishery farming system to support the development and demonstration of aquaculture systems in community mangroves that integrate livelihood security with ecological security.

Target beneficiaries Prawn farmers (land owners) and local communities.

Outputs > Two different models of IMFFS were developed and demonstrated in abandoned prawn farms.

> Ninety-four women, men and youth from

Sea bass harvested from IMFFS farm, Tamil Nadu, India © MSSRF Nadu, Tamil Sea bass harvested from IMFFS farm, coastal communities, as well as 21 managerial field staff from state and central Objectives government agencies, took part in orien- This project sought to create awareness tation and exposure visits to IMFFS sites INDIA among local communities and other stake- and learned about the IMFFS protocol. holders of the need for alternative or additional income-generating activities based > Commercially important fish such as sea on natural resources, and to demonstrate a bass and mullet were successfully grown

1.4 brackish water and mangrove-based farming and harvested in the integrated mangrove Ú system for wider replication. Also a priority farms. was enhancing the capacity of women, local NGOs and government agencies for devel- > Preparation has begun of manuals in local oping integrated mangrove fisheries. languages describing methods for repli- LOCATION cating IMFFS. Tamil Nadu, India Background PRIORITY POWS Chemically intensive, environmentally dam- Accomplishments and Strategies for Management aging coastal prawn farming was popular challenges Civil Society Engagement in India during the early 1990s. However, The IMFFS farms work on the principles of Community Resilience monocultures, disease, poor seed quality, ecological and environmental sustainability. DURATION excessive use of artificial feed, poor environ- They are fed by tidal water, making pumps 6 January to 31 October 2009, mental management, increased input costs unnecessary. Tidal flows also bring in natu- extended to 31 December 2009 and decreased market returns contributed ral feeds and new fish and prawn seed, and MFF GRANT AMOUNT to a wide-scale collapse of aquaculture pro- flush away wastes. US$21,000 duction. Consequently large areas of coastal Both IMFFS models had a very high man- land, too saline to be returned to their origi- grove survival rate (92%). Also encouraging nal agricultural use, were abandoned and were survival rates for introduced tiger prawn local farmers and land owners left destitute. seed and mullet and sea bass fingerlings The project recognized the pressing need (60%). In all, 94 community members (includ- 33 to return these lands to productivity, and in ing 36 women), and 21 state and central government staff, developed their capacity for will benefit from the new livelihood opportuni- IMFFS through workshops and exposure ties they offer. visits. The project successfully overturned the negative local perception of aquacul- Climate change ture caused by the industry’s collapse in the The predicted increase in terrestrial salinity 1990s. The Aquaculture Authority of India from rising sea levels will lead to changes in is exploring the possibility of eco-labelling land use. IMFFS will help compensate for IMFFS products. any agricultural land lost in this process, thus enhancing the capacity of coastal communi- Challenges ties to adapt to climate change. One issue faced by the project was the need to document fully the economic returns from Lessons learned IMFFS prototype (model 1), Tamil Nadu, India © MSSRF IMFFS to support replication and scaling-up. Project designs have to be adaptable. In The impacts of climate change on the the case of IMFFS, project partners did not coast are a growing challenge. It is hoped anticipate that training facilities and manuals that the mangroves will help protect the would be needed to satisfy the high level of IMFFS ponds from extreme weather events. popular interest. It is important to consider the future Contributions to cross-cutting impacts of project activities. Although IMFFS themes relies on natural tide-borne feed, making arti- Communications ficial feed unnecessary and so contributing The project produced a training manual on to water clarity, growing mangrove planta- IMFFS methods for communities interested tions can eventually degrade water quality by in replicating the field models. causing dead plant matter to accumulate in the ponds. Long-term monitoring is needed Gender equality to understand the scale of this threat. In this Alternative livelihoods for women were cre- respect, it is encouraging to note that both ated through the provision and operation of the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation air-conditioned market stalls (to extend the and the land owner (SSS Marine Farms) con- shelf life of fish and other marine products), tinue to develop IMFFS with other funding and the production of organic fertilizer using and are addressing these monitoring needs. waste and dead fish from the IMFFS ponds. Thirty-six women attended workshops on Partners and their contribution project procedures and products, and joined M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation site visits. If the IMFFS methods are adopted (long-term monitoring); SSS Marine Farms by local communities, both men and women (provided land gratis).

CONTACT INFORMATION Dr V. Selvam Director M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation

111 Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area, Taramani, Chennai 600 113, India

Email: [email protected]

34 1.5 Coral reefs of India – status, threats and conservation measures

and attended by government officials, natural resource managers, scientists and research students from India’s four major reef areas (the Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kachchh, Lak- shadweep, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands). Twenty-eight papers were presented and reviewed at the conference, dealing with issues such as coral diseases, the impacts of climate change on coastal ecosystems, threats to corals, and the impact on corals of invasive alien seaweed species. All except two of these were afterwards compiled and published in the book Coral Reefs of India – Status, Threats and Conservation Measures.

Target beneficiaries

Release of SDMRI publication, Tamil Nadu, India © SDMRI Nadu, Tamil Release of SDMRI publication, National and international stakeholders with an interest in the conservation and manage- Objectives ment of coral reefs. This project organized a conference bringing INDIA together researchers, managers, policy mak- Outputs ers and forest officials directly or indirectly > Over 50 stakeholders attended the con- involved in coral conservation in India to dis- ference. cuss and present their experiences and findings. It aimed to produce a book based on > Twenty-eight research papers were pre- the conference papers and other information sented and peer reviewed. Ú1.5 that would serve as the primary reference for developing action plans to conserve the coral > Twenty-six of the papers were published reefs of India. in the book Coral Reefs of India – Current LOCATION Status, Threats and Conservation Meas- Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India Background ures (edited by J. R. Bhatt, J. K. Patterson PRIORITY POWS Coral ecosystems in India, as elsewhere, Edward and B. P. Nilaratna) in collabora- Knowledge for Management face a number of worsening anthropogenic tion with MoEF, SDMRI and MFF. Coastal Governance threats, including bleaching, destructive fish- Marine Protected Areas ing practices, pollution and climate change. > The book was published on the Inter- DURATION In response to this situation, and to com- net and is being distributed to marine 29 October to 31 December 2008 memorate the International Year of the Reef research stations and relevant govern- MFF GRANT AMOUNT 2008, MFF India convened a conference ment bodies. US$11,000 bringing together key stakeholders in coral conservation to present research papers, Accomplishments and participate in discussions, and share lessons challenges and experiences. This event was organized The shared interests of the participating by the Suganthi Devadason Marine Research group aided communication, helping mem- Institute (SDMRI) under the auspices of the bers to identify the gaps between research 35 Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), and practice, and to make recommendations on putting research at the centre of policy change was a major talking point at the con- decisions on coastal conservation. Com- ference, with participants sharing their opin- munity participation in reef conservation was ions, experiences and recommendations on also emphasized as a priority. its impacts and response measures. The discussions and exchange of ideas at the conference were lively and thought- Lessons learned provoking, the number of participants was Conference participants agreed that the encouraging, and the event was well-organ- participation of local people in coral reef ised and yielded tangible results in the form stewardship and conservation should be of scientific papers and a book that will serve promoted nationally on a much wider scale. as an important reference for coral conserva- Lastly the impact of the trade in coral was Lighting of Kuthuvizhakku by Dr B. P. Nilaratna, Joint tion in India. not adequately addressed by the confer- Secretary, MoEF, India © SDMRI ence and should be emphasized in future Contributions to cross-cutting gatherings. themes Communications and climate change The project produced research papers and a book on conserving India’s corals. Climate

CONTACT INFORMATION J. K. Patterson Edward

Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute (SDMRI) 44 Beach Road, Tuticorin 628 001, Tamil Nadu, India

Email: [email protected]

36 1.6 Demarcating safe zones for harvesting edible bivalves in mangroves along the Goa Coast by determining trace metal levels

by pollution from a flourishing mining sector which is helping to drive the state’s economic growth. Mining is supported and encouraged by the region’s many navigable rivers, which facilitate the transport of manganese and iron ores. A resulting problem, however, is heavy metal seepage into the waterways, exacer- bated by the discharge of urban waste and wastewater from Goa. In view of the importance of bivalves to the people of Goa and its surrounds, this project was launched to assess the current scale and nature of metal contamination of waterways. A priority was to monitor the health of both the local ecology and the marine products consumed and sold locally.

, Goa, India © NIO Goa, malabarica , Locals collecting Paphia Target beneficiaries Local fishing communities (especially women, Objectives the main bivalve collectors) and bivalve con- This project is examining bivalve species to sumers in the Goa region. INDIA determine the presence and levels of trace metals in their tissues. The targeted spe- Outputs 1.6Ú cies include the clam Paphia malabarica > Determination of trace metal concentra- and oyster Crassostrea gryphoides, two tions in bivalve species exploited by local commercially important species harvested communities in the mangrove habitats of throughout the year by coastal communities Goa. for consumption and sale. The project is determining the relationship > Reporting on metal concentrations in between trace metal levels and other environ- commercially important edible bivalves, LOCATION mental conditions, and is investigating ways with a view to influencing strategies for Central West Coast, Goa, India of reducing metal contamination. It is also monitoring contamination of clam and PRIORITY POWS educating local communities, particularly the oyster beds, thus protecting human and Knowledge for Management women who harvest bivalves, of the risks ecological health. Sustainable Livelihoods from contamination, and is disseminating its > DURATION findings to law enforcement agencies to help Identification of high-risk zones with high 22 February 2010 to 31 October 2011 them protect the health of people at all levels levels of metal contamination, and bring- of the bivalve fishery. ing these to the attention of the relevant MFF GRANT AMOUNT US$12,000 authorities. Background Goa’s Central Coast Region has an estimated Accomplishments and 20 km² of mangrove forests, an ideal habitat challenges for bivalves that are not only commercially Recent reports have highlighted concerns valuable but also a major source of food for about dangerous levels of pollution, under- poorer coastal communities. The waterways scoring the urgency of studies such as this 37 in and around Goa are seriously threatened one. Increasing metal contamination of mangrove bivalves poses severe environmental because of fears that the project might pre- and human health risks. vent them from collecting bivalves in the area. This study offers scope for replicating metal contamination analyses in a range of Contributions to cross-cutting aquatic species in similarly affected areas, themes as well as the potential for stimulating action Gender equality at regional and national levels to reduce and Most bivalve collectors in area are local mitigate the introduction of hazardous con- women. By addressing contamination, the taminants into the marine environment. project is helping to sustain their livelihoods and their health. Challenges Collecting samples presents challenges, par- Lessons learned ticularly with oysters which require a special The assistance and guidance given by MFF technique to lever them out of their substrate to project design, such as what statistical while leaving both shells intact. Also, during analyses to use, and how and what socio- the rainy season oyster and clam beds tend economic data should be gathered, has been to remain submerged under high water lev- extremely helpful and should be sought in els. In such conditions, local people have to future projects of this nature. be paid to dive and randomly collect samples Lastly communication with local com- for analysis. munities is important to enrich the project Another major challenge facing the team through their inputs. For university field is the reluctance of local people to cooperate researchers this may not come easily.

CONTACT INFORMATION Dr T. G. Jagtap

National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Dona Paula, Goa 403 044, India

Email: [email protected]

38 1.7 Floristic diversity and natural recruitment of mangrove species in selected mangrove habitats of South Gujarat

tic diversity; and 3. A socio-economic survey using a rigorous sampling and research design.

Target beneficiaries Policy makers and local communities.

Outputs > A comprehensive survey and mapping of mangroves in South Gujarat.

> An assessment of mangrove species richness and diversity in different habitats.

> The rediscovery of two mangrove species believed extinct in Gujarat (Bruguiera cylindrica and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza),

Research team at Khambat, Gujarat, India © GEER Gujarat, Research team at Khambat, and the discovery of large populations of the rare mangrove species Sonneratia Objectives apetala and Avicennia officinalis. This Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) Foundation project set > The identification of two new mangrove INDIA out to assess the floristic diversity, species biodiversity hotspots (the Purna and INDI richness and recruitment rates of mangrove Ambika estuaries). 1.7Ú forests in coastal South Gujarat. It also aimed to examine forest substrata to identify the > An assessment of the status of natural conditions most favoured by mangroves for mangrove recruitment in different areas. their natural regeneration, and to assess local people’s dependence on mangroves through > The identification of different substrata a social survey. types preferred by various mangrove spe- LOCATION cies for their regeneration. South Gujarat, India Background > PRIORITY POWS Gujarat’s 1,650-km coastline boasts the A survey of the dependence of local peo- Knowledge for Management largest area of mangroves on India’s west- ple on mangroves. Capacity Building ern coast (936 km², or 22% of the country’s Coastal Governance total mangrove area). Yet the status of man- > A documentary film in English and Gujarati DURATION grove habitats in southern Gujarat has never on the mangroves of South Gujarat. 30 December 2008 to been comprehensively surveyed. Though the 31 October 2009 region’s mangroves are some of the most Accomplishments and MFF GRANT AMOUNT fragmented in India, they are also thought challenges US$14,998 to have the highest potential for successful The project covered areas that had never reforestation. been surveyed before, producing important For these reasons, GEER, with support new findings for long-term mangrove conser- from MFF, undertook a study with three vation and management. teams working on: 1. A physical survey and Two species were returned to Gujarat’s 39 mapping of mangroves; 2. A survey of floris- existing species list and need to be included in state plantation plans. To this end, the grove forests, and presented its findings to project worked to raise awareness among the State-Level Steering Committee for the forest officers, leading to a decision by the Conservation of Mangroves and Coral in May Gujarat Forest Department to launch plant- 2009. The project also produced a docu- ing and reintroduction programmes with the mentary film, The Lesser Known Mangrove rediscovered species. Habitats of South Gujarat, launched on World New areas for mangrove regeneration Environment Day in 2009 by the Chief Min- were identified in Navsari and Valsad dis- ister of Gujarat. tricts, and the project submitted proposals to the state government urging it to declare Gender equality the Purna estuary a mangrove biodiversity Both men and women were included in the hot spot. In a continuation of the project, the project’s socio-economic survey of local GEER Foundation is now involved in creating mangrove-dependent communities. a GIS database and a herbarium. Climate change Challenges By giving authorities the data they need to The challenge now lies in working with the establish new mangrove plantations, the Gujarat state government to ensure desig- project has helped to increase coastal resil- nation of the Purna estuary as a mangrove ience to the more frequent extreme weather biodiversity hotspot. events predicted under climate change.

Contributions to cross-cutting Lessons learned themes The importance of involving local people in Communications survey work became rapidly apparent – fish- The project documented the socio-economic ers assisted researchers by showing them dependence of local communities on man- the locations of key mangrove species.

CONTACT INFORMATION C. N. Pandey

Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) Foundation, Indroda Nature Park, PO Sector 7, Gandhinagar 382 007, Gujarat, India

Email: [email protected]

40 1.8 Conserving and regenerating mangroves at Mithapur

1980s. The project was designed to embrace all of TCSRD’s objectives, including conservation, empowering women, income generation, community involvement and education.

Target beneficiaries Local communities, especially women and young people.

Outputs > A mangrove nursery established, planting sites identified, and 52,400 mangrove trees planted.

> The creation of ECO clubs in village schools to encourage young people to become conservation champions and

Women and youth working at Arambda nursery, Gujarat, India © TCSRD India © Gujarat, Arambda nursery, and youth working at Women contribute to the project’s long-term sustainability. Objectives This Tata Chemicals Society for Rural Devel- > The ECO clubs constructively engaged opment (TCSRD) project aimed to convert 2,500 young people in 25 rural schools, INDIA just over 12 hectares of barren mudflats to familiarizing them with the issues and 1.8 Ú INDI mangrove forest, thus increasing awareness opportunities of mangrove conservation and knowledge of community-based man- through awareness and exposure visits. grove management, and developing a model for larger mangrove planting programmes in > The establishment of self-help groups in the same area. The project’s goals were also local villages to empower women and to provide alternative livelihood opportunities generate income. for local people, in particular disadvantaged LOCATION women and youth (for example working in Accomplishments and Mithapur, Gujarat, India tree nurseries), and to set up ECO clubs in challenges PRIORITY POWS village schools. Besides meeting every project goal, MFF Knowledge Management India successfully engaged the support Civil Society Engagement Background of a large corporate partner by building its Coastal Governance The Indian chemicals company, Tata Chemi- capacity for conservation and by develop- DURATION cals Limited, through its social arm, TCSRD, ing an integrated management approach to 12 December 2008 to 31 October is involved in resource management, envi- coastal conservation. This achievement has 2009, extended to 31 December 2009 ronmental conservation, and income genera- kindled interest in cooperating with MFF and MFF GRANT AMOUNT tion and health programmes to improve the IUCN among other companies (for example US$8,000 (MFF) quality of life at Mithapur, near the Arabian Hazira port in Gujarat). US$17,500 (Tata Chemicals Limited) Sea coast where it operates. Tata asked The ECO club awareness campaign MFF India to help build its capacity in man- reached 2,500 students in 25 rural schools. grove restoration, with a view to rehabilitat- Management of mangrove nurseries created ing a former mangrove habitat devastated 466 days of employment for disadvantaged 41 by prolonged drought and overgrazing in the women in the project’s self-help groups. TCSRD plans to scale up project activities posters to explain and promote its activi- by planting a further 162 hectares of man- ties, and presented a report on its findings groves, thus creating extra income for local to the State-Level Steering Committee for communities, and is exploring the potential the Conservation of Mangroves and Coral in for mangrove ecotourism businesses. May 2009.

Challenges Gender equality The project was delayed by setbacks in Through the project, TCSRD became aware acquiring land rights. A study conducted by of the problems facing local women and the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) responded by proactively establishing self- found that mangrove planting and establish- help groups to empower women and gen- ment of a 50-m buffer zone at the original erate income. Training and the mangrove ECO Club session, Gujarat, India © TCSRD target site, Charakla salt works, would nega- nursery and planting activities generated tively impact ongoing salt work operations. 466 days of employment for 25 women and As a result a new site had to be found and disadvantaged young people. the mangrove restoration site moved there. At the mangrove nursery site, extra effort Lessons Learned had to be devoted to minimize the impacts The project showed that the corporate sec- of algae and seaweed growth, which suffo- tor can play a leading role in demonstrating cated mangrove seedlings. Some herders how development and conservation needs also used the mangroves at the new site for can be balanced. grazing camels, which damaged seedlings Another lesson learned was about the at the Arambda nursery. These issues were need, especially in land restoration work, addressed before the planting began. to ensure that land ownership rights are secured before releasing any funding. Contributions to cross-cutting themes Partners and their contribution Communications The community work component was imple- The project produced several leaflets and mented by TCSRD.

CONTACT INFORMATION Ms Alka Talwar

Tata Chemicals Society for Rural Development (TCSRD), Ground floor, Leela Business Park, Andheri East, Mumbai, India

Email: [email protected]

42 1.9 Status of shelterbelts along India’s southern coast

forest and absorb or deflect wind and tidal energy. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami rekindled interest in shelterbelts and led to increased funding and planting activity. This project was established to meet the coastal planning needs of India’s Ministry of Environ- ment and Forests (MoEF).

Target beneficiaries National and state-level stakeholders with an interest in the conservation and management of coastal ecosystems.

Outputs > Production of a comprehensive status report for the states and Union Territory, with details of the spatial distribution of

in Kunhimangalam, Kerala, India © Sourav Singh Deo Kerala, Rhizophora in Kunhimangalam, their shelterbelts.

INDIA Objectives > A review of the various methods being This Environment Protection Training and used by state and non-state actors to 1.9 INDIA Ú Research Institute (EPTRI) project aimed to conserve shelterbelts. collate secondary information on the status Ú1.9 of coastal shelterbelts in southern states of Accomplishments and India, and to prepare a comprehensive syn- challenges 1.9 opsis of the initiatives undertaken by states to A comprehensive survey and mapping exer- Ú 1.9 Ú1.9 conserve and restore coastal shelterbelts in cise of land-use patterns, shelterbelts and Ú line with their strategies for promoting invest- other coastal ecosystems was carried out 1.9Ú ment in coastal ecosystems. The project also using Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) datasets undertook mapping of shelterbelts and other derived from satellite imaging. The database LOCATION coastal habitats. and maps are proving invaluable to state Five coastal states (Orissa, Andhra and central government planners trying to Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala) and one Union Territory Background strengthen green coastal defences. (Puducherry), India Over three-quarters of the population in the The study also uncovered many instances surveyed states live along the coast, putting of participatory shelterbelt management PRIORITY POWS Knowledge Management great pressure on ecosystems there. These yielding good results, confirming that well- Capacity Building coastal zones are also vulnerable to extreme planned and well-managed shelterbelts Community Resilience weather events. involving the local community as a whole DURATION In an effort to minimize the loss of coastal can minimize the impacts of storm surges, 2 January to 31 October 2009, habitats, human lives and property, state and coastal erosion and other environmental extended to 31 December 2009 non-state actors have created green belt processes. MFF GRANT AMOUNT buffer zones, also known as shelterbelts or Shelterbelt construction must be well- US$22,352 “bioshields”, along the coast. These consist planned. Care should be taken to avoid mainly of mangrove or Casuarina plantations, destroying natural features such as dunes designed to augment the remaining natural and wetlands. 43 Contributions to cross-cutting restoration efforts led by both the state For- themes est Departments and by NGOs were most Communications successful when they adopted the Joint The project produced a comprehensive Mangrove Management (JMM) model. This coastal land-use database and maps, and is based on a process of participatory rural made them available to ministries and other appraisal and the creation of village-level interested parties to help them plan shelter- mangrove committees. JMM ensures greater belts and other coastal conservation work. community participation and ownership, while also guaranteeing a steady, appreci- Climate change able income to local people. In areas without The project contributed to the sound design, mangroves, the Joint Forest Protection and development and maintenance of shelter- Management committees which oversaw belts that will help to mitigate environmental the creation and management of shelterbelts damage from the extreme weather events were more sustainable. that climate change is likely to cause. The location and type of shelterbelt need to be judiciously planned to avoid or minimize Lessons learned any negative impacts on ecosystems, flora This study highlighted the fact that mangrove and fauna.

CONTACT INFORMATION Dr G. Surya Narayana

Environmental Quality Mapping Divi- sion, Environmental Protection Train- ing and Research Institute (EPTRI) 91/4, Gachibowli, Hyderabad 500 032 Andhra Pradesh, India

Email: [email protected]

44 Indonesia

SGF project achievements The SGF projects in Indonesia focused on businesses were started. community involvement in ways that lever- All the Indonesian projects incorporated aged participation by respecting local cus- sustainability measures. Most of these were toms, traditions and religion. Collectively, deliberately built into the project design; for the projects fostered considerable changes example, through training in carbon meas- in community attitudes towards the impor- urement, nursery development and man- tance of mangroves and the benefits of agement, and mangrove planting, which mangrove rehabilitation. All four projects provided trainees with the necessary skills developed useful connections with govern- and know-how to continue these activities ment authorities active in the fields of forestry, after project completion. aquaculture, disaster prevention and coastal development. Conclusions The necessity of this approach is best The Indonesian SGF projects were particu- illustrated by an example. When Project 2.4 larly effective in working with local community sent its team into villages in Sulawesi, the organisations and leaders to promote broad local population was initially wary of outside community participation in project activities, interference. The MFF team, through diplo- while also helping them to cooperate with the macy and awareness of local customs and local authorities. social structures, successfully built bridges Demonstrating project successes, and and, by the project’s end, the local commu- imparting technical skills, for example in man- nity was planting mangroves independently. grove planting and environmental monitoring, Moreover, members of the local fisher groups contributed to sustainability. Equally impor- were attending meetings with government tantly, they encouraged local participation, officials, something that had never happened which led to the continuation or replication before. of activities. In East Java’s Brondong district village Training individuals holding respected school, learners had never seen mangroves positions in local society as facilitators, for outside of their textbooks. By the time the example teachers and religious leaders, not project ended they had planted 10,000 seed- only advanced project aims by disseminat- lings, attended educational gatherings and ing information, but also spurred a “word of launched an Islamic-belief-driven mangrove mouth” community training process. club (Project 2.3). Involving schools in environmen- In Muara Angke, North Jakarta, a project tal education, especially Islamic religious by Jakarta Green Monster introduced a schools, and providing hands-on activities waste recycling initiative. This promoted the for schoolchildren, were key to achieving message that waste should not be dumped longer-term impact, particularly when it in the river but, if treated properly, could came to training teachers whose careers become an asset (Project 2.1). As a result and conservation messages will last well of this project, various small waste recycling beyond a project’s life.

45 SGF INDONESIA PROJECTS 2.1 Managing the Angke Kapuk wetland to conserve its natural resources 2.2 Rehabilitation and sustainable use of mangrove forests in Pesantren village 2.3 Pesantren and community involvement in managing disaster risks in coastal areas through mangrove planting 2.4 Empowering coastal communities in mangrove forest areas

INDONESIA

Java 2.4 2.2 2.3 Ú Ú2.1 Sulawesi Ú Ú

General location of SGF Phase 1 projects in Indonesia

46 2.1 Managing the Angke Kapuk wetland to conserve its natural resources

Target beneficiaries Members of Kapuk Muara village and students from nearby schools (such as Tarakan- ita 3 Elementary School).

Outputs > The project planted 0.5 hectares of mangroves in collaboration with the private sector, the local community and NGOs, including a religious organization which supported planting in other non-target areas. A subsequent joint survey with the provincial Marine and Fisheries Agency of Jakarta found low survival rates in the arboretum (60%) but encouraging results in the “ecotourism forest” (90%).

> Clean up action by school students facilitated by JGM at Jakarta project site, Indonesia © JGM Clean up action by school students facilitated by JGM at Jakarta project site, Monitoring of flora and fauna for the MFF- led national inventory and relevant institu- Objectives tions and stakeholders. This Jakarta Green Monster (JGM) project aimed to improve the ecological functions > Organization of waste clean-up and bird INDONESIA of the Angke Kapuk wetland and so con- watching events to raise awareness and serve important habitats and biodiversity. stimulate interest among adults and stu- The project was also designed to develop a dents in ecologically valuable local assets. Java participatory community waste management Ú2.1 system that will generate extra income for > Organization of many community training local communities while also conserving the events on waste sorting and recycling. coastal environment. “Compost for community” mechanisms were established and two paper shred- LOCATION Background ders donated to the local community. Muara Angke, North Jakarta, The Angke Kapuk wetland is an important Indonesia biodiversity area, particularly rich in birds > Involvement of local schools in making PRIORITY POWS (90 species have been recorded, with some recycled paper products such as busi- Knowledge for Management rare endemics). Many communities living ness cards and tissue boxes. Training Civil Society Engagement Capacity Building upstream of the wetland are extremely poor was planned for making charcoal bri- and have no access to waste disposal facili- quettes and recycling plastics. DURATION ties other than the Angke and Ciliwung riv- 4 May 2010 to 4 July 2011 ers. The waste they throw into these rivers > The establishment of a child and visitor MFF GRANT AMOUNT is deposited in the wetland, degrading the friendly waste-sorting centre in the com- US$25,000 environment and threatening its biodiversity munity. values. By supporting practical cooperation among a wide range of stakeholders, the Accomplishments and project sought to raise living standards and challenges reduce pressure on an important coastal The efforts of JGM and MFF have resulted 47 habitat. in a much cleaner living environment for the local community, and have involved learners Gender equality in developing small recycling businesses. A Women were well-represented in the project. notorious local “dirty corner” is now a cheer- Fifteen school students, all female, took part ful and colourful village recycling centre, as in the mangrove monitoring. The women in well as a popular learning and recreation area the “Seven Moms” women’s group were for families. largely responsible for driving the develop- JGM successfully engaged businesses, ment of recycled goods. Lastly the propor- schools and community groups in planting tion of women in training events ranged from mangroves and raised awareness on related 25% to 83%. issues. Importantly, the project publicized an asset previously viewed as a problem – Climate change Demonstrating skills in producing compost at Jakarta waste. Another achievement was engaging Planting half a hectare of mangroves can project site, Indonesia © MFF Indonesia and cooperating with the regional authority of make only a small contribution to seques- North Jakarta in a Joint Working Committee tering carbon. Yet, importantly, even a small on collaborative waste management. stand of mangroves can help to mitigate the “We will start a business impact of extreme weather events related to making name cards Challenges climate change. Mangroves absorb wind and from recycled paper. Our One challenge is what to do with the useful tidal energy, and have acted as lifebelts for data collected and lessons learned by the people seeking sanctuary in past disasters. teacher will help us (maybe project. Such information needs to reach she’ll buy some!). But at the right people if it is to be disseminated Lessons learned least now we know that if and replicated. Another challenge has been Engaging with school students and their flooding by high tides and unusually heavy teachers proved to have a knock-on effect, we treat waste wisely then rainfall, both of which delayed activities. drawing in parents, friends and family mem- it can also give us eco- bers. nomic benefit!” Contributions to cross-cutting Working closely with local authorities (in — RIA HANDYANI themes this case the Mayor of North Jakarta and the SCHOOLGIRL (AGE 12) Communications District Governor of North Jakarta) enhanced Vinyl posters were produced informing the project visibility and the sustainability of public of recycling activities, and data col- project outputs. lected on the flora and fauna in mangrove The project found that documenting and planting areas were made available. Com- mapping mangrove planting in the form of a munication by word of mouth and social net- “before and after” record is essential. Without working also proved effective in publicising it, keeping track of or even determining the project events and initiatives. survival of planted mangroves is difficult.

CONTACT INFORMATION Dr Enny Sudarmonowati Project manager

Jakarta Green Monster, Jl. Harsono Rm No. 1, Pusat Laboratorium, Universitas Nasional, Ragunan, Jakarta 12550

Tel: +62 21 7800981 Fax: +62 21 7801024 Email: [email protected] [email protected] Web: www.jgm.org.id 48 2.2 Rehabilitation and sustainable use of mangrove forests in Pesantren village

project was designed to tackle these issues by demonstrating best practice in managing mangroves and fish and goat farming.

Target beneficiaries The Mitra Bahari farmers’ group, local residents and, through roll-out of best practice models, neighbouring communities.

Outputs > A total of 20,000 healthy mangroves raised and planted on 20 hectares of fish ponds.

> A total of 10,000 black tiger prawns, 4,000 milkfish and four tonnes of seaweed cultivated in two one-hectare eco-

Women beneficiaries planting mangrove trees, Pemalang, Indonesia © Mitra Bahari Pemalang, beneficiaries planting mangrove trees, Women friendly demonstration ponds.

Objectives > A goat stable established and 20 goats This project aimed to increase the income of purchased. members of the Mitra Bahari farmers’ group INDONESIA through mangrove planting (20,000 seedlings > Mangrove rehabilitation training con- in a 20 hectare area of fish ponds), environ- ducted over eight days. mentally friendly aquaculture (two hectares Java of chemical-free demonstration fish ponds) > Communication links established with 2.2 and goat farming. The project emphasised district government agencies for agricul- Ú community involvement and skills acquisition ture and forestry, fisheries, and planning. and roll-out, and involved over 100 villagers, including women and schoolchildren. > Educational posters and literature pro- LOCATION duced. Pesantren village, Pemalang, Central Background Java, Indonesia Pesantren village (population 10,000) is no Accomplishments and PRIORITY POWS stranger to mangrove planting. Since 2004 challenges Knowledge for Management over 225,000 mangrove seedlings have been The project achieved all of its goals: an Civil Society Engagement Capacity Building planted there by Wetlands International Indo- increase in farmers’ income, the establish- nesia, the local Forestry Agency and other ment of pilot fish ponds to demonstrate eco- DURATION partners. Yet the community still faces seri- friendly best practices, mangrove planting, 4 May 2010 to 4 April 2011 ous problems, principally flooding (which skills training and the dissemination of edu- MFF GRANT AMOUNT is worsened by deforestation and destroys cational materials. The only major failure was US$27,046 fish ponds), decreasing aquaculture yields the death of the black tiger prawns, which (from a total budget of US$27,922 approved by MFF) due to a history of environmentally unfriendly proved incapable of surviving flooding. management (excessive use of chemicals, The project significantly raised the visibility artificial feeds, and so on), and unsustainable of the Mitra Bahari group, one of whom, Suci use of mangroves, in particular the heavy Purnami, won second place in the national 49 use of mangrove leaves as goat fodder. The Youth Pioneer in Marine Area Award. The judges were impressed by her knowledge of groves and making organic fertilizer from coastal management and ability to measure goat waste and dead seaweed, both by- carbon values in the environment – exper- products of project activities. tise gained through project training. Milkfish and seaweed from the demonstration ponds Climate change have proved resilient to local conditions and Planting 20,000 mangroves was the com- fetch higher prices than those produced by munity’s response to climate change adap- non-organic competitors. tation. Healthy mangroves help to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events, par- Challenges ticularly the flooding and high winds that are The main challenge was extreme weather major problems locally. Some of the project participants at Pemalang, Indonesia conditions which slowed project work and © MFF Indonesia killed the black tiger prawns. Lessons learned Organically raised milkfish and seaweed help Contributions to cross-cutting to maintain a healthy local environment (by “When we planted man- themes reducing chemical use) and are profitable groves during the high tide Communications ventures. The area is unsuitable for black event, apart from getting The project produced 600 brochures explain- tiger prawn cultivation, however. ing its work and two posters that are on dis- Increasing the community’s sense of all wet as the water was play at the Pesantren Village Wetland Infor- project ownership is key to achieving sus- up to our chests, we also mation Centre. The brochures have also tainability. Also noteworthy are the project’s had so much fun. It was been distributed to relevant local and regional efforts and success in creating a strong government authorities and decision makers. sense of unity in the community. more than just planting mangroves – it brought us Gender equality Partners and their contribution together.” Women were well-represented in all project Wetlands International Indonesia has long — WINASIR activities. Of the 101 participants in training facilitated capacity building in the village, HOUSEWIFE (AGE 35) sessions, 37 were women. Members of the supported mangrove planting activities, and Wanita Mitra Bahari (Women of Mitra Bahari) helped to construct a Village Wetland Infor- group were trained in carbon-measuring mation Centre. This served as a meeting techniques and are active in planting man- point and base for MFF grant activities.

CONTACT INFORMATION Eko Budi Priyanto Project Manager

Kelompok Mitra Bahari Dusun Sidomulyo RT 08 RW 07, Jl. Cepuk Barat, Pesantren Village, Ulujami subdistrict, Pemalang, Central Java, Indonesia

Mobile: +62 813 70685706 Email: [email protected]

50 2.3 Pesantren and community involvement in managing disaster risks in coastal areas through mangrove planting

schools, or Pesantren, with 1,500 students in total. The project enlisted their support and the support of the Kyai, a locally influential Islamic leader, in restoring lost mangrove habitat. Its main focus was on educating and involving local children in mangrove planting.

Target beneficiaries NU

- Pesantren students, Brondong villagers and the fishing community.

Outputs > Twenty facilitators acquired knowledge on mangrove propagation and planting, coastal conservation, and disaster risk mitigation. Facilitators later transferred this knowledge to community members. Schoolchildren at Lamongan, Indonesia © CBDRM Schoolchildren at Lamongan, > An Islamic approach to disaster risk Objectives reduction through mangrove planting was This project, run by Nahdlatul Ulama’s adopted with good results. INDONESIA Community-Based Disaster Risk Manage- ment body (CBDRM-NU) with MFF, sought > A successful focus on training teachers to involve Pesantren (religious schools) and at the local Pesantren, meaning they can Java community members in a mangrove plant- now share their knowledge directly with 2.3 ing programme. The two expected outputs their students. Ú were: 1) knowledge and skills transferred in mangrove nursery management and plant- > The formation of community groups and ing; and 2) the Pesantren and coastal com- the launching of the Santri Care for Man- munity mobilized for conservation. grove Campaign using local media and LOCATION The process involved recruiting and train- religious forums to raise awareness. Brondong district, Lamongan, East ing facilitators, providing field work for facili- Java, Indonesia tators in disaster risk mitigation and coastal > Mangrove planting (7,000 seedlings, 170 PRIORITY POWS ecosystem conservation through mangrove participants) and maintenance (3,000 Knowledge for Management nursery operation and planting, and support- seedlings used to replace others lost to Civil Society Engagement Capacity Building ing a Pesantren community campaign for drought, browsing and other factors). nursery production and mangrove planting. DURATION > Project sustainability guaranteed by 4 May 2010 to 4 December 2010 Background engaging local forestry officials in sup- MFF GRANT AMOUNT The site of the project is Brondong in Lamon- porting the continuity of project activities. US$25,873 gan, where much of the original mangrove cover has been cleared but local people con- Accomplishments and tinue to depend on the coastal environment challenges for their livelihoods. Helping the Pesantren community to estab- The community here holds strong reli- lish a nursery and plant mangroves has 51 gious beliefs and has two Islamic boarding increased the ability of school students and community members to propagate, establish ter is online at www.zonaberita.com), and in and maintain mangrove plantations. Promi- other publications, including www.nu.or.id. nent local figures became engaged in raising Local radio coverage and posters were also the profile of the project. produced. The religious approach proved effective. Simply stated, the community will follow any Gender equality recommendations or suggestions from their Women accounted for 30% to 50% of the Islamic leaders. And, by involving teachers participants in activities, including education, in meeting the project’s objectives, the man- lesson sharing, training facilitators, nursery grove conservation message was integrated maintenance and mangrove planting. Of the into school and educational activities. Well- 20 participants in facilitator training, seven trained and well-informed facilitators helped were women. Half of those who took part in Santri planting, Lamongan, Indonesia © CBDRM-NU to build and sustain public enthusiasm during mangrove planting were women. this process. Climate change “If we plant one tree, then Challenges Planting 10,000 mangroves is the commu- the tree grows and has The survival rate of planted mangroves was nity’s response to climate change adapta- thousands of leaves; all of low (50%), one cause being the timing of tion. Healthy mangroves help to mitigate the planting in August when the weather was dry impacts of extreme weather events along the the leaves will pray to God and hot. Foraging by free-ranging goats also coast. for those who plant and caused damage to the seedlings. take care of it.” Follow-up actions included replacement Lessons learned — KYAI of dead mangrove seedlings, and consulta- Using religion as a catalyst to mobilize com- LOCAL ISLAMIC LEADER AND tion with a mangrove expert to determine the munity involvement in mangrove conserva- HEAD OF THE PESANTREN best time for planting. tion proved effective. Facilitators provided an important driving force in the project, acting Contributions to cross-cutting as messengers and promoters for the Kyai’s themes religious and ecological message. Communications Several Bahasa-language articles covering Partners and their contribution project progress and activities were pub- An in-kind contribution from the Ministry of lished in the Duta Masyarakat, Radar Bojon- Education allowed the use of the Community egoro and Zona Berita newspapers (the lat- Learning Centre and local radio station.

CONTACT INFORMATION Ir. Avianto Muhtadi, MM Project Manager

Community-Based Disaster Risk Management – Nahdlatul Ulama (CBDRM-NU), Gedung PBNU Lt 7 Ruang 702, Jl. Kramat Raya 164, Jakarta Pusat 10430, Indonesia

Tel/Fax: +62 21 3142395 Mobile: +62 856 1029196 Email: [email protected] [email protected] 52 2.4 Empowering coastal communities in mangrove forest areas

Target beneficiaries Principally the community members of Bira Lantebung and, initially, the fisher groups.

Outputs > In the project’s first quarter 80,000 mangrove seedlings were planted. In the last quarter, 46,000 more seedlings were planted to replace mangroves lost in extreme weather events. The seedling survival rate was about 80%.

> Six mud crab culture cage units were developed and tested by the community.

> Training in mud crab cultivation was carried out using the cage units. This training

Women processing crab meat at Makassar, Indonesia © Hanying Li processing crab meat atWomen Makassar, was later put into practice by developing a mud crab cultivation business. Objectives This project sought to increase community > The community was actively involved in awareness of the importance of coastal con- creating land-use and settlement maps servation and mangrove planting, to facili- for use in land planning and as instru- INDONESIA tate mangrove planting action plans, and to ments of future advocacy by the com- increase local incomes by developing a mud munity. These maps were also shared crab fishery business. with local authorities. 2.4Ú Sulawesi Another objective was to help Bira Lan- tebung, a remote community historically dis- > A comparative study tour to Tongke- trustful of outside interference, to integrate Tongke village in Sinjai district helped to its needs and interests with state coastal motivate and raise expectations among LOCATION conservation and development interventions. community members with regard to Bira Lantebung village area, Makassar, restoring their mangroves. South Sulawesi, Indonesia Background PRIORITY POWS Most inhabitants of Bira Lantebung live below Accomplishments and Knowledge for Management the poverty line, subsisting mainly on crab challenges Civil Society Engagement Community Resilience and shellfish gathering, farming, and, to a Before MFF became involved, the com- certain extent, factory labour. munity of Bira Lantebung tended to resist DURATION The Community Research and Develop- outside intervention. For example, when the 4 May 2010 to 4 April 2011 (extended to 30 April 2011 at no extra cost) ment Institution of Makassar (IPPM) selected local government sent it a truckload of man- Bira Lantebung as a Small Grants Facility grove seedlings, they promptly sent it back. MFF GRANT AMOUNT (SGF) project site because of its high rate However, after IPPM conducted a sensitive US$25,717 (from a total budget of US$26,933 of coastal erosion and severely degraded pre-project assessment of local attitudes approved by MFF) hydrological regime, the community’s low and feelings, a successful working relation- income, the critical state of its remaining ship was established and progress made in mangroves, and the limited local awareness improving awareness of the importance of 53 of mangrove rehabilitation. mangroves to local livelihoods. Overcoming local reluctance to involve was made in the Bahasa language and dis- outsiders in community affairs was helped tributed to audiences in Makassar. Local by strengthening connections to, govern- newspapers also regularly carried articles ment. Engaging government in a dialogue about mangrove planting and crab culture. also yielded more support and cooperation. The project and the target area are now also Gender equality playing host to research studies by the Indo- The targeted fisher groups were all male and nesian and international academic commu- only a few women took part in project activi- nities. ties because of cultural constraints. Women joined training sessions to some degree Challenges (although their numbers were not recorded), Bachtiar, head of the fishers group, Bira Lantebung, The main challenge was extreme weather and also benefited from awareness-raising Makassar, Indonesia © Hanying Li which hampered project work, damaged events. They have stated their support for crab culture cage systems, and killed a fifth any mangrove rehabilitation activities that of the planted mangrove saplings. Despite respect their roles in the community. “Since IPPM began work- drawing on local knowledge, the project ing with us, we have won faced unpredictable and highly disruptive Climate change much more recognition weather conditions. By planting 126,000 mangrove saplings, the Involving women was also a challenge, project will help to increase carbon seques- from government. After as cultural traditions frown on women tak- tration locally. Healthy mangroves will also the MFF training, which ing part in “physical” activity such as plant- serve to mitigate the effects of extreme involved a local govern- ing trees. They are expected to play a largely weather events linked to climate change supportive role, for example preparing food, (such as flooding and high winds). These are ment officer as one of mending crab nets, and so on. The project major local problems. the resource people, four took pains to respect these norms, thus fishermen from our group avoiding any potential social conflict. Lessons learned Adopting a sensitive approach to project were invited to join train- Contributions to cross-cutting introduction paid dividends. In this case, ing held by the Regional themes an IPPM team approached the village six Marine and Fisheries Communications months before the project began to familiar- Many vinyl posters (160), stickers (160), ize itself with local conditions and attitudes. Agency. This had never T-shirts (160) and wall calendars (160) This proved key to the subsequent success happened before.” were produced to promote the project. A of the project in involving the community and — BACHTIAR 20-minute documentary DVD of the project building bridges to other stakeholders. HEAD OF FISHERS GROUP

CONTACT INFORMATION Hidayat Palaloi Project Manager

Institut Penelitian dan Pengembangan Masyarakat (IPPM) Jl. Cendana No. 195 Panakkukkang IV Makassar, Sulawesi, Selatan 90231

Tel: +62 411 5775501 Email: [email protected] [email protected]

54 55 Maldives

SGF project achievements Reflecting the economic importance of tour- SGF MALDIVES PROJECTS ism to the Maldives – a destination associ- 3.1 Environmental awareness media project 3.2 Increasing awareness about waste ated with clean, near-pristine island environ- management ments – three of the five SGF projects aimed 3.3 Establishing a waste disposal site to improve waste management and thereby 3.4 Strengthening the waste management improve understanding among local people system on Noonu Manadhoo Atoll and greening the island of the need to care for their environment. The 3.5 A print media awareness campaign to other two projects sought to improve stake- protect mangrove habitats in the Maldives holders’ understanding of the value of healthy coastal ecosystems, including mangroves, 3.1 using radio broadcasts and videos (Project 3.2 3.5 3.1), and printed awareness-raising materials Ú 3.3 Ú 3.5 (Project 3.5). Ú 3.4 Thanks to these projects, a new waste Ú management centre has been established Ú and several existing centres improved. Vari- ous publications and communications materials are also available that would not have Ú3.5 been existed without the SGF projects. Much of this material is likely to be used over the longer term, either in its present form or after being adapted by other projects. Although no cases have been reported, it is thought likely that the SGF grantees, MALDIVES including local government bodies and businesses, gained valuable experience and improved their capacities for managing 3.5 projects of this nature. Ú 3.5Ú

Conclusions General location of SGF Phase 1 projects in Analysis of the Maldives SGF projects reveals the Maldives that building partnerships and a common understanding throughout the planning proc- ness materials constitute a public good, so ess was a complex and challenging task. making them freely available (open access) to Networking with relevant research and the public was a positive decision and is to be development institutions and funding bod- encouraged as a general principle. ies proved to be vital to the sustainability and Only a few mangrove stands remain in the growth of projects. As the project supporting Maldives and their importance is not widely radio broadcasts showed, the private sector appreciated. The information materials on offers untapped potential for funding, techni- mangroves compiled by one of the projects cal support and sharing of results. will be useful for informing a wide range of The range of awareness materials pro- civil society stakeholders. In terms of impact, duced by the projects, including songs and it will be important to publicise the existence videos, can be incorporated into ongoing and of these materials as widely as possible so future MFF Maldives activities. These aware- that all interested parties can obtain them. 56 3.1 Environmental awareness media project

through a popular radio station, DhiFM. It also supported a nationwide environmental awareness campaign through songs and posters. These programmes helped inten- sify existing environmental awareness efforts in the Maldives.

Target beneficiaries The programmes were broadly targeted at a national audience, and specifically at residents of Hoarafushi Island.

Outputs > In all, 17 radio shows were produced plus five environmental songs on video, three video spots to raise awareness, and training on environmental issues for a local

Ahmeed Saleem (right) and his team from DhiFM Radio, Maldives © Hanying Li Ahmeed Saleem (right) and his team from DhiFM Radio, radio journalist.

3.1 Objectives Accomplishments and Ú This project’s objectives were to instill an challenges environmental consciousness in people of There was a strong response to the radio all ages, to bring to the attention of decision shows and video spots from the general pub- makers the environmental issues that con- lic. Further, the materials produced by the MALDIVES cern people, and to share success stories project are not copyrighted and so available from island communities to motivate others to other broadcasters, NGOs and schools to try similar activities. free of charge. The songs and video spots are expected to be broadcast widely on both Background radio and television. Faced with rapidly changing socio-political The materials are also frequently used by LOCATION conditions, the people of the Maldives have school environmental clubs, environmental Hoarafushi Island, Haa Alifu Atoll, limited time for and awareness of the coun- NGOs, and Scouts and Girl Guides groups Upper North Province, Maldives try’s pressing environmental issues. Although during their activities. PRIORITY POWS the government and NGOs have organized Station managers expect the environ- Civil Society Engagement several schemes to raise environmental mental messages in the songs, videos and DURATION awareness, many people in outlying islands radio spots to continue to reach audiences Six months from 1 October 2009 continue to be left out. Despite the close for a long time to come. They also expect links between the development of the Mal- that, with 17 shows produced and a journal- MFF GRANT AMOUNT US$24,890 dives and its environment, the country has ist trained, the radio station will be more sen- few cohesive or sustained awareness-raising sitive to environmental issues and pay more initiatives aimed at developing people’s ability attention to environmental issues in its daily to engage in decision making for sustainable news coverage. development. The MFF Small Grants Facility supported Challenges three programmes aimed at disseminating The project originally planned to nominate 57 information on the importance of mangroves and second a journalist from DhiFM to an environmental organization in the region to policy to support and strengthen adaptation expose them to environmental issues and to the impacts of climate change. The Mal- challenges. In the end, it proved unfeasible dives MFF National Strategy and Action Plan for a short project to arrange an overseas (NSAP) reflects many of these considera- attachment. In consultation with UNDP, it tions and climate-change related actions are was eventually decided to place a journal- mainstreamed in strategic actions, including ist with the Atoll Ecosystems Conservation the SGF projects in the Maldives. (AEC) Project in Baa Atoll. With support from AEC experts, a DhiFM journalist spent ten Lessons learned days travelling among islands in the Baa Atoll Looking back at the journalist training expe- to learn about the environmental challenges rience, project managers feel that modify- faced by local communities, conduct inter- ing the activity benefitted the project more views and collect audio and video materials because the journalist was exposed to local for broadcasting. issues of greater interest to listeners in the Maldives. Contributions to cross-cutting themes Partners and their contribution Climate change DhiFM made an in-kind contribution valued Coastal zone management is a part of national at US$10,000.

CONTACT INFORMATION Hidayat Palaloi Hassan Maumoon Aminath Reesha

DhiFM Radio Station Maldives Media Company Pvt. Ltd, Malé, Maldives 20129

Tel: +960 334 5556 Fax: +960 334 5559

58 3.2 Increasing awareness about waste management

Target beneficiaries A total of 480 households on Hoarafushi Island.

Outputs > Production of awareness materials, including posters and leaflets on waste management, in the local language and distribution to every household on the island.

> Organization of two workshops on waste management, followed by a third to train residents in producing fertilizers from waste.

> Training of two people from the commu-

Waste on Hoarafushi Island, Maldives © Hanying Li on Hoarafushi Island, Waste nity to manage waste processing centres.

> 3.2 Objectives Production of metal trays used to burn Ú This project’s main objective was to protect waste in the waste management centres. the target coastal area through better management of solid waste. Accomplishments and challenges MALDIVES Background There are two waste management centres Each person in Malé, the capital of the Mal- on Hoarafushi Island, one on either side of dives, produces an average of 0.8 kg to 1 kg the island. These lack a mechanism to deal of solid waste each day. In the outlying atolls with excess waste, in particular to manage the daily average is 0.3 kg to 0.5 kg per per- the “outflow” of waste once the centres have son; on resort islands it is 2.5 kg. reached full capacity. LOCATION Only 2% of the islands of the Maldives The awareness workshops and seminars Hoarafushi Island, Haa Alifu Atoll, have any system to collect solid waste. Typi- increased household management of waste, Upper North Province, Maldives cally waste is dumped in a designated part of resulting in a lower amount of waste taken PRIORITY POWS the island in an uncontrolled and unmanaged to the waste management centres on the Strategies for Management fashion. These dumping sites are usually island. DURATION near the shoreline, allowing waste to wash Two years from 1 January 2010 directly into lagoons. Airborne contaminants Contributions to cross-cutting from slow-burning waste are also a health themes MFF GRANT AMOUNT Communications US$10,330 concern. In the Haa Alifu Atoll, waste is transported The project produced awareness materials in for disposal on Thilafushi, an artificial island the local language and disseminated them to created as a solid waste landfill. all target households in the island.

59 Lessons learned Properly documenting every event during the project would help to capture learning and identify challenges.

Partners and their contribution The Hoarafushi School Alumni Associa- tion made an in-kind contribution valued at US$4,830.

CONTACT INFORMATION Mr Ahmed Nooree Waste management centre on Hoarafushi Island, Mr Ali Arif Maldives © Hanying Li Mr Ahmed Rasheed

Hoarafushi Isdharivarunge Jamiyya (Hoarafushi School Alumni Association)

Tel: +960 7908979 +960 6500042 Fax: +960 6500017

60 3.3 Establishing a waste disposal site

houses, creating a breeding ground for mos- quitoes. Women clean up the island once a week, burning the refuse they collect, which emits smoke and hazardous fumes. Unregu- lated dumping is seen as a threat to the environment and a human health hazard. Illustrious Happening of Arts (ILHAAR) received a small grant from MFF to introduce an effective solid waste disposal system on the island. Established as an NGO in 2005, ILHAAR aims to engage local residents in development issues. Engagement takes the form of sports activities, education and vocational training. At the start of the project ILHAAR had 300 registered members. Together they organize annual events such as celebrations for World Environment

Waste on Vaikaradhoo Island, Maldives © Hanying Li Island, Vaikaradhoo on Waste Day, sports tournaments, a Youth Challenge programme, and a Visit Vaikaradhoo Sports Objectives Festival. This project’s goal was to protect the coastal 3.3 Ú zone of Vaikaradhoo Island from the harmful Target beneficiaries effects of unregulated solid waste disposal. A community consisting of 400 households Its specific objectives were: with 1,800 registered inhabitants. Their main MALDIVES livelihoods are fishing, agriculture and animal 1 to raise awareness about solid waste husbandry, in particular goat raising. management; 2 to manage solid waste disposal on the Outputs island to protect coastal and wetland > Construction of a solid waste manage- environments; ment centre (completed in October LOCATION 3 to remove and use accumulated waste 2009). Vaikaradhoo Island, Haa Dhaal Atoll, from the island’s waste management Upper North Province, Maldives centre; and > Organization of public meetings and dis- PRIORITY POWS 4 to create employment. semination of leaflets to raise awareness. Strategies for Management Civil Society Engagement Background > Sharing of project leaflets with other local DURATION Vaikaradhoo island in Haa Dhaal Atoll is NGOs, namely, the Vaikaradhoo Initiative Eight months from 15 October 2010 dominated by coastal vegetation, including for Needed Advancement and the Vaika- to 30 May 2011 Pandanus spp., Indian almond (Terminalia radhoo Women’s Council. MFF GRANT AMOUNT cattappa), sea lettuce (Scaevola sericea) and US$11,672 coconut (Cocos nucifera). Fringing the island Accomplishments and are tall, healthy mangrove stands. challenges One of the main environmental prob- Illustrious Happening of Arts held two meet- lems on the island has been the lack of ings with members of the community, and an adequate waste management system. representatives from the Island Office. It also 61 Solid waste is dumped haphazardly around conducted two awareness programmes, one for members of the community in collabora- Contributions to cross-cutting tion with the Health Office, and another for themes students from the secondary school. Climate change Leaflets on three waste management Effective waste management will reduce solid themes were printed and distributed to vari- waste, water and air pollution on the island. ous institutions and residents. The solid waste disposal centre con- Lessons learned structed by the project has helped to improve Support from the Vaikaradhoo Island Office waste management and collection, reduc- proved to be the key to successful imple- ing the environmental and health hazards of mentation of the project. Some flexibility is unregulated dumping and burning. needed on the part of grant managers to The waste management centre under construction on accommodate unforeseen changes on the Vaikaradhoo Island, Maldives © Hanying Li Challenges ground. Project managers encountered some financial difficulties during implementation, as well Partners and their contribution as difficulty in mobilizing stakeholders, espe- The community made a cash contribution of cially engaging volunteers. US$3,892.

CONTACT INFORMATION Mr Ahmed Waheed President Illustrious Happening of Arts (ILHAAR)

Tel: +960 7784541 +960 7797100

62 3.4 Strengthening the waste management system on Noonu Manadhoo Atoll and greening the island

> Organization of five awareness-raising events with 80 participants in total, focusing on environmental issues for community NGOs, the Women’s Development Committee and students.

> Planting by community members of over 100 trees across an eroded beach area. up © MFF Maldives - > Installation of five signboards with environmental messages targeted at waste disposal and littering in different locations around the island.

Accomplishments and challenges The clean-up of the waste management cen-

Women on Noonu Atoll taking part in a beach clean on Noonu Women tre at Manadhoo helped to improve conditions there greatly. Project participants sorted Objectives the waste at the centre into three categories: The main objective of this project was to solids, liquids and gases. educate women, children and young people More community members are now 3.4 about their immediate environment and its aware of the importance of waste recycling, Ú interdependence with their health and liveli- reuse and composting after an island-wide MALDIVES hoods. The project was expected to instill a training programme on waste management. collective spirit of caring for the environment The signboards also positively affected com- and encourage participation in efforts to pro- munity behaviour, promoting environmental tect and manage the environment. protection activities on the island.

Background Challenges LOCATION Manadhoo in Noonu Atoll was one of the The project faced some difficulty in mobilizing Manadhoo Island, Noonu Atoll, North islands of the Maldives hit by the 2004 Indian stakeholders. Several volunteers withdrew Province, Maldives Ocean tsunami. The population of the island from the project because they saw no finan- PRIORITY POWS is about 1,200 people, more than half of cial benefits from its activities. Knowledge for Management whom are under the age of 18. Most resi- DURATION dents live on the north-east side of the island, Contributions to cross-cutting Six months from 1 October 2009 where they have basic utility services but lack themes systematic waste disposal. Communications MFF GRANT AMOUNT US$25,000 Promotion and awareness materials helped Target beneficiaries communicate the importance of waste man- The people of Manadhoo. agement to island residents.

Outputs Lessons learned > Cleaning of the island’s waste manage- The “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” house-to- ment centre, beaches, harbour and other house campaign proved an effective way of 63 public areas. achieving the project’s objectives. Periodic awareness-raising and stake- ment practices) will help to ensure sustain- holder mobilization efforts will be needed to ability in the future. keep the island’s waste management centre clean. Partners and their contribution Lastly, monitoring the project’s contribu- The grantee, Daily New Constructions Pvt. tions (such as the trees planted around the Ltd, made an in-kind contribution valued at beach and the household waste manage- US$2,588.

CONTACT INFORMATION Mr Ibrahim Ashim

Daily New Constructions Pvt. Ltd, Maldives

Tel: +960 7950250 Email: [email protected]

64 3.5 A print media awareness campaign to protect mangrove habitats in the Maldives

of mangrove ecosystems means they are widely undervalued. With better environmental awareness these threats could be managed. By using different forms of highly visible print media, it should be possible to educate people and thereby relieve some of the pressure on mangrove habitats. A media campaign could also influence government to formulate and implement stronger policies to protect and sustainably manage not just mangroves, but also natural resources generally. The long-term goal of this project, therefore, was to ensure that the Maldives’ mangroves are maintained as healthy ecosystems through stronger, more effective public

Print media awareness campaign, Maldives © MFF Print media awareness campaign, awareness and policies.

3.5 Objectives Target beneficiaries Ú 3.5 The objectives of this project were: Local communities and NGOs on the target Ú islands. 1 to collect reference materials on mangrove habitats in the Maldives; Outputs Ú3.5 > Compilation of reference materials on 2 to visit selected islands to determine the mangroves, including field guides, books, extent of their mangroves, identify the study reports, trip reports, assessments threats to these forests, assess how local and web-based materials and photo- MALDIVES people use mangroves, and share knowl- graphs. edge; > Organization of several field visits to 3.5 3 to hold meetings with key government assess the extent of remaining man- 3.5 Ú Ú stakeholders to identify policies on pro- groves on the target islands, the threats LOCATION tecting, conserving and managing man- to and uses of those mangroves, and Baarah Island, Haa Alifu Atoll, and grove habitats; and local people’s opinions on protecting Maakandoodhoo Island, Shaviyani Atoll, Upper North Province; Huraa important habitats. Island, Kaafu Atoll, North Central 4 to develop awareness materials and dis- Province; and Fuvahmulah Island, seminate them to island residents. > Organization of several stakeholder meet- Gnaviyani Atoll, and Hithadhoo Island, Seenu Atoll, South Province, Maldives ings on public policy trends in protect- Background ing, conserving and managing mangrove PRIORITY POWS The mangrove forests of the Maldives play forests. These meetings also sought to Knowledge for Management a vital role in sustaining coastal and island build support for restoring and rehabilitat- DURATION ecosystems. Yet they have come under great ing mangroves by involving communities Five months pressure from population growth and devel- and island associations. MFF GRANT AMOUNT opment, in some cases being seen as little US$31,500 more than waste dumps and nuisances. A > Production and dissemination of various 65 general lack of awareness of the importance printed materials, including posters on the importance of mangroves and the the target islands, and the extent to which need for their protection. local people value their continued existence. Lastly the stakeholder meetings identified a Accomplishments and clear and comprehensive direction for public challenges policy on protecting, conserving and man- The mangrove awareness materials pro- aging mangroves, and gained much-needed duced by the project gave the MFF country support from communities for efforts to office, UNDP, other NGOs and the Environ- restore mangroves. ment Ministry relevant information to share with their stakeholders. All of the printed Challenges materials were distributed to the target These included a lack of published scientific islands to raise awareness of the importance data and information on the mangroves of the of mangroves and the urgent need for their Maldives, the limited time and availability of conservation and restoration. some key stakeholders, and a lack of aware- The project carried out the first extensive ness in the target islands of the importance study of mangroves in the target islands, and of mangrove ecosystems. was able to put together an extensive collection of reference materials on mangroves Contributions to cross-cutting in the Maldives. These include field guides, themes books, study reports, trip reports, web- Communications based materials, and a collection of photos. The project produced various communica- The project’s field work helped to iden- tions materials such as field guides, books tify the threats to and uses of mangroves in and reference materials.

CONTACT INFORMATION Ahmed Mufeed Director

HC Maldives Maldives

Tel: +960 7808574 Email: [email protected]

66 Seychelles

SGF project achievements The SGF projects in the Seychelles contrib- tection of Aldabra Atoll as a UNESCO World uted to the conservation and sustainable Heritage Site. management of specific high-value species The Seychelles Artisanal Sharks Fishers groups such as sharks and turtles, as well as Association (ASFA) now has the equipment, to rehabilitating mangroves and conserving training and catch record sheets it needs to coastal environments more generally. continue collecting shark catch data to help A consistent benefit of the SGF sup- fisheries authorities manage stocks sustain- port in the Seychelles was that it revived ably. A local NGO also built ASFA’s capacity or accelerated the implementation of good to engage effectively with the government’s ideas that had stalled. For example, NGOs, national plan of action for shark conservation, government agencies and education stake- and to make the voices of its members heard holders had been discussing the production by officials and managers. of coastal environment school textbooks for some time, but government budget Conclusions allocations were never adequate or suit- The Seychelles SGF projects provide valu- ably designated for such an initiative. SGF able examples of how to engage and mobi- funding fast-tracked the process, allowing lise entire communities, and how to gain the textbooks on Aldabra Atoll to be produced cooperation of key coastal resource user (Project 4.1). groups such as fishermen and resort opera- A similar situation applied in the case of tors, in support of environmental conserva- sea turtle rookeries. Although the Ministry of tion issues. Environment is mandated to protect sea tur- The results demonstrate the value of tles, it lacks the resources and staff to protect providing seed money to support small nesting beaches. Through the SGF, a local but potentially influential projects. Although NGO stepped in to fill the gap and develop the SGF grants were modest, they proved sustainable turtle monitoring activities with adequate to their ends. The project results the help of local community members and generally exceeded expectations, and often the private sector (Project 4.2). attracted additional support from the govern- All projects incorporated sustainability ment and private sector partners. considerations into their planning. For exam- Involving schools in environmental educa- ple, when the textbooks on Aldabra were tion and hands-on activities was also key to printed, a reserve of books was set aside to achieving positive impacts and sustainability; replace those damaged by wear and tear. A for example, by providing teachers with edu- third book combining elements of the two cational materials which present conserva- textbooks was put on sale to tourists and tion messages in an engaging format that will locals to raise funds for sustaining the pro- be usable well beyond a project’s life.

67 SGF SEYCHELLES PROJECTS 4.1 Development and production of two children’s educational activity books and a scientific toolkit for the Aldabra Atoll World Heritage Site 4.2 Conserving turtle rookeries on Mahé through improved public awareness and community involvement 4.3 “Mangroves are a Must!” Promoting mangrove conservation awareness and education in the face of climate change in the Seychelles 4.4 Building the capacity of artisanal shark fishers to participate fully and effectively in the Seychelles National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks 4.5 Rehabilitation and sustainable management of the North-East Point marsh 4.6 Enhancing community participation in sustainable coastal management 4.7 Building the capacity of Roche Caiman community to adapt to climate change and other threats 4.8 Where did all the soil go? Coastal monitoring as a tool for developing local capacity, raising public awareness and assessing long-term environmental change

4.3 4.4 4.3 – 4.7 4.8 Ú Ú 4.1Ú 4.2

SEYCHELLES 4.1 Ú

General location of SGF Phase 1 projects in the Seychelles

68 4.1 Development and production of two children’s educational activity books and a scientific toolkit for the Aldabra Atoll World Heritage Site

Target beneficiaries Seychellois students, local communities and foreign visitors.

Outputs > Two books were completed and their contents reviewed and tested by students and teachers with encouraging results before a nationwide school launch.

> A third book was published and put on sale in bookshops to reach a wider audience and raise revenue for conservation and education.

> The books and other information about Aldabra were put on display at the Vallée

Some of the toolkit materials, Seychelles © SIF Some of the toolkit materials, de Mai World Heritage Site Visitor Centre on Praslin Island. Objectives This project aimed to create an educational > Toolkit activities on Aldabra will begin after pack containing a scientific toolkit for learn- the risks from Somali piracy have been ers visiting Aldabra Atoll and two educational addressed and school visits to the atoll 4.1Ú books on Aldabra, one aimed at upper pri- resume. mary students (P4–P6) and the other at sec- 4.1 ondary students (S1–S5). The publications Accomplishments and Ú were designed to give teachers interesting challenges information for students about Aldabra and The books have been well–received, stimu- the activities of the Seychelles Islands Foun- lating interest in Aldabra and coastal conser- dation (SIF), the body entrusted with pro- vation among children and adults alike. LOCATION tecting Aldabra, one of two UNESCO World The Aldabra Children’s Book Group Aldabra Atoll and Mahé, Seychelles, Heritage Sites in the Seychelles. (ACBG), which compiled the books, consists with nationwide distribution of experienced educators, all of whom have PRIORITY POWS Background visited Aldabra in a professional capacity. Civil Society Engagement Although Aldabra is internationally renowned They have described the project as a learn- Marine Protected Areas as one of the world’s least-disturbed oceanic ing experience that enhanced their teaching DURATION islands, is designated as a Ramsar Wetland skills and encouraged them to adopt more July 2009 to March 2011 of International Importance, and is home to flexible and enjoyable approaches. MFF GRANT AMOUNT the Seychelles’s largest remaining area of The books appeal to both children and US$24,139 mangrove forests, this “living laboratory” is adults, and have proved to be attractive tools (actual expenditure was US$21,969) largely unknown to many Seychellois chil- which children can use to learn together with dren. The project sought to fill this important their parents and family members. knowledge gap by creating materials that will instill pride in Seychellois youth and kindle Challenges an interest in and concern for their natural The main challenges were logistical, princi- 69 environment. pally the difficulty of attracting and keeping local designers capable of meeting dead- Gender equality lines. Some challenges were beyond SIF’s The project aimed to educate equally irre- control, for example piracy, which limited spective of gender. The project team was access to the island by boat. The conflict- composed entirely of women. ing commitments of ACBG members also slowed implementation. Climate change Education about climate change issues is Contributions to cross-cutting built into the educational material, particularly themes in the research section which illustrates the Communications importance of long-term monitoring projects Communication was central to the project, and Aldabra’s status as a global benchmark. Students test the Aldabra toolkit, Aldabra, Seychelles which produced two full-colour, A4-sized Issues such as coral bleaching and sea level © B. Andimignon books (with 60 pages for the primary school rise are also fully addressed in a local and book and 64 pages for the secondary school global context. book). Both books contain guidelines for “This was a great learn- teachers and parents. A third full-colour Lessons learned ing experience for me, book of 28 pages, incorporating elements It is important to identify consultants who can despite my many years in from the first two books supplemented with deliver on time and ensure that their contract newly adapted activities, was produced to is fully understood and respected. Incentives the teaching profession. I appeal to a broader audience. such as bonuses for prompt delivery are saw my old-style methods The project also published an Aldabra helpful but must be documented so that all adjusted into a very inter- toolkit to enrich school visits to the atoll. This parties fully understand their obligations and contains learning units that can be photocop- adjust their schedules accordingly. Another esting, interactive and fun ied, field observation exercises and games lesson is that designing educational materi- style of learning, opening that encourage learning and creativity. News- als for children takes considerable time and my eyes to more effective paper coverage of the project appeared in thought. Project outcomes should not be The Nation newspaper. compromised by a too-ambitious time frame. education. This led me to design an Aldabra board CONTACT INFORMATION game with lots of ideas in Dr Frauke Dogley it and I am so proud of this Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF) Le Ciotat Building, Mont Fleuri, Mahé, accomplishment.” Seychelles — DORA ERNESTA Tel: +248 4321735 ACBG’S MOST-EXPERIENCED Email: [email protected] EDUCATOR

70 4.2 Conserving turtle rookeries on Mahé through improved public awareness and community involvement

nests from deliberate or accidental interference. Contributions from the private sector (particularly tourism businesses) in the form of sharing benefits with the community will help to ensure project sustainability.

Target beneficiaries Members of turtle monitoring groups (at the end of the project these numbered six men and seven women), hotels on nesting beaches, and interested community members.

Outputs > Increased rates of nesting success at the selected priority turtle rookeries.

> Relocating a turtle nest, Mahé, Seychelles © MCSS Mahé, Relocating a turtle nest, Local monitoring and management projects established on key nesting Objectives beaches. The goal of this Marine Conservation Society Seychelles (MCSS) and MFF project was to > New partners and funding sources iden- 4.2Ú identify, monitor and rehabilitate priority sea tified to support management of turtle turtle nesting beaches on Mahé in collabora- rookeries. tion with local communities, businesses and government. The project also aimed to raise > Enhanced public awareness of “turtle- SEYCHELLES the awareness of local people and foreign friendly” and “turtle-unfriendly” practices. visitors about turtles and turtle conservation in the Seychelles. > Establishment of management and monitoring mechanisms in cooperation with LOCATION Background appropriate authorities and landowners. Ten beaches in southern Mahé, Mahé is the administrative hub of the Sey- Seychelles chelles and the most developed island in > Launching of a nationwide awareness PRIORITY POWS the archipelago. It is also a favoured nest- campaign. Knowledge for Management ing area for globally important numbers of Strategies for Management Civil Society Engagement endangered hawksbill and green turtles. Accomplishments and Once numerous, these turtles are now much challenges DURATION reduced and, despite the protection offered The project successfully encouraged local Expected to run for 18 months from July 2009, but because of some to adult turtles, their rookeries are threatened communities, individuals and businesses to administrative delays ended in May by human disturbance. The Ministry of Envi- take responsibility for their beaches. Project 2011 ronment is mandated to protect sea turtles interventions included training people in MFF GRANT AMOUNT but has only a limited operational budget, monitoring techniques and developing a pro- US$24,950 preventing it from devoting sufficient attention tocol for reporting any unusual activity, for to key nesting beaches. This project aimed example poaching, or emergencies, such as to support government policy and enlist the injured turtles or females laying eggs in areas 71 help of the local community in protecting where they would be at risk. Six new cooperative monitoring projects Climate change were established. Of these, three proved sus- Variations in temperature affect different tainable and have continued beyond the end stages of the sea turtle’s life cycle – from the of the project, each project group caring for nest temperature which determines sex in one beach. In four cases, nests were moved the turtle embryo, to changes in sea tem- away from high-risk areas, allowing the emer- perature which influence and dictate foraging gence of more than 300 healthy hatchlings areas, to climatic changes which determine that would otherwise have perished. the availability of nest sites. The project took measures to ensure suitable temperatures Challenges for egg development, for example by reha- The project suffered some delays, most nota- bilitating beaches to provide the levels of Community sensitisation on nesting turtle sites at bly in the nationwide awareness campaign shade needed to yield a favourable ratio of Takamaka, Mahé, Seychelles © GEF SGP which had to be suspended until the pre- male and female embryos. Eggs laid in dan- campaign turtle survey was completed (this gerously eroded areas were also relocated. delay was due to limited local capacity). The Lastly the monitoring data produced by the “The project sensitized campaign was eventually (and successfully) project were fed to national initiatives moni- the general public to the launched in February 2011. toring climate change. issues facing the remain- Contributions to cross-cutting Lessons learned ing turtles and educated themes The project has shown that the best way to them on how they can help Communications achieve success is to involve local stake- The project received good media coverage, holders and listen to their comments. Future to protect and enjoy these with six newspaper articles published cover- interventions of this type must provide regular incredible creatures.” ing turtle issues. The project produced tur- feedback and reinforcement for project out- — GEORGIA FRENCH tle awareness leaflets, an eight-page colour puts to ensure stakeholders stay active and MCSS PROJECT COORDINATOR booklet with advice on turtle conservation for committed. beachfront property owners, a brochure giv- Project communication needs to be coming the public advice on how they can help prehensive and regular – leaving participants protect turtles, and a signboard in four lan- “in limbo”, even when assuming they know guages. The project also organised a poster what is happening, is a mistake and leads to competition at four coastal schools on the disaffection and ineffectiveness. theme of how to save sea turtles and whale sharks. The winning designs were printed on Partners and their contribution T-shirts and distributed to the schoolchildren. In-kind support and facilitation were provided by the Seychelles government (Department CONTACT INFORMATION Gender equality of Environment, Department of Education, Dr David Rowat

Participation in the project suited people who Hotels Association and Seychelles Tourism Marine Conservation Society, were not at work all day or who could contrib- Board), private sector (Banyan Tree Resort, Seychelles (MCSS) ute a few hours of their spare time. Both men Chalets Anse Forbans and Four Seasons PO Box 384, Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles and women took part in the project; its staff Resort) and civil society (Wildlife Clubs of members also included men and women. Seychelles). Tel: +248 345445

72 4.3 “Mangroves are a Must!” Promoting mangrove conservation awareness and education in the face of climate change in the Seychelles

each target community, including mangrove planting.

> Establishment of outdoor classrooms in wetlands to teach wetland restoration techniques, and organization of many indoor conferences and lectures.

> Organization of eleven youth leadership training sessions, after which trainees led similar sessions in their communities.

> Launching of the “Art to Educate” campaign in three regions, involving the creation of prominent roadside murals on wetland themes.

> Puppet show about conserving wetlands, WCS festival, 2010, Mahé, Seychelles © MFF Mahé, 2010, WCS festival, Puppet show about conserving wetlands, Creation of an “Adopt a Wetland” scheme whereby people or businesses can com- Objectives mit to protecting their “own” wetland. The overall objectives of this Wildlife Clubs of 4.3 4.3 Seychelles (WCS) project were to overcome > Launching of a countrywide media cam- Ú Ú negative or indifferent attitudes to wetlands paign. and mangroves, and to bring about a change in societal priorities in the Seychelles. Accomplishments and challenges SEYCHELLES Background The project involved WCS leaders and mem- As many Seychellois are largely unaware of bers, schools, the wider community, media their values and services, wetlands continue outlets and national stakeholders in govern- to be lost and degraded, destroying impor- ment and the conservation field, helping to LOCATION tant wildlife habitats and making the archi- raise awareness of the importance of wet- Mahé and Praslin islands, Seychelles pelago increasingly vulnerable to the extreme lands and generating information on man- PRIORITY POWS weather events induced by climate change. grove planting and restoration. Knowledge for Management This project sought to launch a vigorous long- A survey that assessed community Strategies for Management term campaign of public sensitisation aimed appreciation of coastal resources in the Civil Society Engagement at encouraging the whole community to take six target communities found that 96% of DURATION action to conserve wetlands. respondents regarded wetlands as valuable July 2009 to February 2011 assets. The survey prompted community MFF GRANT AMOUNT Target beneficiaries members to look at the benefits from healthy US$25,000 Members of six coastal communities, the pri- wetlands, and encouraged activities to pro- vate sector, and WCS members (224 people) tect wetlands in their vicinity. A partnership and leaders (10 people). between government and stakeholders was established, and even after the project ended Outputs activities in wetland protection and restora- > The establishment of six “Mangrove tion continued. 73 Teams” to implement project activities in The Mangrove Teams drew praise from key stakeholders such as the Department of Gender equality the Environment, as well as certain communi- More than 90% of the WCS leadership is ties which have now registered as organiza- female; about 70% of its membership are tions in their own right and are applying for women. funding to expand their efforts. Climate change Challenges This was a project focal area and a motivat- Two of the Mangrove Teams implemented ing force for mangrove rehabilitation. Train- only part of their action plan because of ill ing was given to WCS members in climate health and other commitments. The WCS change, its potential impacts on islands and coordinator also occasionally found it hard coastal communities, and other relevant Mangrove site restoration by WCS club members, Mahé, to monitor every ongoing project. concerns. The training included film shows, Seychelles © Wildlife Clubs of Seychelles group work, art and drama. These activities Contributions to cross-cutting were later rolled out to schools. themes “It is good to see the young Communications Lessons learned people taking interest. I Media coverage of the project was excel- Given its scale, this project would have ben- lent. The Nation newspaper ran six articles, efited from a dedicated project manager. have never seen it before. five of which mentioned MFF. A 15-minute Outputs were best achieved by training all I will help them by look- radio programme and many shorter updates participants in implementing and managing ing after the plants they were broadcast on project activities, as well action plans, writing reports and other man- as a 20-minute television report and shorter agement tasks. Decentralizing implementa- planted here.” updates of about seven minutes each. tion also worked well. — MRS VERLAQUES The project also produced posters A COASTAL VILLAGER detailing community survey results, an Partners and their contribution annual 24-page magazine for children, and Almost all Seychelles conservation organi- a 65-page book, A Wetlands and Coastal zations, as well as government ministries, Activities Guide. contributed to making the project a success.

CONTACT INFORMATION Terence Vel Michele Martin

Wildlife Clubs of the Seychelles (WCS), Seychelles

Tel: +248 2719047 +248 2713985 Email: [email protected] [email protected]

74 4.4 Building the capacity of artisanal shark fishers to participate fully and effectively in the Seychelles National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks

the shark catch, but that their lack of capacity poses an obstacle to implementing the plan successfully. This project was launched to remedy this deficiency and engage the ASF in achieving the NPOA’s goals.

Target beneficiaries Artisanal Shark Fishers (ASF), the Artisanal Shark Fishers’ Association (ASFA), and the NPOA steering committee.

Outputs > Formation and registration of the ASFA to facilitate information sharing and full ASF representation on the NPOA steering committee.

> Artisanal shark fisher, Seychelles © MFF Artisanal shark fisher, Development of a Creole language shark identification key and a standardized Objectives shark catch data form. This Green Islands Foundation (GIF) project 4.4 4.4 aimed to support implementation of the > Purchase and distribution of data collec- Ú Ú National Plan of Action for the Conservation tion equipment to ASF. The resulting data and Management of Sharks (NPOA) by build- are compiled and managed by fishery ing the capacity of Artisanal Shark Fishers authorities. (ASF) to fulfil their role under the plan, thereby SEYCHELLES safeguarding their livelihoods and ensuring > Media coverage of the project, as well as a healthy and productive coastal ecosystem the NPOA and MFF. for the broader artisanal fishery industry, local dive operators and other stakeholders. The > Enhanced public awareness of the impor- LOCATION project also sought to enlist the cooperation tant ecological role played by sharks Central Archipelago, Seychelles of ASF in gathering shark catch data, and to through media coverage, posters and PRIORITY POWS promote public awareness of the ecological pamphlets. Knowledge for Management importance of sharks and wise use of marine Civil Society Engagement resources. Accomplishments and Coastal Governance challenges DURATION Background The ASF are now equipped to collect catch Fifteen months beginning in July A healthy shark population in the 32,000 km² data essential for informed shark stock man- 2009. Activities were temporarily halted after the GIF general man- expanse of the Seychelles mid-oceanic pla- agement, and have a formal presence in the ager resigned in October 2009, but teau is central to maintaining a balanced and NPOA enabling them to voice their opinions resumed in May 2010. The project productive coastal ecosystem that benefits and concerns. ended in May 2011. all stakeholders, both consumptive and non- Over time, trust was built between the MFF GRANT AMOUNT consumptive. To this end, the government of project and ASF, who played a role them- US$7,165 the Seychelles launched the NPOA in 2007 selves in developing the project. This col- to ensure sustainable fishing practices. The laborative approach reassured them that 75 NPOA recognises that ASF play a key role in their interests would be represented and that they would be an integral part of any marine will be involved in co-managing ASFA activi- resources management plan. ties.

Challenges Climate change The main challenge was the resignation of the The project contributed to maintaining an GIF’s general manager to take up a full-time ecologically balanced and productive coastal post with an international agency. He later ecosystem, which should in turn be more agreed to resume his GIF work voluntarily. resilient to the impacts of climate change. Another challenge was that the creole shark identification key could not be com- Lessons learned pleted within the project period. In some The project has shown how a small amount Shark fishers discussing project progress with GIF cases, fishers from different areas use differ- of seed money can be used to realize (and project manager, Mahé, Seychelles © MFF Seychelles ent names for the same shark species, and it support further) national objectives. Project takes time to catalogue and reconcile these sustainability needs to be a priority. In this local variations. case, the ASFA is already forming part- “The MFF project helped nerships with other agencies, is looking to us to form an association Contributions to cross-cutting secure funding, and is fully engaged with the themes NPOA. so that we can work Communications together to protect our An active blog (http://greenislandsfounda- Partners and their contribution fishing rights and use tion.blogspot.com) published news of the The Seychelles Fishing Authority and NPOA project’s progress. The Nation newspaper Steering Committee of the Seychelles gov- our knowledge to better and national television in the Seychelles also ernment provided in-kind support. From manage our fishery.” covered the initiative. Educational posters civil society, the Praslin Fishers Association — CLIFFORD BAMBOCHE focusing on sustainable shark management provided in-kind support and GIF provided THIRD-GENERATION ASF AND and shark facts were produced. administrative and logistical support. From MEMBER OF ASFA the private sector, the Indian Ocean Lodge Gender equality Hotel supplied discounted accommodation The ASF are exclusively male but support on Praslin Island. Mr John Nevill acted as vol- their families directly. In future, ASF spouses unteer project manager.

CONTACT INFORMATION Michelle Etienne John Nevill

Green Islands Foundation (GIF) PO Box 246, Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles

Tel: +248 4288829 Email: [email protected]

76 4.5 Rehabilitation and sustainable management of the North-East Point marsh

threatened by invasive plant species, principally the water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) and water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes). Both species spread quickly, blocking sunlight and depleting the water of oxygen, thus affecting endemic plant and animal species. They also reduce the aesthetic values of wetlands. This SSA project aimed to address the negative effects of development projects, unsound business practices and the spread of invasive plant species on Mahé’s North- East Point marsh. The project was designed in line with national policies, as the Depart- ment of Environment is actively involving various groups, especially young people, in protecting the marsh and educating people about its values. The marsh has social and

Radio programme on site with SSA members, Mahé, Seychelles © MFF Mahé, Radio programme on site with SSA members, economic value because it is near a popular beach. It also has potential for ecotour- Objectives ism, and provides habitats for a number of This project had three objectives: endemic plant and animal species. 4.5 Ú 1 to control water lettuce and other invasive Target beneficiaries plant species threatening the endemic The direct beneficiaries were 25 Scouts, terrapins, fish and plant species of North- both boys and girls, two Scout leaders, two East Point marsh; programme coordinators, and three casual SEYCHELLES labourers from the district. Indirect beneficiar- 2 to enhance partnerships between NGOs, ies included the small community next to the government and the community for con- marsh, the Scouts network, and the DOE. ducting environmental activities; and LOCATION Outputs North-East Point, Mahé, Seychelles 3 to engage Seychelles Scouts Association > Clean-up of the North-East Point marsh PRIORITY POWS members in tending, survey and research and subsequent maintenance of the wet- Knowledge for Management work, and in sensitizing the local commu- land to prevent growth of water lettuce Civil Society Engagement nity to the management and conservation and water hyacinth. Capacity Building needs of North-East Point marsh. DURATION > Involvement of the people from the project One year Background district in the management of the marsh. MFF GRANT AMOUNT Wetlands are a critical ecosystem in the US$11,900 Seychelles. The Department of Environment > An inventory (number and types) of plants (DOE) and the Seychelles Scouts Associa- and animals found in the marsh. tion (SSA) understand the need to conserve wetlands, which, despite their known impor- Accomplishments and tance, are under constant threat from human challenges activities as competition for land intensifies. The project introduced young Scouts mem- 77 Moreover, the marshes of the Seychelles are bers to environmental management activities and conservation values. It provided a was also produced. The brochure includes venue for the newly introduced environment information on the MFF project, and how the component in scouting (especially in the Sey- project contributes to the important wetlands chelles). The Scouts and their leaders had in the area. the chance to speak with local people about how unsound business practices were nega- Gender equality tively affecting the wetland ecosystem, a new The Scouts leadership and membership are experience for Scouts in the Seychelles. a mix of men and women, including children Although the project team was small, it of both sexes and all age groups. managed to delegate work on a rotational basis while ensuring consistency and ade- Climate change Starting control of invasive weeds at North-East Point quate monitoring of the project. A local per- The work begun by this project marks the marsh, Mahé, Seychelles © SSA son from the community helped the young start of a longer-term action to ensure the Scouts each time they visited the site. Staff marsh functions naturally for the benefit of from the DOE provided effective support, both wildlife and the surrounding commu- “This was the first time that and participants were motivated throughout nity. Wetlands remain a critical ecosystem, our environment project and alert to special features or species in the which if healthy can greatly reduce some of received financial support wetland. the impacts of climate change. from MFF. It was a great Challenges Lessons learned help for us in responding The group fears that if they do not visit often, This project was a holistic venture for Scouts to our principles, especially the marsh could again become a community members, as it allowed them to learn about waste dump. The timing between site works and benefit from the experience of profes- in providing opportunities was also a concern for the Scouts leader- sionals in the field, as well as join workshops for us to connect to the ship, DOE and the MFF NCB, as invasive that broadened their theoretical understand- natural world through plants grow quickly and fill the marsh with ing of wetlands and their functions. The debris faster than they can be cleared. The Scouts learned techniques for maintaining environmental education SSA hopes that the community awareness ecologically important sites and for social and on-the-ground action.” campaign will help reduce these threats. The research and data collection (such as the — FRANCIS ACCOUCHE Scouts are also organizing other community- inventory of flora and fauna in the marsh, SSA COORDINATOR based groups such as the Wildlife Clubs of raising community awareness through dis- Seychelles to join them in sustaining their cussions, and local site visits). effort. Close collaboration with the community yielded positive results, but one of the Contributions to cross-cutting planned results (no invasive plant species in themes the marsh) proved over-ambitious. Project Communications managers found that the aggressive growth CONTACT INFORMATION A documentary is being filmed about the of invasive weed species makes them Mrs Valerie Savy Scout Environment Ambassador project, and SBC radio broadcasted a pro- extremely difficult to eliminate. Mr Francis Accouche gramme entitled The North-East Point Wet- National Executive Coordinator land, a 20-minute report aimed at raising Partners and their contribution Seychelles Scouts Association (SSA) awareness about the wetland and why the The Seychelles Department of Environment Place de la Republique, Victoria, Scouts were restoring and maintaining the made an in-kind contribution through facilita- Mahé, Seychelles site. An information brochure on the impor- tion, consultation, guidance and equipment Tel: +248 225886 tance of wetlands, the Scouts’ environment (as stipulated in the Memorandum of Agree- Fax: +248 324131 programme, and partners in conservation, ment signed at the start of the project). Email: [email protected] 78 4.6 Enhancing community participation in sustainable coastal management

built between the beach and the mangrove swamp, and was expected to open in early 2010. This project sought to help the residents of Port Glaud work together with the resort and other local partners to develop a sustainable community development plan to take advantage of the increased tourism traf- fic, improve livelihoods, and at the same time protect and enhance the area’s coastline and cultural heritage.

Target beneficiaries Residents and stakeholders in Port Glaud.

Outputs > Establishment of a community-based organization (CBO) in Port Glaud to lead

S4S, community members and hotel staff clean and restore mangroves, Port Glaud © E. Talma, S4S Talma, Glaud © E. Port and restore mangroves, community members and hotel staff clean S4S, the process of sustainable development.

Objectives > A sustainable management plan written This project had three objectives: by and for the community. 4.6 Ú 1 to increase public participation in environ- > Increased public awareness of the impor- mental planning and management, and tance of natural and cultural heritage improve networking between the com- sites. munity, a resort and other stakeholders; SEYCHELLES > Increased public participation in sustain- 2 to improve people’s awareness and able development activities. appreciation of their natural and cultural heritage, as well as the risks from climate > A survey report comparing community LOCATION change and unsustainable development; attitudes, awareness and involvement at Port Glaud, Mahé, Seychelles and the beginning and end of the project. PRIORITY POWS Knowledge for Management 3 to help the community explore new ways > Education and awareness materials to Civil Society Engagement of generating sustainable income from promote coastal management and train- Sustainable Livelihoods wetlands and other natural and cultural ing for stakeholders and to share with DURATION features other communities. One year

MFF GRANT AMOUNT Background Accomplishments and US$24,500 Port Glaud is a district on the north-west challenges coast of Mahé, the main island of the Sey- Through the project, the grantee Sustainabil- chelles. It has a rich cultural and natural ity for Seychelles (S4S) brought together resi- heritage, including a Ramsar-designated dents of the community to identify important mangrove swamp and several sites of his- local features, brainstorm challenges and toric interest. At the time this project was opportunities, and develop an action plan 79 proposed, a large five-star resort was being to improve the environment, community life and the local economy. Participants also pro- their own communities. The article men- “The MFF small grant duced a community map. tioned both of the MFF SGF projects directly is enabling community Different generations were able to share working with community-based initiatives in their perspectives of the community and how the Seychelles. members of all ages and to work with government and private sector partners to learn together partners to improve the district. A presenta- Gender equality and to decide what is tion of the results of a community survey con- Both men and women participated in the ducted by local youth with S4S impressed project at the community and resort levels. best needed for the stakeholders, and the results were used The local youth group also has a mixture of sustainable development in planning the development of small eco- boys and girls, and the new CBO is open to of their community in businesses. both male and female membership. The main success of the project was the fun, interactive and close collaboration of all partners concerned. Lessons learned participatory ways. Thanks S4S worked closely with the management Although the community is more engaged for the guidance and the of the new resort, successfully bridged the in environmental action, it needs a facilitat- gap between them and the community. The ing organisation like S4S to help it organize funding for the project. It resort has now opened its doors to the com- and communicate with the resort and other is getting very exciting munity for visits, and also strongly supported partners. and we are glad that other project activities. Having a neutral body like S4S facilitate dialogue and collaboration between partners find an interest in Challenges stakeholders with different interests in a the programme.”

Until a local leader could be identified to coor- development project like a large resort can — MICHELE MARTIN dinate project activities, S4S staff had to play be extremely useful, particularly in its early PROJECT COORDINATOR, S4S this role. This proved challenging given the stages. distance to Port Glaud from the S4S head office. Partners and their contribution UNDP GEF contributed US$40,000 in co- Contributions to cross-cutting financing. The Seychelles Department of themes Environment contributed to project manage- Communications ment and activities, and in-kind contributions CONTACT INFORMATION Project activities were documented using were made by the Port Glaud District Admin- Michele Martin print and broadcast media. The Seychelles istration. Other organisations that made in- Project Coordinator Broadcasting Corporation (SBC TV) aired a kind contributions or support project activi- Sustainability for Seychelles (S4S) seven-minute report on mangrove planting ties included Port Glaud School, the Small PO Box 900, Victoria, by Port Glaud residents and resort staff. A Enterprise Promotion Agency, and the Sey- Mahé, Seychelles two-page article in a local magazine featured chelles Heritage Foundation. From the pri- Tel: +248 2519135 local people’s active role in protecting and vate sector, the Ephelia Resort at Port Glaud Email: [email protected] improving the environment, especially within made both cash and in-kind contributions. Web: www.s4seychelles.com

80 4.7 Building the capacity of Roche Caiman community to adapt to climate change and other threats

the event of a natural or other disaster. A programme addressing healthy ecosystems is important to this community, and so this project was designed to build local capacity to react to changes that may affect environmental security and well-being. The project addressed the issue of climate change, providing community members with opportunities to learn about potential hazards and risks related to climate change that may affect their livelihoods and property.

Target beneficiaries The main beneficiaries were community members in Roche Caiman, Zone 1, includ- hosted mangrove planting, Roche Caiman, Mahé © MFF Seychelles Roche Caiman, hosted mangrove planting, - ing local youths trained to run education and

RCEAT awareness programmes.

Objectives Outputs This project had four objectives: > Establishment of a highly motivated 4.7 project team to represent the commu- Ú 1 to organize community groups for plan- nity and work collaboratively with target ning and implementing project activities, beneficiaries. and ensure these continue to function after the end of the project; > Capacity of project team built to bet- SEYCHELLES ter understand issues related to project 2 to train group leaders and the project implementation and community engage- team in leadership skills, effective project ment. management, and reporting; LOCATION > Organization of community activities in Roche Caiman, Mahé, Seychelles 3 to build local knowledge of environmen- environmental awareness, coastal resto- PRIORITY POWS tal issues, including climate change and ration, and other learning topics. Civil Society Engagement disaster risk reduction; and Community Resilience Accomplishments and Coastal Governance 4 to improve community awareness, under- challenges DURATION standing and engagement for project This was Roche Caiman’s first donor-funded One year activities, in particular building a culture project, and community members incorpo- MFF GRANT AMOUNT of safety and resilience. rated MFF into their social life, including US$8,000 sports and cultural events. They used an Background evening cultural show to promote the work A recent survey by the Seychelles Depart- of MFF, and to thank community members ment of Risk and Disaster Management participating in the project. identified Roche Caiman, a district built on The project also helped the Roche reclaimed land about one metre above sea Caiman to identify other needs in the com- 81 level, as an area of medium to high risk in munity, such as a secure and safe path for pedestrians. The community intends to sus- Gender equality tain the project by working alongside busi- Both men and women participated in the nesses in the area, and by applying for further project, but women commonly took the lead funding from the UNDP GEF Small Grants in project activities. Programme. During the process of planning and Climate change designing this project, a new community- The theme of “Roche Caiman is adapting to based organization (CBO) was created with climate change” was adopted for all project the help of MFF. The CBO looks after the activities, and a video and oral presentation work started by the school’s wildlife club on climate change widely given at the begin- mangrove project, and works in collaboration ning of the project. The project also organ- with other partners to restore nearby sites. Handing over of Wetlands & Coastal Activity guide to ized mangrove and other coastal tree plant- Roche Caiman administration, Mahé © MFF Seychelles The CBO was used as a model for replication ing events, and held meetings with families by Port Glaud district when it set up its own in the community to discuss climate change. CBO with the help of another SGF project “This grant is giving us implemented by grantee S4S. Lessons learned many innovative ideas of The project initially targeted Zone 1 of Roche Challenges Caiman. As the project progressed, however, how to involve community At the start of the project, the scheduling of managers discovered that all three zones of members in small projects some activities clashed with other commu- the community were equally interested and and activities, building their nity commitments and events. Once a dia- involved in implementation. This creates the logue was established with the community, possibility of further expansion and consoli- capacity to implement, project activities ran more smoothly. dation of outputs in the post-project period. manage and report on external funds, and so Contributions to cross-cutting Partners and their contribution themes The Seychelles Department of Environment developing a sense of Communications made in-kind contributions to organizing ownership for all projects Posters and brochures advocating Roche and supporting tree planting activities. The benefiting all of us in the Caiman as a climate change-ready com- Department of Community Development munity were produced through school art and National Youth Council made in-kind small community of Roche competitions. and cash contributions to project activities. Caiman.”

— WILBURT OMATH CONTACT INFORMATION ROCHE CAIMAN DISTRICT Audrey Sanders ADMINISTRATION Maryila Dorlin Wilburt Omath

Roche Caiman Environment Action Team (RCEAT) c/o District Administration, Roche Caiman, Mahé, Seychelles

Tel: +248 2719210 +248 2542604 +248 2783425 Email: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

82 4.8 Where did all the soil go? Coastal monitoring as a tool for developing local capacity, raising public awareness and assessing long-term environmental change

The project sought to develop a frame- work for long-term monitoring and a better understanding of environmental pressures in coastal ecosystems (especially soil erosion and run-off of toxic chemicals). It used a network of transects at the demonstration sites to monitor selected parameters and collect baseline information on ecosystem status. Community participation was built into monitoring to enhance local understanding of coastal ecosystems, project objectives, progress and results, and TRASS activities. Public education and awareness materials were produced to target not just residents of Anse Possession but also the entire population of Praslin and other central islands.

Mr Victorin Laboudallon explains project site work to children, Praslin, Seychelles © MFF Praslin, Victorin Laboudallon explains project site work to children, Mr Target beneficiaries A network of fishing and farming communi- Objectives ties, schoolchildren and families, tourist busi- This project had three objectives: nesses, and other individuals. 4.8 Ú 1 to improve understanding within the tar- Outputs geted communities about sustainable > Survey and sampling of selected param- management of local natural resources; eters at six stations along the Pasquière and Casimir Rivers. SEYCHELLES 2 to develop and demonstrate coastal monitoring as a tool for monitoring soil > Description and sampling of selected erosion across different ecozones; and parameters at four stations in the Pasquière and Casimir mangroves, LOCATION 3 to empower local communities to take and along three transects in the Baie of Anse Possession, Praslin, Seychelles part in coastal monitoring, management Pasquière lagoon. PRIORITY POWS and conservation Reef to Ridge > Organization of public events – “Being a Management Assessment & Monitoring Background biologist for a day” – for families. Sustainable Business Practices Through this project, the Terrestrial Resto- DURATION ration Action Society Seychelles (TRASS) > Production of TRASS website, including One year sought to develop capacity for and raise postings of educational materials, inter- MFF GRANT AMOUNT awareness of coastal monitoring. Five sites active activities such as quizzes, short US$23,200 at Anse Possession were monitored: the videos to stimulate public interest and Casimir River (heavily affected by soil erosion), awareness, and project materials. the Pasquière River (relatively unaffected), the Baie Pasquière’s mangroves, and the lagoon > Production of a documentary, radio in Curieuse Marine National Park. These sites programmes and media articles on the were chosen to include both upstream (ridge) impacts of unsustainable land manage- 83 and downstream (lagoon) ecozones. ment on the environment and livelihoods. Accomplishments and “Ridge to Reef - Where does all the soil go?” challenges was also developed for the project launch. The project helped to boost the capacity of The project also produced information ban- TRASS, enabling it identify ways to address ners on the importance of rivers and soils. the problems identified through the baseline surveys. It also helped TRASS to build part- Gender equality nerships within the private sector, govern- The project sought to generate benefits ment and volunteers from the general public. for men and women, both young and old. Both state and private international Although fishing and farming are predomi- schools showed great interest in the field nantly male occupations, the ultimate benefi- work, and are looking forward to the next ciaries of those activities are families. family demonstration day. TRASS plans to Collecting a water sample, Pasquière River, Praslin, Seychelles © TRASS continue holding family days as part of its Climate change conservation education and awareness pro- The project produced information for assess- gramme, and is raising funds to sustain other ing vulnerability and adaptation potential “The MFF project helped aspects of the project. through baseline surveys and monitoring. It us to set baselines and also stressed the need to: protect and restore prompted us to build links Challenges ecosystems; reduce environmental pres- One challenge was the timing of the water sures; promote and strengthen research and with other initiatives to take quality test, especially for pH and conductiv- long-term monitoring of coastal ecosystems; action through increased ity. The test needs to be done within six hours and adapt action plans, management plans partnership, collaboration of collecting samples, but the Public Utilities and policies to emerging and changing con- Corporation which does this only works dur- ditions. This approach will help to implement and co-financing ing weekdays. So monitoring had to move to actions aimed at adapting to climate change. opportunities. We are weekdays, meaning that TRASS could not happy it worked out well engage the community (participation was Lessons learned planned for weekends because of people’s TRASS sought to engage the community for us, especially as we are work commitments). TRASS resolved this by inviting at least four participants to each now decentralizing donor- problem by holding family days at weekends. monitoring session to participate in data col- funded projects from Some of the unexpected difficulties expe- lection. It could only cater for small groups of rienced during the project turned out to be people because of the precarious nature of the main island to other opportunities. Through them TRASS gained some of the sites, especially on rivers. For initiatives on Praslin!” the trust of and built partnerships with several safety reasons and to limit any impacts on — VICTORIN LABOUDALLON national authorities and private businesses vegetation, small groups are preferable. CHAIRPERSON, TRASS (such as SAA, SBS, PUC and C’est La Vie bottled water). Follow-up actions under other Partners and their contribution grants continue to enhance collaboration In-kind contributions were made by the with the private sector. Department of Environment and Sey- chelles National Park Authority, including the Contributions to cross-cutting Curieuse Marine National Park. The Wildlife CONTACT INFORMATION themes Club of Praslin Secondary School took part Victorin Laboudallon Elvina Henriette Communications in activities and helped to disseminate infor- TRASS developed interactive education mation. Coco D’Or Hotel & Service Hotel Ltd Terrestrial Restoration Action Society Seychelles (TRASS) materials and information for its website provided co-financing and Aldo Saachi made PO Box 4057, Praslin, (www.trass.org.sc). A press article titled an in-kind contribution. Seychelles 84 Sri Lanka

SGF project achievements Thirty-eight SGF projects were implemented tion once they learned that this could improve in Sri Lanka. Many focused on mangrove coastal fisheries in the longer term. In some rehabilitation (POW 2) or small-scale liveli- cases, however, this required a lengthy con- hood improvements (POW 8). Typically, the sultation process (Project 5.1). projects sought to improve the health of These and similar projects helped to coastal ecosystems to help traditional fishing mitigate the overexploitation of natural communities, especially those living around resources, especially in Sri Lanka’s heav- lagoons, and to introduce alternative liveli- ily populated lagoons. They also fostered hood opportunities to enable households in long-term adoption and dissemination of these communities to diversify their incomes. good environmental practices. One project In addition, these objectives were often sup- supported publication of an environmental ported by activities aimed at strengthening magazine as its main output (Project 5.25). the involvement of local communities in coastal resources management (POW 6). Conclusions The methods and technologies intro- Underlying the success of the many SGF duced by the livelihood projects were projects in Sri Lanka are the clear criteria set straightforward and fitted well with local by the country’s NCB for awarding grants knowledge and customs. For example, a (these specify six coastal target areas and project in Maduganga estuary set up a com- five project selection criteria). Besides adopt- munity biogas unit to produce cooking fuel ing the incidence of poverty as a key criterion, using organic household waste (Project the potential for community participation was 5.24). Also in Maduganga, fishermen were also specified to ensure sustainability and given solar-powered rechargeable electric continuity of project outputs. lamps to replace their traditional kerosene The small scale and simplicity of the lamps (Project 5.29). livelihood projects in Sri Lanka were their Home gardening, including cultivation of main strengths. Some projects started with Aloe vera, was developed successfully by quite small numbers of beneficiaries, but several projects, with the result that the addi- have good potential for replication. Peo- tional household income generated helped to ple were readily able to see the benefits of reduce pressure on natural resources. Some simple measures such as providing water home gardens included fuelwood trees, for pumps and fuel-efficient stoves, or promot- example, while the introduction of Aloe vera ing home gardens and poultry and livestock resulted in a small decrease in fishing effort farming. as households became less dependent on In Sri Lanka and other countries, a number fishing (Project 5.31). of projects clearly showed the importance of Besides combining mangrove planting linking mangrove rehabilitation by local com- with alternative livelihood opportunities, fish- munities with tangible benefits that they can ermen learned to value mangrove rehabilita- recognize and value.

85 SGF SRI LANKA PROJECTS 5.1 Replanting mangroves in Batticaloa lagoon 5.2 Coastal planting on Hadjiar Beach 5.3 Coastal planting on Ethukkaal Beach 5.4 Training and supporting fisher families in Kattankudy to establish banana-based home gardens 5.5 Goat farming as an alternative income-generating activity for fisher families 5.6 Raising buffalo to enhance the income of widows and their families in Pottuvil (Phase 1) 5.7 Raising buffalo to enhance the income of widows and their families in Pottuvil (Phase 2) 5.8 Generating additional income for fisher families through poultry farming 5.9 Replanting mangroves in Pottuvil lagoon 5.10 Coastal green belt planting and livelihood improvement 5.11 Rehabilitation and reconstruction of Pottuvil mangrove nursery 5.12 Piloting seaweed farming as an alternative livelihood activity for coastal communities in Panama and Pottuvil 5.13 Cultivating bamboo as a wood substitute to protect mangroves and control erosion at Rekawa lagoon 5.14 Removing cattail from a village drainage canal 5.15 Training and supporting fisher families in Ussangoda to establish home gardens 5.16 Enhancing the incomes of fisher families through handicraft production 5.17 Developing ecotourism as an alternative to environmentally harmful activities 5.18 A participatory mangrove management programme 5.19 Building capacity of schoolchildren as a forerunner to sustainable mangrove ecosystem conservation initiatives (Phase 1) 5.20 Building capacity of schoolchildren as a forerunner to sustainable mangrove ecosystem conservation initiatives (Phase 2) 5.21 Restoring a village tank 5.22 Piloting sea bass cage culture as an alternative livelihood for the fishing communities of Maduganga estuary 5.23 Piloting red tilapia cage culture as an alternative livelihood in the Maduganga estuary 5.24 Establishing a community biogas plant 5.25 Publishing an environmental magazine, Madupuwath 5.26 Educating people about the threats to the Maduganga ecosystem 5.27 Enhancing schoolchildren’s knowledge of mangrove ecosystems by training their teachers 5.28 Removing pond apple from parts of the Maduganga wetland 5.29 Improved community management of the Maduganga wetland 5.30 Empowering fisherwomen by generating additional income from the cultivation of Aloe vera (Phase 1) 5.31 Empowering fisherwomen by generating additional income from the cultivation of Aloe vera (Phase 2) 5.32 Sustainable livelihood development for low-income families in the Puttalam lagoon area 5.33 Replanting mangroves and introducing eco-friendly home gardening 5.34 Community-based mangrove planting at Kurakkanhena 5.35 Replanting mangroves in the Dutch Canal to enhance ecosystem productivity 5.36 Fuel-efficient stoves for coastal communities 5.37 Preserving Puttalam lagoon for future generations 5.38 Safeguarding mangroves through awareness programmes

5.30 – 5.38 Ú SRI 5.1 – 5.4 LANKAÚ 5.5 – 5.9 Ú Ú 5.10 – 5.12 5.22 – 5.29 Ú Ú 5.13 – 5.21

General location of SGF Phase 1 projects in Sri Lanka 86 5.1 Replanting mangroves in Batticaloa lagoon

Target beneficiaries Fishermen living around Batticaloa lagoon.

Outputs > Awareness raised on the importance of mangroves and their associated fauna and flora.

> Identification of six locations for planting mangroves.

> Propagation of 17,000 seedlings in a nursery.

> Establishment of 180 mangrove enclo- sures.

> at Batticaloa lagoon, Sri Lanka © K. Ekaratne Rhizophora mucronata Sri Lanka © K. at Batticaloa lagoon, Planting of 17,000 mangrove seedlings.

Objectives Accomplishments and The objectives of this project were twofold: challenges to create awareness among local communi- Fishermen have come to appreciate the ties of the importance of Batticaloa lagoon importance of mangroves through project and its flora and fauna to their daily lives; and activities. Project participants helped to col- SRI 5.1 to mobilise the communities to protect the lect seeds from different mangrove species LANKAÚ lagoon environment effectively. and propagate them in a nursery. They then replanted the seedlings in the lagoon in the Background hope that the resulting vegetation cover Batticaloa lagoon is both an important eco- would help to restore the natural fishery and logical resource, providing habitats for many eventually improve fishermen’s returns. LOCATION resident and migratory bird species, and an Seedlings of Rhizophora mucronata, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka important economic resource, supporting Excoecaria agallocha, Sonneratia alba, Bru- PRIORITY POWS the livelihoods of over 4,000 fishermen. guiera gymnorrhiza, Lumnitzera racemosa, Strategies for Management In recent years, however, the lagoon has Avicennia marina, Hibiscus sp. and Cerbera Sustainable Livelihoods seen heavy loss of the mangroves along its manghas were planted by the project. DURATION eastern shore. Development and the civil Four of the six planting sites have seen One year conflict have led to the clearing of 90% of a considerable increase in mangrove tree these mangroves, reportedly causing a cover; the grantee, MANDRU, is pursuing MFF GRANT AMOUNT US$4,360 decline in fish and prawn sizes and catches. further work at the other two sites. Local communities also complain of reduced firewood and timber supplies, and fewer rep- Challenges tiles and birds. The planting encountered several problems It is vital, therefore, to raise awareness of due to changing weather conditions, includ- the importance of the remaining mangroves ing fluctuating water quality, retardation of at Batticaloa and the fauna and flora that root development by heavy rain, difficulties in 87 depend on them. planting during the dry season, and a fungal infection that affected every tree during the unadjusted to local conditions may not be dry season. Further, young mangrove plants as successful and may also have a negative were browsed by stray cattle and goats, and impact on the environment. The progress of some species did not survive replanting. planting and growing should also be regularly These problems and the work required monitored. initially made fishermen reluctant to support With enough time and awareness-raising the project. It was only after repeated discus- efforts, local beneficiaries can be encouraged sions that they came to realise the impor- to look after planting sites. Schoolchildren tance of mangroves and agreed to maintain have been identified as being most recep- the planting sites. tive to awareness-raising activities.

Lessons learned The mangrove species used in planting should be sourced locally; other species

CONTACT INFORMATION MANDRU (Institute for Alternative Development and Regional Cooperation)

19 Saravana Road, Kallady, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka

88 5.2 Coastal planting on Hadjiar Beach

urgent need for protection and conservation. Coastal vegetation serves a protective function. It reduces the vulnerability of the coast and shoreline to erosion. To re-establish a protective cover of vegetation that will also enhance recreational values, Arifa Enterprises secured a small grant from MFF to undertake a pilot coastal replanting programme at Hadjiar beach.

Target beneficiaries Fisher families living in Batticaloa and Kat- tankudy divisions, and members of the public who visit Hadjiar beach.

Outputs > Gained approval for planting from Coast

Green belt on Hadjiar Beach, Kattankudy, Sri Lanka © R. Mahindapala Sri Lanka © R. Kattankudy, Green belt on Hadjiar Beach, Conservation Department and Divisional Secretariat. Objectives The main idea behind this project was to > Construction of a tube well. protect a coastal area through reforestation which would also benefit the local commu- > Planting of 150 Casuarina and Barringto- nity. The specific objectives were to protect nia trees. SRI 5.2 the coast through reforestation, prevent soil LANKAÚ erosion, increase rainfall and shade, enhance > Installation of 150 eco-friendly protective natural beauty and attract tourists. covers for the trees.

Background > Protection and maintenance of the The vegetation of Hadjiar Beach in Kat- planted trees. LOCATION tankudy has twice been badly damaged by Kattankudy, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka natural disasters, first by a cyclone in 1978 Accomplishments and PRIORITY POWS and then by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. challenges Strategies for Management It appears that the cyclone damage was This project has taken the first steps towards Community Resilience not effectively restored, nor was the beach restoring the coastal vegetation. In this first DURATION properly maintained afterwards. The tsunami phase, 150 Barringtonia and Casuarina trees One year destroyed what vegetation was left, eroding were planted, contributing to the regrowth the beach and causing extensive damage. of the coastal forest. Eco-friendly protec- MFF GRANT AMOUNT US$3,118 Before the tsunami, local people liked to tive covers were constructed to protect the spend their evenings and leisure time on the plants from harsh, salt-laden winds. These beach. After it they were forced to stay away, consist of wooden frames overlain with no longer able to use the beach to gain relief palmyrah leaves; the frames are made from from the high temperatures and humidity in wood discarded by a nearby timber yard. A the area. The beach and the coast in this area tube well was also dug to supply water for are now actively deteriorating, creating an the plants and for general use. 89 Challenges Together they form a green belt 500-m long Despite these accomplishments, the project and 4-m wide, established within a period of faced several drawbacks. Some plants had one year. These trees will, in the course of to be replaced after dying in a drought, and time, provide coastal protection as well as a the covers had to be repaired after being shaded recreation area to be enjoyed by the damaged by strong winds. The urban council community. also requested that the covers be removed The success of this planting programme and relocated. Lastly the project had to con- can be attributed to providing a well to sup- tend with a scarcity of palmyrah leaves and port regular watering, making covers to pro- wood. tect the plants from the desiccating winds and, not least, involving the local community Sheltered coastal planting, Kattankudy, Sri Lanka Contributions to cross-cutting in maintaining the plantation. The project © R. Mahindapala themes showed that replanting of coastal vegeta- Climate change tion can be successfully achieved with tree The loss of vegetation in 1978 and 2004 cover reaching an appreciable level in a short “Green belts, each 500 m caused the weather in Batticaloa to become space of time. by 4 m in extent, were drier and hotter than before. It is hoped that One lesson learned is that permission and established at Hadjiar reforestation will help to increase local rainfall cooperation from local authorities are needed and decrease local temperatures. to implement projects of this nature. Encour- and Ethukkaal beaches aged by its success, and especially the sup- in Kattankudy using Lessons learned port and appreciation of the community, Arifa Casuarina and Barringtonia One year after planting, over 90% of the Enterprises gladly volunteered to look after trees had survived and were growing well. the trees for another three years. plants. While these have contributed to improving CONTACT INFORMATION the biodiversity of the area, Arifa Enterprises the community now also 12, H. P. Lane, Kaburady Road, Kattankudy, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka enjoys the shade they

Tel: +94 77 6231858 provide.” — MR ABDUL KAIYOOM PROJECT COORDINATOR, ARIFA ENTERPRISES

90 5.3 Coastal planting on Ethukkaal Beach

Coastal vegetation serves a protective function. It reduces the vulnerability of the coast and shoreline to erosion. To re-establish a protective vegetation cover and enhance recreational values, Arifa Enterprises secured a small grant from MFF to undertake a pilot coastal replanting programme at Ethukkaal beach.

Target beneficiaries Fisher families living in Batticaloa and Kat- tankudy divisions, and members of the public who visit Ethukkaal beach.

Outputs > Planting of 134 Casuarina trees and 16 Barringtonia trees. Mr Abdul Kaiyoom, Arifa Enterprises, Sri Lanka © MFF Arifa Enterprises, Abdul Kaiyoom, Mr > Installation of eco-friendly protective cov- Objectives ers for the trees. The main idea behind this project was to protect the coastal area through reforestation > Construction of a tube well. which would also benefit the local community. The specific objectives were to protect Accomplishments and SRI 5.3 the coast through reforestation, prevent soil challenges LANKAÚ erosion, increase rainfall and shade, enhance This project has taken the first steps towards natural beauty and attract tourists. restoring the coastal vegetation. In this first phase, 16 Barringtonia trees and 134 Cas- Background uarina trees were planted, contributing to the The vegetation of Ethukkaal beach in Kat- regrowth of the coastal forest. Eco-friendly LOCATION tankudy has twice been badly damaged by protective covers were constructed to pro- Kattankudy, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka natural disasters, first by a cyclone in 1978 tect the plants from harsh, salt-laden winds. PRIORITY POWS and then by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. These consist of wooden frames overlain with Strategies for Management It appears that the cyclone damage was palmyrah leaves; the frames are made from Community Resilience not effectively restored, nor was the beach wood discarded by a nearby timber yard. A DURATION properly maintained afterwards. The tsunami tube well was also dug to supply water for One year destroyed any remaining vegetation, erod- the plants and for general use. ing the beach and causing extensive dam- MFF GRANT AMOUNT Challenges US$3,913 age. Before the tsunami, local people liked to spend their evenings and leisure time on the Despite these accomplishments, there were beach. After it, they were forced to stay away, some drawbacks. Some plants had to be no longer able to use the beach to gain relief replaced after dying in a drought, and the from the high temperatures and humidity in covers had to be repaired after being dam- the area. The beach and the coast in this area aged by strong winds. The urban council also are now actively deteriorating, creating an requested that the covers be removed and 91 urgent need for protection and conservation. relocated. Lastly the project had to contend with a scarcity of palmyrah leaves and wood shaded recreation area to be enjoyed by the for the protective tree covers. community. The success of this planting programme Contributions to cross-cutting can be attributed to providing a well to sup- themes port regular watering, making covers to pro- Climate change tect the plants from the desiccating winds The loss of vegetation in 1978 and 2004 and, not least, involving the local community caused the weather in Batticaloa to become in maintaining the plantation. The project drier and hotter than before. It is hoped that showed that replanting of coastal vegeta- reforestation will help to increase local rainfall tion can be successfully achieved with tree and decrease local temperatures. cover reaching an appreciable level in a short Sheltered coastal planting, Kattankudy, Sri Lanka space of time. © R. Mahindapala Lessons learned One lesson learned is that permission and One year after planting, over 90% of the cooperation from local authorities are needed trees had survived and were growing well. to implement projects of this nature. Encour- “Green belts, each 500 m Together they form a green belt 500-m long aged by its success, and especially the sup- by 4 m in extent, were and 4-m wide, established within a period of port and appreciation of the community, Arifa established at Hadjiar one year. These trees will, in the course of Enterprises gladly volunteered to look after time, provide coastal protection as well as a the trees for another three years. and Ethukkaal beaches in Kattankudy using CONTACT INFORMATION Arifa Enterprises Casuarina and Barringtonia plants. While these have 12, H. P. Lane, Kaburady Road, Kattankudy, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka contributed to improving

Tel: +94 77 6231858 the biodiversity of the area, the community now also enjoys the shade they provide.”

— MR ABDUL KAIYOOM PROJECT COORDINATOR, ARIFA ENTERPRISES

92 5.4 Training and supporting fisher families in Kattankudy to establish banana-based home gardens

much in demand in the area. The project involved 20 selected fisher families living in the coastal zone. Each family was given 50 banana suckers, garden tools and enough compost and fertilizer for the first planting. Their progress was monitored regularly with the help of the local Agricultural Extension Office.

Target beneficiaries Twenty fisher families living in the coastal area of Kattankudy.

Outputs > Delivery of an awareness programme.

> Provision of banana suckers to 20 fisher

Homestead banana cultivation, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka © K. Ekaratne Sri Lanka © K. Batticaloa, Homestead banana cultivation, families.

Objectives > Planting and maintenance of 1,000 The main objectives of this project were to banana suckers. create a green living environment, to protect coastal vegetation, to encourage tree plant- > Planting of other fruit trees and vegeta- ing, and to improve the local people’s living bles. SRI 5.4 standards. LANKAÚ > Introduction of natural fertiliser to protect Background garden soils. Kattankudy, famous for its traditional Muslim sweets, is one of the most densely populated Accomplishments and towns in Sri Lanka and was badly affected by challenges LOCATION the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Its inhabit- As a direct result of the project, 20 families Kattankudy, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka ants are generally poor and depend on fish- in Kattankudy became skilled in establish- PRIORITY POWS ing for their livelihood. For extra income they ing and maintaining banana plantations, and Strategies for Management harvest trees along the coast to sell as fire- were able to enhance their income by selling Community Resilience wood, a practice which severely threatens garden produce. The cultivation of banana DURATION the area’s remaining coastal vegetation. in home gardens in Kattankudy is now gain- Eight months After much discussion with local people, ing in popularity. After seeing the success of the idea arose of creating home gardens as project participants, neighbouring families MFF GRANT AMOUNT US$3,952 an alternative source of income to reduce have started plantations of their own to sup- pressure on and protect the coastal envi- plement their incomes. ronment. The Organization for Protecting One thousand clumps of banana were and Ensuring Democracy (OPED), an NGO established in the 20 gardens, and are being based in Kattankudy, secured a small grant tended by the beneficiaries. The participat- from MFF to implement a home garden pro- ing families have interplanted banana with gramme with banana as the main crop, a fruit papaya, pumpkin and cucumber. Cultivation 93 is likely to be sustained as a large number of Contributions to cross-cutting banana suckers is being produced. themes The beneficiaries have all benefited eco- Gender equality nomically from the project, deriving extra Women are actively involved in tending home income from selling banana leaves and the gardens, providing an alternative source of small food crops grown among the banana income for fisher families during the storm trees. The families sell banana suckers as season when fishing is not possible. planting material, and sell banana leaves to local restaurants to use as plates and to Lessons learned wrap food. Meals are increasingly packed in Training and awareness programmes are banana leaves rather than paper, and banana the best ways to achieve project goals, as flowers are also used in cooking to add fla- they motivate people to seek ways of sup- vour. plementing their income. The success of the After home composting, any surplus project can be attributed to the awareness dried banana leaves are sold to a nearby workshop it organised, as well as a shared composting yard. recognition of the need to protect the coastal environment and alleviate poverty by devel- Challenges oping alternative livelihoods. The main challenge faced by the project The active involvement of the local Agri- was unexpectedly heavy rain, which caused cultural Extension Officer, divisional secretar- water to pool and stagnate around the base iat and urban council in supporting benefici- of the banana plants. aries was also key to the project’s success.

CONTACT INFORMATION Organization for Protecting and Ensuring Democracy (OPED)

40 Shareef Proctor Lane, Kattankudy – 02, Sri Lanka

94 5.5 Goat farming as an alternative income- generating activity for fisher families

area for goat production and livestock rearing projects are gradually expanding.

Target beneficiaries Tsunami-affected residents of Pottuvil, in particular 75 families, some headed by widows.

Outputs > Land clearing and preparation of selected sites for the goat farm.

> Construction of fencing around the farm.

> Construction of a farm office, a shelter for goats, and a well.

> Training of eight widows to manage day-

Goat farming and community, Sri Lanka © R. Mahindapala Sri Lanka © R. Goat farming and community, to-day activities at the farm.

Objectives > An increase in the original herd of 28 This project aimed to build capacity and pro- goats (certified by the local state veteri- mote self-reliance among poor farmers and narian) to 43 animals within six months. widows through improved income and social status. Accomplishments and SRI challenges LANKA 5.5 Background Apart from some difficulties encountered dur- Ú This small grant project set out to improve ing construction of the well (limited ground- the socio-economic conditions of the war- water and a rocky substrate), the small grant affected and tsunami-affected population in project performed well. The community par- Pottuvil, including families headed by wid- ticipated in operating a well-managed and LOCATION ows, by supporting goat rearing and the profitable goat farm. Eight widows were given Pottuvil, Sri Lanka development of a profitable and sustainable access to a part-time occupation, allowing PRIORITY POWS goat-farming business. each women to earn an average monthly Sustainable Livelihoods Goat farming is an increasingly important income of LKR 2,000 (US$17). The govern- DURATION livelihood activity in the Sarvadayapuram ment contributed financial support to con- One year area of Pottuvil, providing an environmentally tinue the project, and the local social devel- MFF GRANT AMOUNT friendly and sustainable source of income for opment society organises monthly meetings US$4,386 poor farmers. The resources available in the to monitor the farm’s progress.

95 Contributions to cross-cutting themes Gender equality This project targeted both men and women to develop capacity and increasing income.

Lessons learned Goat farming turned out to be a profitable alternative livelihood for the community.

CONTACT INFORMATION Al-Ameen Sammothy Society Goat farm, Sri Lanka © K. Ekaratne

Arugambay, Sarvodayapuram, Pottuvil – 05, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 77 4061011

96 5.6 Raising buffalo to enhance the income of widows and their families in Pottuvil (Phase 1)

ing standards of widows and families headed by women. In 2007, LDDFA received 30 buffaloes from GTZ (German Technical Coop- eration), and in 2008 another ten from the UNDP Small Grants Programme, for widows in Pottuvil to tend. LDDFA secured a small grant from MFF to buy eight more animals and help another eight widows. Through this grant, LDDFA aimed to raise the living standards of these women by giving them a productive asset which they could use to earn extra income.

Target beneficiaries Families headed by women, in particular eight selected widows, in the Pottuvil area.

Buffaloes managed by widows, Pottuvil, Sri Lanka © R. Mahindapala Sri Lanka © R. Pottuvil, Buffaloes managed by widows, Outputs > Identification of beneficiaries with assist- Objectives ance from the Pottuvil Divisional Secre- The objective of this project was to raise the tary. living standards of families headed by widows and other women by providing them > Training of beneficiaries in buffalo rearing, with buffaloes for milking (dairy) purposes. milking and marketing of dairy products. SRI LANKA 5.6 Background > Construction of a shelter and protective Ú Most of Pottuvil’s mainly Muslim population fence around the buffalo farm. depends on fishing, livestock rearing and small business enterprises for its livelihood. > Purchase of eight buffaloes, with the herd Pottuvil was affected by the long civil unrest increased to 23 animals by the end of the LOCATION in Sri Lanka, and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsu- project. Pottuvil, Sri Lanka nami killed many local men fishing at sea. > PRIORITY POWS These events left large numbers of women, Active participation by local government Sustainable Livelihoods mostly widows, as the heads of their families. through periodic check-ups by the local The poverty of these families and their state veterinarian. DURATION Six months communities, especially in the coastal areas, forces them to depend heavily on the sur- Accomplishments and MFF GRANT AMOUNT rounding coastal vegetation for fuelwood and challenges US$4,374 other necessities. To address poverty and The project established a well-managed reduce the pressure on coastal resources, and profitable buffalo breeding unit. Widows this project aimed to empower widows and were trained in buffalo farming and became female heads of families by establishing a actively engaged in farming activities. They buffalo farming enterprise. gained skills and confidence in marketing The Livestock Development Dairy Farmer dairy products and managed to generate Association (LDDFA) of Pottuvil was estab- extra income for their families. Eight wid- 97 lished in 2003 with the goal of raising the liv- ows were introduced to a part-time income- generating occupation, and as a result each Contributions to cross-cutting earned an additional monthly income of LKR themes 1,000 (US$9). Gender equality The project managed to put in place a This project was targeted at women, giving satisfactory arrangement to market buf- them a chance to earn additional income. falo milk. The monthly milk production, an average of 500 litres, fetched an average Lessons learned income of LKR 17,000 (US$150). A litre of Training courses provide an opportunity to milk fetched an average price of LKR 34.22 raise women’s confidence in carrying out (less than one US dollar). income-generating projects.

CONTACT INFORMATION Livestock Development Dairy Farmer Association (LDDFA)

Al-Kalam Vidyalaya, Pottuvil, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 77 5382395

98 5.7 Raising buffalo to enhance the income of widows and their families in Pottuvil (Phase 2)

Outputs > Similar outputs to the Phase 1 buffalo farm project.

> The purchase of a further eight buffaloes, together with calving in the existing herd, increased the total number of animals to 23 by the end of the project.

Accomplishments and challenges The grant for Phase 2 contributed to a well- managed and profitable buffalo farm. Wid- ows continued their active engagement in farming activities. The project generated and monitored regular progress reports and sales records of dairy products. Buffalo milk processing facility, Pottuvil, Sri Lanka © R. Mahindapala Sri Lanka © R. Pottuvil, Buffalo milk processing facility, Contributions to cross-cutting Objectives themes The objective of this project was to raise the Gender equality living standards of families headed by wid- This project was targeted at women, giv- ows or other women by providing them with ing them an opportunity to earn additional buffaloes for milking (dairy) purposes. income. SRI LANKA 5.7 Background Lessons learned Ú This project built on the first Livestock Devel- The positive experiences and outputs of the opment Dairy Farmer Association (LDDFA) project augur well for its sustainability. Using buffalo farm project in Pottuvil. The Phase 2 project sales records and reports, LDDFA grant from MFF allowed LDDFA to purchase has been able to leverage funds from other LOCATION eight more buffaloes. The project aimed to sources to set up a milk processing facility. Pottuvil, Sri Lanka improve the living standards of its female This will provide employment to local people PRIORITY POWS beneficiaries by giving them a productive in Pottuvil. Sustainable Livelihoods asset they can use to earn extra income. DURATION CONTACT INFORMATION Six months Target beneficiaries Livestock Development Dairy Farmer Association (LDDFA) MFF GRANT AMOUNT Families headed by women, in particular US$5,146 eight selected widows, in the Pottuvil area. Al-Kalam Vidyalaya, Pottuvil, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 77 5382395

99 100 5.8 Generating additional income for fisher families through poultry farming

Target beneficiaries Twenty widows and their families in the Pot- tuvil coastal area.

Outputs > Delivery of an awareness programme for project beneficiaries.

> Establishment of a poultry farm and purchase of chicks.

> Maintenance and monitoring of the growth and health of chicks.

> Chickens harvested, packed and mar- keted.

Poultry farm, Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka © K. Ekaratne Sri Lanka © K. Arugam Bay, farm, Poultry Accomplishments and challenges Objectives The project established a broiler poultry farm The objective of this project was to conserve which can house about 1,000 birds, and and protect the coastal ecosystem by provid- employed 20 widows in managing producing alternative income-generating opportuni- tion. A total of 500 chickens were raised and ties for local communities. sold over two production cycles, earning a SRI net profit of US$350 in the first cycle and LANKA 5.8 Background US$266 in the second. These profits were Ú Coastal communities in Pottuvil suffer from equally divided among the 20 project ben- severe poverty and environmental degra- eficiaries, giving each woman an average dation. They have few sources of income income of US$18 per cycle. This additional and lack the skills and education needed income served to reduce coastal exploita- LOCATION to improve their livelihoods. Poverty and tion pressure from the beneficiaries and their Pottuvil, Sri Lanka environmental quality are closely linked: the families. PRIORITY POWS need for firewood, shelter and other materials Sustainable Livelihoods drives local people to cut mangroves indis- Challenges criminately. Two challenges faced by the project were DURATION Nine months This project sought to improve incomes inflation, which raised the costs of produc- and reduce pressure on the remaining man- tion, and severe drought conditions. MFF GRANT AMOUNT groves in Pottuvil by promoting poultry farm- US$4,386 ing as an alternative economic activity. The Contributions to cross-cutting Arugam Bay Tourism Association (ABTA) themes used a small grant from MFF to establish a Gender equality poultry farm on their land in Pottuvil to provide The project aimed to give 20 widows employ- direct benefits to 20 widows and their fami- ment and an alternative livelihood. lies. The women shared the work of the farm, taking turns to carry out routine husbandry Lessons learned 101 activities. It is important to keep the local authority (Divi- sional Secretariat, or DS) informed of project women farm workers and also creating jobs activities. In this case, monthly reports at a in maintenance and support services which community coordinating committee meeting further help the community. held at the DS office ensured the transpar- ABTA has helped to protect the coastal ency of activities. environment by creating a new source of A well-managed and profitable broiler income for poor families who would other- chicken farm can be established with limited wise depend almost entirely on natural eco- resources, providing direct employment for systems and their resources.

CONTACT INFORMATION Arugam Bay Tourism Association (ABTA)

Arugambay, Pottuvil – 18, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 77 4061011

102 5.9 Replanting mangroves in Pottuvil lagoon

mangroves and the wider environment in Kottukal and surrounding areas. Manthode is a village bordering Pottuvil lagoon. Its main livelihood is fishing, but villagers have noticed a decline in their catches which they attribute to the gradual loss of the mangroves. True Vision Rural Rehabilita- tion Organization, an NGO based in Pottuvil, sought to rehabilitate some of the degraded mangroves and thereby improve fish catches and incomes.

Target beneficiaries The fishing community in the Kottukal area, in particular Manthode village.

Outputs > Mangrove nursery, Pottuvil, Sri Lanka © K. Ekaratne Sri Lanka © K. Pottuvil, Mangrove nursery, Increased awareness of the importance of mangroves. Objectives This project had three objectives: > Organisation of two community mangrove conservation groups. 1 to restore the livelihoods of local people dependent on Pottuvil lagoon; > Establishment of three community-oper- SRI ated nurseries. LANKA 5.9 2 to support participatory mangrove reha- Ú bilitation and management; and > Propagation and replanting of 10,000 mangrove seedlings. 3 to raise awareness locally of the need to conserve the lagoon and mangrove eco- Accomplishments and LOCATION systems. challenges Kottukal, Pottuvil, Sri Lanka The project highlighted the importance of PRIORITY POWS Background the remaining mangroves to community Strategies for Management Pottuvil is one of the most vibrant and pro- livelihoods, and organised two community Community Resilience ductive coastal areas in Sri Lanka. The Kot- conservation groups. The lagoon fishermen DURATION tukal area surrounding Pottuvil lagoon is a of Manthode are now more aware of the role One year well-known tourist destination. Rich in biodi- that mangroves play in their livelihood, moti- versity, it has still has some healthy mangrove vating them to protect the remaining man- MFF GRANT AMOUNT US$4,018 stands. Although the local fishing commu- groves in their area. nity obtains a wide range of benefits from Project beneficiaries increased their skills these mangroves, they are under constant and knowledge in setting up and maintain- pressure from over-exploitation and clearing ing nurseries and planting mangroves. Three for other land uses. The 2004 Indian Ocean community-operated nurseries were estab- tsunami also caused severe damage to the lished, raising 10,000 mangrove seedlings

103 (9,000 Rhizophora spp. and 1,000 Avicennia Lessons learned “The project beneficiaries spp.). These seedlings were used to replant The community must be mobilised and inte- gained knowledge and rehabilitate an area of mangroves. grated into all activities if projects of this type are to succeed. Community groups will be in establishing and Challenges key to sustaining efforts to propagate man- maintaining a plant One drawback of the project was a lack of grove seedlings. nursery, and planting and community integration. Another major diffi- At the outset of this type of project, culty was poor weather – a severe drought potential planting sites should be assessed maintaining mangroves.” which killed 3,000 seedlings in the nurseries and tested before any action is taken. It is — MR M. A. C. M. UVAIS and increased the salinity of Pottuvil lagoon also important to establish nurseries in areas PROJECT COORDINATOR was followed by heavy rains and flooding. where fresh water is readily available.

CONTACT INFORMATION True Vision Rural Rehabilitation Organization

30 Shariff Hakiya Road, Addalaichenai, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 71 4456412

104 5.10 Coastal green belt planting and livelihood improvement

family earnings, thereby empowering them economically.

Target beneficiaries Residents of Panama, in particular selected women beneficiaries.

Outputs > Creation of a 1,200 m² coastal green belt plantation.

> Construction of a well for watering the plantation.

> Delivery of two awareness programmes on coastal conservation.

> Green belt at Panama, Sri Lanka © K. Ekaratne Sri Lanka © K. Green belt at Panama, Establishment of a coastal conservation society. Objectives This project had three objectives: > Preparation of a coastal conservation activity plan with community participa- 1 to reforest the shoreline with the help of tion. local communities; SRI > Provision of support to twelve women to LANKA 2 to protect the reforested shore with com- start self-employment in seaweed farm- Ú5.10 munity participation; and ing.

3 to increase the incomes of women in the Accomplishments and community. challenges LOCATION The rehabilitation of the coastal green belt Panama, Sri Lanka Background prevented erosion by sea and wind, thus PRIORITY POWS The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami destroyed helping to reduce environmental degrada- Sustainable Livelihoods the coastal green belt of Panama, a village in tion. The community increased its aware- Community Resilience the south-eastern coastal district of Ampara. ness of environmental issues, and twelve DURATION It also damaged the local fishing economy women empowered economically through One year – for families which traditionally depend on job creation started earning a supplemen- men to bring in an income from fishing this tary income to improve the living standards MFF GRANT AMOUNT US$4,254 caused severe hardship and deprivation. This of their families. project sought to tackle both problems by introducing a programme of participatory Challenges coastal planting, and by giving women a The project was hindered by a lack of support means to earn extra income to supplement from government agencies, and by an initial

105 lack of awareness of environmental issues in the community. Also, instead of using con- the community that was eventually overcome crete posts and barbed wire to fence off the by awareness programmes. planted areas (costly and prone to rusting), the project built fences with wooden poles Contributions to cross-cutting and Gliricidia sticks. These are more cost- themes effective both to set up and to maintain. Gender equality Assigning two women to look after In a major change to their economic and each block of plantation proved a success- social status, twelve women are now suc- ful method of ensuring plants were tended cessfully self-employed. because of the healthy competition it generated. Lessons learned Lastly seaweed farming has proved to The project worked best when responsibil- have strong potential as an alternative source ity for implementation was handed over to of family income.

CONTACT INFORMATION National Ethnic Unity Foundation (NEUF)

Police Quarters Road, Ampara, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 63 2223425

106 5.11 Rehabilitation and reconstruction of Pottuvil mangrove nursery

Outputs > Propagation and planting of 6,500 seedling bags by the Hidayapuram Coopera- tive Society.

> Construction of a fence and gate at the nursery.

> Construction of a well.

Accomplishments and challenges The project brought about an increased awareness and interest in environmental conservation and protection among the participating communities. It also increased cohe- siveness and cooperation among community

Rehabilitation of Pottuvil nursery, Sri Lanka © K. Ekaratne Sri Lanka © K. nursery, Rehabilitation of Pottuvil members. Further, it helped to increase local skills, knowledge and awareness about the Objectives technical requirements for collecting and This project aimed to encourage local com- propagating mangrove seeds, nursery man- munity participation in environmental protec- agement, and reforestation. tion activities. CEGA introduced an ecotourism programme through training of field guides; SRI Background ecotours have proved an additional source of LANKA The Community-Based Eco-guide Associa- income for the community members belong- Ú5.11 tion (CEGA), a group of professional eco- ing to the Hidayapuram Cooperative Society, guides based in Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka, aims increasing their economic power and inde- to promote community-based tourism as a pendence. means of generating income and raising liv- LOCATION ing standards. Community-based ecotour- Challenges Panama, Sri Lanka ism has proved to be financially viable, pro- Poor weather, including drought, led to a PRIORITY POWS viding valuable extra income for fishermen in high seedling mortality rate. Stray cattle Strategies for Management the wake of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. also destroyed a number of seedlings even With a small grant from MFF, CEGA set out through they were protected by barbed wire DURATION Eight months to rehabilitate and reconstruct Pottuvil man- fencing and coverings. grove nursery with the assistance of fishing MFF GRANT AMOUNT communities in the Hidayapuram Coopera- Contributions to cross-cutting US$3,860 tive Society. themes Gender equality Target beneficiaries The ecotours industry has the potential to Members of Hidayapuram Cooperative, Aru- create employment for women in local com- gam businesses and CEGA. munities.

107 Lessons learned Project designers also need to plan from the Efforts to raise awareness among commu- outset to convince the community that they nities and improve stakeholder participation are the owners of the project and the benefit are needed throughout the project cycle. will be theirs.

CONTACT INFORMATION Community-Based Eco-guide Association (CEGA)

Main Street, Arugam Bay, Pottuvil, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 71 2058513

108 5.12 Piloting seaweed farming as an alternative livelihood activity for coastal communities in Panama and Pottuvil

so the demand for cultivated seaweed is expected to rise. Before this project, however, Sri Lanka had no organised seaweed cultivation. The Sewalanka Foundation, a leading Sri Lankan NGO, secured a small grant from MFF to start a pilot seaweed culture initiative. This cultivated Eucheuma in offshore cages at Panama and Ullei (in Pottuvil) on Sri Lanka’s east coast. Sewalanka collaborated with two fisher cooperative societies in this project, the Abeysinghapura-Panama Fisher- ies Cooperative Society and the United Deep Sea Fisheries Cooperative Society in Pottuvil. Several species of seaweed are commercially farmed in other Asian nations. In Sri Lanka, the Eastern and Southern provinces

Seaweed farming, Panama, Sri Lanka © K. Ekaratne Sri Lanka © K. Panama, Seaweed farming, have good potential for seaweed cultivation, which also offers an alternative livelihood Objectives activity for poor coastal communities. The The objectives of this project were: Sewalanka Foundation believes that women, in particular, could benefit socially and eco- 1 to raise the living standards of the coastal nomically from the supplementary income community; provided by cultivating seaweed. SRI LANKA 2 to promote sustainable use of marine and Target beneficiaries Ú5.12 coastal resources; and Six fishermen, three from each fisher cooperative society, who showed a commitment 3 to establish seaweed farming as an eco- to and interest in piloting seaweed culture. friendly livelihood activity, especially for LOCATION women, in the Pottuvil, Panama and Outputs Panama, Sri Lanka Mawalla coastal area. > Training of six fishermen in seaweed cul- PRIORITY POWS ture. Sustainable Livelihoods Background Seaweed, apart from being a food, is an > Construction and offshore installation of DURATION Six months important source of colloids or gels such as 60 cages. agar, and medically important elements such MFF GRANT AMOUNT as iodine. The seaweed Eucheuma sp. is a > Stocking of cages with seaweed cuttings. US$5,196 valuable source of carrageenan (polysaccha- ride gel), an important industrial compound > Completion of two culture cycles and har- used in stabilising and improving the qual- vesting of seaweed. ity of many food products. Many Sri Lankan confectionery manufacturers are interested > Sun-drying and packaging of seaweed in obtaining a local supply of carrageenan, for the local market.

109 Accomplishments and Contributions to cross-cutting challenges themes As a result of this project, the participants Gender equality enhanced their ability to diversify and supple- Seaweed cultivation has the potential to pro- ment their livelihood. In two months, 100 g of vide jobs for women in coastal communities. cuttings grew into 1 kg (wet weight) of har- vestable seaweed. About 50 kg to 70 kg (wet Lessons learned weight) of seaweed were harvested from a The pilot initiative proved that the seaweed cage stocked with 4 kg of cuttings. (The dry Eucheuma sp. can be successfully cultured in weight of seaweed is about 10% to 12% of the seas off Panama and Ullei, and that sea- its wet weight.) weed farming offers an alternative livelihood In Panama, the project secured a prof- and a supplementary income. Expanding the Cultured seaweed, Panama, Sri Lanka © K. Ekaratne itable contract with the National Aquatic project should reduce the fishing pressure in Resources and Research Agency to supply Panama and Ullei. mother plants to stock 100 cages in their An assessment is needed of the impacts “This is one of the most Mannar project, under the Uthuru Wasan- of small-scale intensive aquaculture (cage successful projects I thaya Programme. culture) of the selected seaweed species The project was supervised and moni- as, in positive terms, a method for alleviat- have ever been involved tored by the Sewalanka Foundation, which ing poverty and, in negative terms, an activity in, since I learnt a lot and also provided relevant technology and assist- which may potentially damage the offshore gained extensive local ance. Sewalanka is currently seeking part- environment. nerships to expand the project. Research is also needed to develop low- knowledge, applying cost methods for seaweed farming, and to the lessons learnt to my Challenges identify areas with no or small puffer and current seaweed projects The project encountered major difficulties, rabbit fish populations, as these fish browse since there is no established market for sea- seaweed crops, reducing their yield. in Sri Lanka and finding weed in Sri Lanka, and finding a market for a Seaweed is not widely consumed locally. success little by little.” small amount of dry seaweed is problematic As such, it is necessary to target the export — MRS MAHEENI SINGAPPULI as any buyers always want large quantities. market, which means large-scale produc- NATIONAL FISHERIES COORDINATOR, In the second culture cycle, the harvest tion. An analysis of potential export markets SEWALANKA FOUNDATION from 56 cages had to be discarded after it should be the first step in planning and estab- was spoiled by heavy rain while drying. lishing an industry of this nature.

CONTACT INFORMATION Sewalanka Foundation

432A, 2nd Floor, Colombo Road, Boralasgamuwa, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 47 5675614

110 5.13 Cultivating bamboo as a wood substitute to protect mangroves and control erosion at Rekawa lagoon

fishery, creating an urgent need to develop alternative sources of wood. The NGO Ruhunu Development Consor- tium (RDC) obtained a small grant from MFF to introduce cultivation of the bamboo Den- drocalamus hookeri as a substitute for wood. Bamboo is widely used in the construction industry for scaffolding and for building house roofs and walls. The dense root structure of bamboo also gives it soil-binding qualities, making it a useful plant for controlling erosion on the banks of rivers, tanks and streams. RDC has planted bamboo both in home gardens (as a substitute for wood) and along the banks of watercourses and water bodies to combat erosion. Its foliage also provides valuable fodder for livestock. Bamboo nursery, Sri Lanka © K. Ekaratne Sri Lanka © K. Bamboo nursery, Target beneficiaries Objectives Landowners at Rekawa lagoon and commu- This project had four main objectives: nity members who can benefit directly from selling bamboo wood and other products. 1 to introduce bamboo planting; Outputs SRI 2 to create an alternative source of wood > Delivery of awareness programmes for LANKA for local communities; more than 90 families.

Ú5.13 3 to prevent mangrove exploitation; and > Mobilisation of communities and other potential beneficiaries. 4 to develop supplementary sources of LOCATION income. > Training given to selected community Rekawa, Ussangoda and members in raising and planting bamboo. Kalametiya (RUK) area, Sri Lanka Background PRIORITY POWS Rekawa lagoon, covering 250 hectares, is a > Establishment of three community-based Strategies for Management highly productive ecosystem which supports nurseries to propagate bamboo. Community Resilience the livelihood of a large fishing community. DURATION As a result of constant harvesting of wood > Propagation of 4,500 bamboo plantlets. One year for construction, pole-making and fuel, the > MFF GRANT AMOUNT mangroves and scrub forest surrounding the Planting out of bamboo in selected sites. US$4,060 lagoon have declined steadily in area and quality. The shores of the lagoon have also > Monitoring and maintenance of planted been degraded by wood extraction, and in bamboo stands. many places this has led to the lagoon silting up. Silting has had a direct and nega- > Development of lessons-learned materi- tive impact on the productivity of the lagoon als and case studies for dissemination. 111 Accomplishments and ing of bamboo and contribute to improving challenges the environment of the lagoon. The community has developed an interest in bamboo planting as an alternative source of Lessons learned income. Demand for bamboo seedlings has The communities have taken to cultivat- increased and all three community-operated ing bamboo with great enthusiasm, which nurseries are working to meet this demand. augurs well for the sustainability of project Project participants also planted 4,500 bam- outputs. As the bamboo grows, it will help boo plants on 15 hectares of river banks, to stabilise and protect riverbanks, lakes and tanks and lagoon banks, as well as home lagoon banks, and it will help to reduce the gardens bordering water canals and public pressure on mangroves. places such as schools and temples. The community needs to appreciate that, with its help and understanding, good results Challenges can be achieved in protecting the environ- The project encountered several obstacles ment. Success will be ensured if: a) an with the bamboos selected and their growth. increasing number of community members The proposed bamboo species, Yoda Una grow bamboo in their home gardens or on (Dendrocalamus giganteus) and Yellow Una empty land; and b) bamboo becomes a sus- (Bambusa vulgaris), were unavailable at the tainable source of income for the community. start of the project. As a result of inflation, Bamboo vegetation will prevent soil ero- prices of bamboo seedlings rose by 50% sion, act as a wind barrier, reduce the adverse in the period between planning the project effects of stormy weather conditions, prevent and implementing it. Some of the shoots siltation of the lagoon and improve water that were brought from Kotmale also died. storage capacity. In time, bamboo planta- Lastly the 2009 rains did not arrive until mid- tions will also enhance the natural beauty November, causing a delay in replanting and of the lagoon environment and provide an retarding growth rates. alternative livelihood. In the post-project period, RDC has con- Contributions to cross-cutting tinued to provide technical support and mon- themes itor bamboo planting. A case study of the Gender equality project has been prepared and will be use- The project benefitted both men and women, ful to those wishing to replicate the project as everyone could engage in home garden- elsewhere.

CONTACT INFORMATION Ruhunu Development Consortium (RDC)

79 Tissa Road, Tangalle, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 72 8231691

112 5.14 Removing cattail from a village drainage canal

recent times, the lagoon end of this canal has been blocked by fast-spreading cattail growth, impeding the drainage of about 10 hectares of rice fields belonging to 25 farmers. This has made the fields uncultivable and also affected the hydrology of Lunama lagoon. With a small grant from MFF, the Youth Enterprise Information Centre, a local NGO, undertook the clearing of the cattail with the affected farmers. This project also aimed to conserve the ecosystem of the Lunama lagoon and help the surrounding community to supplement its income. It sought to improve the income of the 25 paddy farmers living near the lagoon by removing the cattail from the outlet canal. It also sought to encourage 22 vegetable

Cattail removal, Sri Lanka © K. Ekaratne Sri Lanka © K. Cattail removal, farmers from Palugaswewa Farm to follow environmentally friendly practices, and to Objectives raise awareness of sustainable production This project had three main objectives: practices among the 47 target farmers and 28 lagoon fishermen. 1 to increase the income of lagoon communities in an environmentally friendly Target beneficiaries SRI fashion; Communities living in the Lunama area. LANKA 2 to raise the standard of living in those Outputs Ú5.14 communities; and > A 25% increase in the incomes of 25 rice farmers active in both the Yala (May– 3 to protect the Lunama lagoon ecosystem. August) and Maha (September–March) LOCATION seasons. Rekawa, Ussangoda and Background Kalametiya (RUK) area, Sri Lanka The aquatic reed Typha angustifolia, or cattail, > Delivery of three awareness programmes PRIORITY POWS grows on lake margins and in marshes, often for 28 lagoon fishermen and three pro- Strategies for Management in dense colonies, and is considered a weed grammes for 47 farmers. Civil Society Engagement Sustainable Livelihoods when it invades managed wetlands. The village of Lunama lies in the district of Ham- > Removal of cattail from a 0.4 hectare area. DURATION bantota on Sri Lanka’s south-east coast. The Nine months main livelihood of villagers living close to the > The erection of fences around an 8.9 MFF GRANT AMOUNT coast is fishing, whereas those living inland hectare block of Palugaswewa Farm and US$4,386 practise agriculture. The majority of farmers another farm of 16.2 hectares. grow rice; others grow vegetables. An irrigation canal supplies water to the rice fields, > Cultivation of at least five vegetable vari- and any excess water drains into nearby eties by 22 farmers in both the Yala and Lunama lagoon through an outlet canal. In Maha seasons. 113 Accomplishments and The awareness programmes were suc- challenges cessful in teaching the community sustain- The original project plan was to remove able production practices. The 25 rice farm- cattail from a 2,500 m² area (i.e. a 500-m ers active during the Yala and Maha seasons length of the 5-m wide outlet canal extend- saw their income rise by a quarter, and the 22 ing upstream from the lagoon). By the end of targeted vegetable farmers adopted at least the project, however, 3,750 m² of the canal five different varieties of vegetables for grow- had been cleared of the invasive species. The ing throughout the year. farmers cleared the canal by hand instead of using machinery as budgeted in the Challenges project proposal. Contributing their labour A severe drought limited the scale of planting. allowed them to increase the cleared area by 1,250 m², 50% more than planned. Lessons learned This effort has restored the water flow in Giving local communities the responsibility to the canal, improving the hydrological balance make decisions and respecting those deci- of Lunama lagoon. sions helps to achieve set goals.

CONTACT INFORMATION Youth Enterprise Information Centre

Malpeththawa, Ambalantota, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 47 2223658

114 5.15 Training and supporting fisher families in Ussangoda to establish home gardens

alternative livelihood activities, specifically home gardening of pulses and vegetables such as ladies’ finger, millet, green gram, chilli, onion and cowpea.

Target beneficiaries Forty fisher families in the RUK area.

Outputs > Delivery of awareness programmes on home gardening, gender equality and financial management.

> Provision of vegetable seed and fruit plants.

> Establishment of 40 home gardens. Bitter gourd home garden, Sri Lanka © K. Ekaratne Sri Lanka © K. Bitter gourd home garden, > Construction of protective cages for Objectives plants in home gardens. This project had five objectives: > Cultivation of vegetables, millet, pulses 1 to enhance the economic status of the and fruits. community; SRI > Cleaning of a 2-km stretch of beach. LANKA 2 to promote gender equality; Accomplishments and Ú5.15 3 to improve knowledge of financial man- challenges agement; The project created 40 home gardens to provide extra income for poor fisher families. LOCATION 4 to protect and sustainably manage the Through awareness programmes and other Rekawa, Ussangoda and coastal ecosystem; and activities, the beneficiaries’ awareness of Kalametiya (RUK) area, Sri Lanka agricultural practices, financial management PRIORITY POWS 5 to provide an alternative source of and gender equality was enhanced. Strategies for Management income. Forty fisher families were introduced to Civil Society Engagement Sustainable Livelihoods agriculture, which was a new experience Background for them but has served to raise household DURATION Although surrounded by rich environmental incomes and awareness of key local devel- Ten months resources, fishing communities in the RUK opment issues. MFF GRANT AMOUNT area lack economic stability, gender equal- Women in the fisher families were trained US$3,240 ity and appropriate knowledge for develop- and assisted in planting their home gardens ment. The Meth Sith Development Organisa- with various crops. The beneficiary families tion sought to address all three deficiencies gained a regular supply of fresh vegetables, by conducting awareness programmes on fruits and pulses, and were able to sell their nature conservation, financial management surplus produce at the weekly village fair, 115 and gender equality. It also aimed to promote bringing in extra income. Challenges gender equality amongst its beneficiary fami- “The project gave the The main challenge was a severe drought lies, focusing on women as the managers of beneficiaries food that hindered growth of the home gardens. home gardens. security and a pleasant Contributions to cross-cutting Lessons learned environment.” themes To maintain transparency, it is important to — MRS DHANESHWARI DAHANAYAKE, Gender equality keep the local authority well-informed of PROJECT MANAGER This project sought to promote and improve ongoing village activities.

CONTACT INFORMATION Meth Sith Development Organization

180/3, Deewarawaraya para, Nonagama, Lunama, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 71 6024847

116 5.16 Enhancing the incomes of fisher families through handicraft production

whose inhabitants harvest the mangrove trees and other plants for firewood and timber poles. As a result, the populations of Rhizophora mucronata and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza trees in these forests are declining. This project sought to reverse this trend by educating villagers about the importance of the mangroves, and by empowering women economically through income-generating alternatives to fishing. To test one alternative, Wanasarana Thurulatha Volunteer Soci- ety, a CBO from Matara, began a training programme in handicraft production using locally abundant Pandanus kaida leaves.

Target beneficiaries Fifty women from five villages. Women beneficiaries of handicraft production © R. Mahindapala beneficiaries of handicraft production © R. Women Outputs Objectives > Delivery by a qualified instructor of five This project had three main objectives: training programmes on processing Pandanus leaves, dyeing techniques, 1 to enhance the knowledge of the com- bag design, bag making, and marketing munity about mangrove protection and techniques. SRI management; LANKA > Provision for each trainee of a monthly 2 to bring timber cutting in Medilla lagoon supply of Pandanus leaves, dye, cloth, Ú5.16 under control; and thread, cardboard and gum for the first nine months of their venture. 3 to improve the livelihoods of 50 women LOCATION living close to the lagoon. > Planting of 6,000 P. kaida plants in Rekawa, Ussangoda and selected areas of Medilla beach in Netol- Kalametiya (RUK) area, Sri Lanka Background pitiya village. PRIORITY POWS Danketiya, Palathuduwa and Netolpitiya are Sustainable Livelihoods three coastal villages in south-east Sri Lanka Accomplishments and Sustainable Business Practices that were hit by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsu- challenges DURATION nami. Thanks to the mangroves and other As a result of the project, 50 women were One year coastal vegetation that protect the area, gainfully self-employed on a part-time basis MFF GRANT AMOUNT the tsunami did not cause severe damage, in producing handicrafts. The women pro- US$4,342 though it did affect the local fishing industry duced a range of items, including mats, and fishing incomes. The continued protec- satchels, vegetable and fruit bags, ladies’ tion and management of these forests are handbags, clutch bags and coin purses. vital, but local authorities apparently have The project also introduced weaving of reed done little to ensure this happens. bags. Production time varied for each item, The threat to the mangroves stems from ranging from three to seven days. 117 the villages situated close to Medilla lagoon, Each women earned between US$25 and US$45 from selling bags, increasing Contributions to cross-cutting the average income of their households themes by around 60%. The women were able to Gender equality earn this income while still carrying out their Fifty women from five villages were empow- household responsibilities, as they could ered economically by the extra income they operate from home and choose their hours earned under this project. of work themselves. The Pandanus planted on Medilla beach Lessons learned as a source of leaves for producing handi- Community awareness is the key to success crafts grew well and will contribute to coastal for projects of this nature. Also essential is to protection. develop market linkages before implementing such projects, and to adopt a clear, real- Handicrafts, Danketiya, Sri Lanka © K. Ekaratne Challenges istic implementation schedule and stick to it. One challenge was that the models and Women in the community now have part- designs of bags change rapidly along with time jobs which do not depend on anyone “Thanks to handicraft fashion trends, and it was sometimes diffi- else. They have organised small savings production, the income cult for the women to keep pace with these societies in which each member deposits changes. Dry weather and browsing by stray 5% of her monthly earnings into a common of the women in 50 cattle also affected the growth of the Panda- bank account. This money is used to buy beneficiary families living nus plants. raw materials. in the coastal areas of

CONTACT INFORMATION Rekawa and Medilla Wanasarana Thurulatha Volunteer Society increased by about Weeraketiya Road, Danketiya, 60%. They are aware Tangalle, Sri Lanka of the importance of Tel: +94 47 2242628 coastal ecosystems in the area and no longer cut mangroves for fuelwood.”

— MR H. P. PIYATISSA PROJECT MANAGER

118 5.17 Developing ecotourism as an alternative to environmentally harmful activities

as mesquite (Prosopis juliflora), prickly pear cactus (Opuntia dillenii) and lantana (Lantana camara), and fauna such as feral dogs and giant African land snails (Achatina fulica). Ruk Diya Eco Holidays is a community- based organization supporting ecotourism activities in the RUK area. It is managed by a group of local youth who used to be involved in harmful activities such as poaching, collecting turtle eggs, and coral and inland shell mining. The organization, which runs a guest- house called Ruk Diya Eco Stop, secured a grant from MFF to expand its activities in the area surrounding Lunama lagoon.

Target beneficiaries Villagers in the RUK area involved in envi-

Camping unit, RUK area, Sri Lanka © K. Ekaratne Sri Lanka © K. RUK area, Camping unit, ronmentally damaging livelihood practices.

Objectives Outputs The objective of this project was to encour- > Establishment of two campsites with age communities living in biodiversity-rich accommodation for 16 people. areas such as Lunama, Kalametiya and Ussangoda to protect their environment and > Establishment of a birdwatching centre, SRI improve their economic resilience. boat service facilities and educational LANKA facilities for schools and researchers. Background Ú5.17 The area of Rekawa, Ussangoda and Kala- > Production of a leaflet and posters to pro- metiya (RUK) lies on Sri Lanka’s south-east mote the campsites. coast in the district of Hambantota. The LOCATION coastal ecosystems in this area are rich in Accomplishments and Rekawa, Ussangoda and biodiversity but face increasing pressure challenges Kalametiya (RUK) area, Sri Lanka from human activities. Rekawa is a turtle The project identified local people involved PRIORITY POWS sanctuary, while the Ussangoda plateau is in harmful livelihood practices (the target Sustainable Livelihoods a designated archaeological site. The inter- group) and successfully motivated them Sustainable Business Practices connected Kalametiya and Lunama lagoons to join project activities. Programmes were DURATION and their environs support a diverse range conducted to raise their awareness of the One year of bird species. environmental importance of the RUK area. MFF GRANT AMOUNT The major threats to these ecosystems Two sets of well-appointed camping units US$4,474 include illegal fishing practices such as dyna- were installed, each consisting of a two- miting, clearing of mangroves, unregulated storey wooden shelter housing four canvas livestock farming, turtle egg collection, wild- tents, a toilet, camp beds and basic camping life poaching, coral mining and inland shell furniture. Eco Stop earns a monthly income mining. The ecosystems are also threat- of US$260 from renting out the units and giv- ened by the spread of invasive plants such ing visitors home-cooked meals. 119 To service the camping facility, Ruk Diya Contributions to cross-cutting Eco Stop has employed some members of themes the target group, diverting them from harmful Communications practices. A leaflet and posters were produced to pub- The additional income coming to the licise the new campsites. community has added value to the RUK area. Community members have become Lessons learned more aware of their environment and more By identifying the people harming the envi- supportive of environmental conservation ronment of the RUK area, making them efforts. Protection of the mangroves has more aware of its importance, and providing improved and increased numbers of stu- employment for some of them, the threats to dents are visiting the area. this unique ecosystem are likely to diminish. It is important to increase awareness of Challenges the importance of mangroves and the envi- The two main obstacles encountered were ronment. Schoolchildren in particular need to political interference and drought conditions. be taught about the value of the environment.

CONTACT INFORMATION Ruk Diya Community Based Organization

Ruk Diya Eco Stop, Kiula Lunama, Ambalantota, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 47 5672566

120 5.18 A participatory mangrove management programme

versity Agriculture Unit, housing a collection of mangrove tree species and related plants.

> Creation of 50 home gardens with 1,500 plants to supply firewood (species used: Casuarina equisetifolia, Bambusa vulgaris, Sonneratia caseolaris and Termi- nalia catappa).

> Delivery of three awareness programmes for schoolchildren.

Accomplishments and challenges The project helped to change attitudes among Rekawa residents through aware-

Home gardens with plants to supply firewood around Rekawa, Sri Lanka © R. Mahindapala Sri Lanka © R. Home gardens with plants to supply firewood around Rekawa, ness programmes on the importance of mangroves. The new home gardens are provid- Objectives ing beneficiary families with firewood, thus The objective of this project was to increase reducing pressure on mangroves, and the community knowledge about mangroves foliage from plants in the home garden can and the alternatives to their exploitation, also be used as organic manure to increase thereby encouraging future conservation of soil nitrogen levels. SRI mangrove ecosystems. The new mangrove centre now also pro- LANKA vides a research base for those interested in Background studying and practising mangrove conserva- Ú5.18 This project was implemented in the villages tion. around Rekawa lagoon. Local people in this area are generally unaware of the envi- Contributions to cross-cutting LOCATION ronmental values of mangroves, and have themes Rekawa, Ussangoda and severely degraded the lagoon’s mangrove Gender equality Kalametiya (RUK) area, Sri Lanka forests through firewood collection and other This project targeted both men and women PRIORITY POWS uncontrolled daily use. An urgent need exists as beneficiaries. Strategies for Management to raise awareness of the environmental val- Civil Society Engagement ues of mangroves, in particular among the Lessons learned DURATION younger generation of villagers. Awareness programs and education made it Ten months easier to achieve project outputs, as knowl- MFF GRANT AMOUNT Target beneficiaries edge is the key to protection. Schoolchildren US$4,395 Fifty families living beside Rekawa lagoon. are the best medium for communicating conservation messages to the community. Outputs Although the mangrove centre is being > Establishment of a mangrove education temporarily maintained by SEEDO (Social, centre with support from the Ruhuna Uni- Economic and Environmental Development

121 Organization), permanent staff are needed to look after the centre and its visitors. A short- term project such as this one cannot achieve long-term results on its own – further support is needed to ensure sustainability.

CONTACT INFORMATION SEEDO Sri Lanka

130 Monaragala Road, Badalkumbura, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 55 2250301

122 5.19 Building capacity of schoolchildren as a forerunner to sustainable mangrove ecosystem conservation initiatives (Phase 1)

sought to enhance awareness of mangrove conservation and its importance among children in the town of Ambalantota.

Target beneficiaries Schoolchildren from Ambalantota Maha Vidyalaya school in the RUK area.

Outputs > Delivery of awareness programmes for 50 students on identifying uses of mangroves by the community.

> Delivery of sessions to guide document preparation for 50 students.

> Delivery and facilitation of group presen-

Building the capacity of schoolchildren, Phase 1, Sri Lanka © Visura Development Foundation Sri Lanka © Phase 1, Building the capacity of schoolchildren, tation sessions on mangrove management for 50 students. Objectives This project had three main objectives: > Delivery of an awareness programme on mangrove species and the value of envi- 1 to enhance awareness among schoolchil- ronmental management for 25 students. dren of mangroves, their uses, and sus- SRI tainable consumption and conservation > Delivery of awareness programmes on LANKA methods; the uses of different mangrove species by rural communities for 25 students. Ú5.19 2 to help GCE A-Level students conduct research projects on mangrove ecosys- > Delivery of a programme on simple project tems; and proposal writing for 25 students. LOCATION Rekawa, Ussangoda and 3 to enhance students’ capacity to promote > Establishment of a school environmental Kalametiya (RUK) area, Sri Lanka environmental awareness by sponsoring management unit with 50 students. PRIORITY POWS activities on mangrove conservation. Civil Society Engagement > Increased capacity within the school envi- DURATION Background ronmental management unit. Two months The RUK area is associated with rich mangroves, but increasingly these are being dam- > Organization of an educational tour for 14 MFF GRANT AMOUNT US$2,680 aged by the activities of both visitors and students. residents. Since mangroves are an important part of the coastal ecosystem, it is vital to > Organisation of art and essay competi- raise awareness among communities of their tions. ecological roles and values. Recognizing that no one absorbs information or carries a mes- > Mounting of an exhibition for the project sage better than schoolchildren, this project completion meeting. 123 Accomplishments and competitions, and mounted an exhibition for challenges the project completion meeting. The project After conducting various awareness pro- targeted all schoolchildren irrespective of grammes and establishing a school environ- whether they were boys or girls. mental management unit, the target schoolchildren are now much more aware of the Lessons learned importance of mangroves. Awareness can be raised in younger generations by stimulating schoolchildren’s Challenges interest and passion for the environment One disadvantage was that the project was through art, essay and public speaking a short one and coincided with the end-of- competitions, and by encouraging them to year school exams, so students could not discuss the importance of mangroves with give it their full attention. Further, the school their families and communities. The project selected for the project was in an underde- successfully changed children’s perceptions veloped area and suffered from a high level through awareness programmes highlight- of student absenteeism. ing the importance of conserving their local environment. Contributions to cross-cutting Awareness programmes need to be themes scheduled carefully to avoid conflicts with Communications and gender equality important dates in the school calendar, for The students participated in art and essay example avoiding exams.

CONTACT INFORMATION Visura Development Foundation

Weeraba Pirivena, Nupe, Matara, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 41 2230671

124 5.20 Building capacity of schoolchildren as a forerunner to sustainable mangrove ecosystem conservation initiatives (Phase 2)

ness promotion tools. Advanced students carried out research studies on mangrove ecosystems, and an Environmental Conser- vation Unit was formed to lead students in carrying out the environmental programme during the project period.

Target beneficiaries Schoolchildren from Mawadala Baminiyan- wila Jayanthi School in the RUK area.

Outputs > Delivery of a series of awareness programmes on mangrove use and conservation.

> Delivery of guidance programmes on

Building the capacity of schoolchildren, Phase 2, Sri Lanka © Visura Development Foundation Sri Lanka © Phase 2, Building the capacity of schoolchildren, developing and implementing simple research projects on mangrove ecosys- Objectives tems. This project had three main objectives: > Formation of a School Environmental 1 to enhance knowledge and understand- Conservation Unit. ing among schoolchildren of identifying SRI mangrove species, the uses of mangrove > Organization of an environmental edu- LANKA products, and different methods of sus- cation study tour to increase children’s tainable consumption and conservation exposure to the subject matter and create Ú5.20 of mangroves; links to government authorities.

2 to help GCE A-level students conduct > Mounting of an exhibition for the project LOCATION research projects on mangrove ecosys- completion meeting. Rekawa, Ussangoda and tems; and Kalametiya (RUK) area, Sri Lanka Accomplishments and PRIORITY POWS 3 to enhance students’ capacity to promote challenges Civil Society Engagement environmental awareness by sponsoring After conducting various awareness pro- DURATION activities focusing on the conservation of grammes, and establishing a school environ- Six months mangrove ecosystems. mental management unit, the target schoolchildren are now much more aware of the MFF GRANT AMOUNT US$3,311 Background importance of mangroves. Schoolchildren are said to be the main messengers of information to their household, Challenges so this project sought to raise awareness These included the short duration of the of mangrove conservation and its impor- project, and the fact that it coincided with tance among children in schools. This was the end-of-year school exams, which drew achieved at two levels using simple aware- students’ attention away from project activi- 125 ties. Also, the school selected for the project Lessons learned was in an underdeveloped area and suffered It is possible to change schoolchildren’s from a high level of student absenteeism. attitudes through awareness programmes highlighting the importance of protecting their Contributions to cross-cutting environment. Such programmes can encour- themes age students to take more interest and play Gender equality a greater role in environmental conservation The project involved all schoolchildren in the initiatives. As a result of the project, the target target school irrespective of whether they schoolchildren have been able to learn about were boys or girls. the value of a healthy natural environment.

CONTACT INFORMATION Visura Development Foundation

Weeraba Pirivena, Nupe, Matara, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 41 2230671

126 5.21 Restoring a village tank

Outputs > Restoration of the tank according to relevant local authority guidelines.

> Diversion of a stream to supply the tank with water.

> Increased tank capacity (from 6 to 14 hectare-metres*).

> Enabling of 22 farm families to continue cultivation even during a drought.

> Increased income of farmers from adding a season of cultivation.

Accomplishments and

Palugaswewa tank, Sri Lanka © K. Ekaratne Sri Lanka © K. tank, Palugaswewa challenges The tank was cleared of vegetation with the Objectives help of the 22 farm families. It was mechani- This project aimed to increase the water sup- cally dredged and its bund strengthened, ply to Palugaswewa farmers by restoring the increasing its capacity from 6 to 14 hectare- local tank (reservoir). metres. A stream that drained rainwater from the forest into the sea was diverted into the SRI Background restored tank by building an anicut (dam) LANKA Palugaswewa farm was established in the across it. A supply canal was constructed to early 1980s to support 22 low-income fisher bring water from the tank to the farm. Ú5.21 families under a national village reawaken- The increased off-season water supply ing scheme. Each family received a plot gave the farmers an additional season of cul- of 0.4 hectares for rainfed cultivation. The tivation, and allowed the 22 farm families to LOCATION Palugaswewa tank, a reservoir lying next to continue their cultivation during the dry sea- Rekawa, Ussangoda and the farm, offers a potential source of irriga- son. The increase in income resulting from Kalametiya (RUK) area, Sri Lanka tion water for off-season cultivation, but has these improvements ranged from US$25 to PRIORITY POWS been unable to play this role because of low US$175 per farm family. Strategies for Management rainfall and its dilapidated, silted interior. The Civil Society Engagement Sustainable Livelihoods Youth Enterprise Information Centre, a local Contributions to cross-cutting NGO, obtained a small grant from MFF to themes DURATION rehabilitate the tank and increase its water- Gender equality Two months holding capacity. Both men and women were involved in the MFF GRANT AMOUNT project and benefited from it through the US$3,650 Target beneficiaries extra income from increased agricultural Farming families of Palugaswewa. production.

* A hectare-metre is a measure of volume equivalent 127 to 1 m × 1 ha = 10,000 m. Lessons learned Success can be gained through technical assistance and knowledge sharing. When working with local communities, it is important to give them responsibility to make their own decisions; respecting these decisions helps to achieve set goals.

CONTACT INFORMATION Youth Enterprise Information Centre

Malpetthawa, Ambalantota, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 42 2223658

128 5.22 Piloting sea bass cage culture as an alternative livelihood for the fishing communities of Maduganga estuary

high market price locally and internationally, grows quickly, and survives in most conditions, making it a good choice for rearing in the estuary. The cage culture system allows water to circulate freely, keeping operational costs low. The species is inexpensive to maintain and relatively easy to produce, and the eco-friendly nature of this activity makes it a good source of income for local communities.

Target beneficiaries Four traditional fishermen from the community-based Ampe Mithuru Freshwater Fisher- ies Cooperative Society in Maduganga.

Outputs > The harvest from fish cage culture. Maduganga, Sri Lanka © R. Mahindapala Sri Lanka © R. Maduganga, The harvest from fish cage culture. Establishment of pilot cage culture using floating nets. Objectives This project had three objectives: > Transferral of technology for intensive culture of finfish to fishermen. 1 to raise the living standards of coastal communities in Maduganga; > Generation of economic growth and indi- SRI rect employment. LANKA 2 to promote sustainable use of marine and coastal resources; and > Reduced exploitation of local mangroves 5.22Ú and wildlife. 3 to introduce sea bass cage culture. Accomplishments and LOCATION Background challenges Maduganga, Sri Lanka Sri Lanka possesses the resources and Through the project, beneficiaries were able PRIORITY POWS potential to develop a sustainable aqua- to develop another source of employment Sustainable Livelihoods culture industry in its coastal belts. These and income besides sea fishing. The target areas suffer from poverty and food short- fishermen learned how to rear sea bass and DURATION Nine months ages, so inland aquaculture could contrib- gained skills and knowledge in efficient fish ute to enhancing food security. It could also management systems. The cage-reared sea MFF GRANT AMOUNT increase employment and provide additional bass reached a weight of 800 g in just four US$5,260 income for local fishing communities. The months thanks to good feeding practices. Maduganga estuary, a brackish water system The additional income from sea bass in Sri Lanka’s wet zone lowlands, has great rearing has indirectly helped to reduce pres- ecological importance. The water quality of sure on nearby mangroves. Fish farming is the estuary makes it ideal for culturing Lates also contributing to alleviating local poverty calcarifer, also known as the giant sea perch, sustainably since it has low operational and sea bass or barramundi. This fish fetches a environmental costs. 129 Challenges ket and develop a strong marketing strategy Some difficulties were encountered in selling before embarking on an activity of this nature. cage-reared fish, including obtaining a good Also vital is appropriate technical support is market price. There was no direct marketing vital. The Sewalanka Foundation commit- system to sell the fish, so fishermen had to ted itself to supervising and monitoring the deal with middlemen who paid below-market project, and to providing support for book- prices. It was also difficult to find a buyer for keeping, fish farming techniques and related the entire stock as fish wholesalers offered matters. better prices; however, it was possible to get Neighbouring fishermen have followed a good price for a partial harvest. the lead of the project and begun to set up fish cages of their own. This extension effect Lessons learned will help to increase economic development Sea bass cage culture, Maduganga, Sri Lanka © K. Ekaratne It is essential to identify an appropriate mar- in the area.

CONTACT INFORMATION “Young fishermen, who Sewalanka Foundation were totally dependent Bakmeegahawattha, Kahawannagama Road, on the estuary resources Thalpe, Sri Lanka for their survival and who Tel: +94 91 2282674 were unhappy about their incomes, were initially recruited for the project. It is good to see them continuing fish farming even though the donor funding and other support have ended.”

— MRS MAHEENI SINGAPPULI NATIONAL FISHERIES COORDINATOR, SEWALANKA FOUNDATION

130 5.23 Piloting red tilapia cage culture as an alternative livelihood in the Maduganga estuary

that is fast becoming widespread around the world. Red tilapia, as it is known in Sri Lanka, is a popular food fish which can be grown in saltwater ponds or sea cages with low production costs and minimal environmental impacts. Introducing red tilapia cage culture to coastal communities around the Madug- anga estuary has the potential to raise living standards and create an eco-friendly alternative livelihood for poor fisher families.

Target beneficiaries Four traditional fishermen from the community-based Ampe Mithuru Freshwater Fisher- ies Cooperative Society in Maduganga.

Tourists feeding tilapia, Maduganga, Sri Lanka © K. Ekaratne Sri Lanka © K. Maduganga, feeding tilapia, Tourists Outputs > Construction of eight fish-rearing cages Objectives for red tilapia. This project had four objectives: > Transferral of technology for intensive cul- 1 to raise the living standard of the coastal ture of finfish to fishermen. community in Maduganga; SRI > Training for fishermen in cage construc- LANKA 2 to improve the community’s awareness tion, feed preparation using local ingredi- of the environment; ents, and feed management. 5.23Ú 3 to promote sustainable use of marine and > Generation of an alternative source of coastal resources; and income for these fishermen, leading to LOCATION enhanced economic growth and indirect Maduganga, Sri Lanka 4 to introduce red tilapia cage culture as a employment. PRIORITY POWS livelihood alternative. Strategies for Management > Reduced exploitation of local mangroves Civil Society Engagement Background and wildlife. Sustainable Livelihoods Hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) are the sec- DURATION ond most important farmed fish species in Accomplishments and Six months the world. They are widely distributed and challenges MFF GRANT AMOUNT successfully farmed in tropical, subtropical Project beneficiaries successfully established US$4,321 and temperate regions. Their fast growth, a cage rearing system for red tilapia, spe- tolerance of low oxygen levels, resistance to cifically genetically improved farmed tilapia disease, mass breeding potential and good (GIFT). The experience of the project indi- market acceptance makes them an ideal cates that cage rearing offers a viable alterna- food fish. Raising these fish in confined, con- tive occupation to sea fishing. Project ben- trolled conditions is an aquaculture practice eficiaries also gained skills and knowledge 131 in efficient fish management systems. Their Lessons learned “The programme aimed success has created a noticeable extension It is essential to identify an appropriate mar- to promote an attractive effect, with neighbouring fishermen now con- ket and develop a strong marketing strategy structing fish cages and rearing fish them- before embarking on an activity of this nature. livelihood activity which selves. Social mobilisation is also necessary for sta- is acceptable ecologically, The additional income from the sale of red ble and sustainable implementation of project socially and economically, tilapia has helped to reduce exploitation pres- activities. sure on nearby mangroves and other coastal The target beneficiaries have been happy and will protect natural resources. Fish farming is also contributing with the success of their venture and have resources in and around to alleviating poverty sustainably, since it has agreed to keep it running. They have pro- Maduganga estuary. It low operational and environmental costs. duced a second harvest of ted tilapia, and the Sewalanka Foundation has committed is good to see young Challenges itself to supervising and monitoring their fishermen continue fish One challenge faced by the project was the efforts, and to supporting them in book- farming even though the difficulty in finding a buyer for the entire har- keeping, fish farming technology and other vested stock of tilapia. relevant matters. donor funding and other support have ended.” CONTACT INFORMATION — MRS MAHEENI SINGAPPULI Sewalanka Foundation NATIONAL FISHERIES COORDINATOR, Bakmeegahawattha, SEWALANKA FOUNDATION Kahawannagama Road, Thalpe, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 91 2282674

132 5.24 Establishing a community biogas plant

Indian Ocean tsunami.. Other than wood the local people have no sources of energy, so rely heavily on the estuary’s mangroves for firewood. Alternative sources of energy and income that are both cost-effective and environmentally friendly are badly needed. In the village of Mohottiwatta, the more affluent households use liquid petroleum gas for cooking, but others mostly use fuelwood. Mohottiwatta lacks an organized waste collection service, so villagers dump their kitchen waste into the estuary. To reduce fuelwood extraction from mangroves and pollution of the estuary, the NGO Human & Environment Links Progres- sive Organization (HELP-O) constructed a small biogas plant on private property in the

Biogas cook, Balapatiya, Sri Lanka © K. Ekaratne Sri Lanka © K. Balapatiya, Biogas cook, village to supply cooking gas to three nearby households. HELP-O also helped the com- Objectives munity to develop alternative sources of This project had four main objectives: income, with the goal of strengthening the environmental sustainability of coastal devel- 1 to increase awareness of the value of opment and raising public awareness of local mangrove ecosystems; environmental concerns. SRI LANKA 2 to demonstrate successful methods for Target beneficiaries restoring mangroves; Families living near the Maduganga estuary. 5.24Ú 3 to prevent further destruction of man- Outputs groves; and > Installation of a 12 m³ biogas unit to pro- LOCATION duce cooking fuel using organic house- Maduganga, Sri Lanka 4 to provide alternative livelihoods. hold wastes supplied daily. PRIORITY POWS Strategies for Management Background > The supply of generated biogas to house- Civil Society Engagement The Maduganga estuary is one of Sri Lanka’s holds. DURATION most important wetland sites and home to a One year diverse range of plant and animal species. > Enhanced awareness of local environ- This richness, however, is threatened by mental concerns. MFF GRANT AMOUNT US$4,382 over-exploitation and pollution, creating an urgent need to educate local people about > Improved livelihoods through alternative the threats to the wetland and instil an appre- forms of employment. ciation of its multiple values. The communities living in the estuary > Establishment of home garden pro- generally depend on seasonal small-scale grammes. fishing and other minor sources of income. 133 Many were severely affected by the 2004 > Replanting of 0.2 hectares of mangroves. > Collection and disposal of waste from the Another obstacle was a negative view coastal area. of biogas units, caused by a belief that they would warm people’s homes and emit a Accomplishments and putrid smell. Some people also had a nega- challenges tive opinion of organic fertiliser, but aware- Four families are now using biogas units to ness programmes helped to overcome this. generate energy instead of cutting man- Replanting mangroves was also a chal- groves for firewood. The biogas plant lenge as newly planted trees needed cover received a much larger amount of kitchen and shade to grow, but these were not easily waste than anticipated. Besides the waste found in the area. from the direct beneficiaries (i.e. the householders provided with gas), other community Contributions to cross-cutting members also brought their kitchen waste themes to the plant. A nearby Home for the Aged Gender equality and a Boys’ Home also supplied their kitchen The project was a collective effort involving wastes. The increased supply of waste ena- both men and women as active participants. bled four households to be supplied with gas, In communities such as Mohottiwatta, men one more than originally planned. are generally seen as the breadwinners and Through the project, villagers engaged in women as the housewives, but this project other activities to generate income for their help to empower women economically. families, including home gardening, coconut Women also played a part in income distribu- fibre production and tourism. Villagers took to tion, strengthening community involvement home gardening, spurred by positive results in this effort. from using liquid fertiliser produced by the biogas plant. Lessons learned The project’s awareness programmes As the experience in Mohottiwatta has helped to increase local people’s knowledge shown, changing the attitudes of local people about mangroves and their values. Families may be needed to achieve success in some became more aware of the importance of communities. The reluctance of community the environment, and involved themselves in members to venture into new activities, such communal activities to improve it. More than as using biogas units, can be overcome by 150 villagers cleared the waste from a one- exposing them to their benefits through vis- kilometre stretch of shoreline, and an initiative its to communities which have successfully was launched to protect the Madu River. adopted such innovations. The project was effective on three fronts. Challenges More and more families are using biogas The project managed to cut dumping of units. Women have been empowered and CONTACT INFORMATION waste into the estuary, as both direct and are creating their own home gardens. Lastly HELP–O (Human & Environment Links Progressive Organization) indirect beneficiaries in Mohottiwatta now the community has recognised the impor- take their kitchen wastes to the biogas plant. tance of mangroves and the estuary eco- 364/18A, Samagi Mawatha, Galle, Sri Lanka Nevertheless it proved difficult to stop people system, and has strengthened its efforts to using the shore as a waste dump. protect the coast and its resources. Tel: +94 91 4380121

134 5.25 Publishing an environmental magazine, Madupuwath

river banks. The need to inform local people of the dangers faced by this unique ecosystem, and so reduce the threats, was recognized by the Maduganga Development Foundation (MDF), a pioneering local NGO. With support from government, and later MFF, MDF started spreading the message through an environmental magazine. Madupuwath is a monthly environmental magazine devoted to the Maduganga wetland. Published in the Sinhala language, the first four issues were printed in 2007 in black and white, with funds from the Coastal Resources Management Project administered by the Coast Conservation Depart- ment. MDF secured a small grant from MFF to produce 12 more issues of the magazine,

magazine, Sri Lanka © K. Ekaratne Sri Lanka © K. Madupuwath magazine, which carries news items and articles on Maduganga area. Objectives The aim of this project was to educate This project had two main objectives: to the community around Maduganga, and in educate the community living around Madu- particular to educate local schoolchildren ganga estuary about its environmental val- and win their cooperation for protecting the ues; and to educate schoolchildren in the remaining unspoilt mangroves in the estuary. SRI local community. LANKA Target beneficiaries Background The community living around the Maduganga 5.25Ú The Maduganga estuary and its islands, wetland, and schoolchildren in particular. a complex coastal wetland ecosystem, was declared a Ramsar site in 2003. The Outputs LOCATION 915 hectare estuary consists of 770 hectares > Production and distribution of 12 issues Maduganga, Sri Lanka of open water and 15 islands that collectively of Madupuwath. PRIORITY POWS cover 145 hectares. It has several wetland Civil Society Engagement vegetation types, including mangrove for- > Awareness of environmental issues raised est, mangrove scrub and bank scrub, with in the community. DURATION One year a total of 303 plant species in 95 families. Mangroves harbour the greatest number of Accomplishments and MFF GRANT AMOUNT plant species, closely followed by mangrove challenges US$4,386 mixed swamps. Over the course of a year, the project pub- The threats to the Maduganga wetland lished 12 issues of Madupuwath, an envi- are many, chiefly clearing of mangroves, ronmental magazine targeting schoolchildren dumping of waste, discharges of fuel from with stories and news articles relevant to the boats, discharges of agro-chemicals, the Maduganga area. The grant allowed MDF to spread of invasive species, and erosion of improve the magazine’s design and layout

135 to make it more attractive, and covered the Contributions to cross-cutting printing costs of the first three issues. Pro- themes duction of the next nine issues was funded Communications and gender equality from the sales of previous issues. Issues 5 The project was entirely in the field of com- to 12 were printed in colour in editions of munications, and targeted both men and 1,000 copies. They were sold for US$0.26 women, including boys and girls, as produc- at local bookshops and schools, and at the ers and readers. MDF office. Lessons learned Challenges A publication can raise community aware- The project faced a delay in implementation ness and promote involvement in environ- caused by a change of administration, but mental conservation. However, a market Mr Gunadasa de Silva, founder of the Maduganga Development Foundation © MFF was eventually able to bring awareness of the analysis should be carried out before pub- importance of conserving mangroves into the lishing any periodical that depends on sales school curriculum. revenue for its long-term sustainability.

CONTACT INFORMATION Maduganga Development Foundation (MDF)

373C Galle Road, Pathegamgoda, Balapitiya, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 77 9714278

136 5.26 Educating people about the threats to the Maduganga ecosystem

environment. So it is crucial that information on the wetland’s values and importance is highlighted in schools and villages. This project sought to give the communities in Maduganga a basic environmental education to help them understand the need to protect the mangroves around the islands in the estuary. It hoped to kindle interest and involvement in conserving the estuary’s mangroves by showing how the livelihood and well-being of the community depend on them.

Target beneficiaries Schoolchildren from Ambalangoda and Balapitiya, as well as community members from Galmanduwa, Pathegama and Maduwa

Students test samples, Maduganga, Sri Lanka © LJSSS Maduganga, Students test samples, islands in the Maduganga estuary.

Objectives Outputs The main objective of this project was to > Delivery of environmental education pro- inform local people of the threats to the grammes for young people and commu- Maduganga ecosystem, and the need for nity members. collective action to conserve it as a valuable SRI resource, through a specially devised educa- > Production and distribution of leaflets. LANKA tion programme. The project also aimed to transfer knowledge and skills to schools and > Monitoring data on changes in selected 5.26Ú the community, and to develop a resource parameters of the wetland ecosystem. centre for environmental studies at the Sar- vodaya Multi-Purpose Community Centre > Replanting of Galmanduwa island and its LOCATION (MPCC). mainland approach with mangroves. Maduganga, Sri Lanka > PRIORITY POWS Background Equipping of a laboratory and museum at Civil Society Engagement The mangroves around the Maduganga wet- Sarvodaya MPCC. land are under serious threat from the activi- DURATION > One year ties of nearby communities. Lanka Jathika The establishment of a library at Sarvo- Sarvodaya Shramadana Sangamaya (or just daya MPCC. MFF GRANT AMOUNT Sarvodaya), one of the largest NGOs in Sri US$4,320 Lanka, works closely with Maduganga com- Accomplishments and munities. Sarvodaya has observed that com- challenges munities around the wetland are either indif- Through this project, the community learned ferent or unaware of the adverse changes in about the importance of mangroves and the Maduganga ecosystem. They also noted gained a better understanding of why they that communities lack the ability to identify, need to be protected. On the ground, Gal- measure, and keep track of changes in the manduwa island was replanted with man- 137 groves and Sarvodaya MPCC furnished system and the importance of conserving it, with a well-equipped laboratory, museum posters were displayed publicly and leaflets and library. were disseminated.

Challenges Gender equality Multiple difficulties were faced in achieving Both men and women were educated and these goals. First, changing the attitudes of informed about the values of the ecosystem community members and persuading them at Maduganga. to give priority to the environment is difficult when people are poor and depend on natu- Lessons learned ral resources for their livelihoods. The com- One important lesson is that persistence munities bordering the Maduganga wetland leads to success. Sarvodaya persisted in its do not appreciate that the changes in the efforts to educate and encourage the com- ecosystem, some of which they recognise munities, ultimately persuading them to carry themselves, arise largely from their own life- out mangrove planting. styles and occupations. The paid rehabilita- For the local schoolchildren, the project tion and reconstruction work after the 2004 designed laboratory work based on their Indian Ocean tsunami also has led people to GCE (General Certificate of Education) syl- expect payment for any work they do for the labuses. This not only supported the stu- common good. dents’ examination studies but also contributed to the monitoring of environmental Contributions to cross-cutting changes. themes In sum, the project demonstrated that Communications the community can and should be empow- As part of the effort to communicate with the ered to conserve and protect its local envi- communities on the value of the local eco- ronment.

CONTACT INFORMATION Lanka Jathika Sarvodaya Shramadana Sangamaya

98 Rawatawatte Road, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 11 2655255

138 5.27 Enhancing schoolchildren’s knowledge of mangrove ecosystems by training their teachers

mary school students (grades 1–3) includes environmental topics, but, because teachers lack proper training and guidance, their efforts fall short of the desired outcomes. Recognis- ing this constraint, the Ecocare Centre for Environmental Education and Conservation (ECO-CEN), an NGO which works on environmental education in schools, stepped in to provide teachers in selected primary schools in Balapitiya and Karandeniya Education Divi- sions, Galle District, with a refresher course and training tools.

Target beneficiaries The direct beneficiaries were teachers and schoolchildren in the Maduganga area. Indi- rect beneficiaries included government bod-

Teacher’s guidebook, Maduganga, Sri Lanka © K. Ekaratne Sri Lanka © K. Maduganga, guidebook, Teacher’s ies responsible for conservation.

Objectives Outputs This project had two main objectives: > Preparation of a teachers’ guide for primary school classes. 1 to introduce environmental activities for primary schoolchildren around Madug- > Preparation of a set of 13 CDs with 38 SRI anga in support of the national curricu- documentary films on the environment. LANKA lum; and > Preparation of a set of 5 CDs on project 5.27Ú 2 to train teachers of selected schools in activities as a teaching tool, and a CD on conducting environmental activities and mangrove ecosystems as a teaching aid, communicating environmental messages for 54 schools. LOCATION to their students. Maduganga, Sri Lanka > Raised awareness among local teach- PRIORITY POWS Background ers of the importance of the Maduganga Civil Society Engagement Conserving natural ecosystems in Sri Lanka River and its surroundings. has become increasingly difficult because DURATION > One year of conflicts with communities’ attitudes and Introduction of “The Song of Culture of habits. People exploit mangrove ecosys- Maduganga” in the teachers’ guide. MFF GRANT AMOUNT tems, often in response to poverty, and so US$4,386 contribute to environmental degradation and > Selection of the “Seed Game” which continued social and economic deprivation. uses Kaduru (Cerbera spp.) seeds, as This project sought to change the attitudes the Game of Maduganga. of the younger generation and strengthen understanding in local communities of how > Nomination of the rathamilla (Lumnitzera to use ecosystems in non-destructive ways. littorea) flower as the flower of Madug- The current curriculum for Sri Lanka’s pri- anga. 139 > Introduction of E-learning and use of new Contributions to cross-cutting technology to local schools. themes Communications Accomplishments and The project was notable for the large amount challenges of communications materials it produced on As a result of the project, local teachers CDs. These comprise a CD on mangrove became interested in the environment of ecosystems, a set of five CDs with project Maduganga and better equipped in terms of activities, and a set of 13 CDs with 38 doc- environmental knowledge, teaching skills and umentary films on the environment. The teaching aids. The area gained a pool of pri- project also produced a CD of traditional Sri mary school teachers well-versed in teaching Lankan harvest songs titled Songs for the environment-related topics, and in producing Environment. teaching guides and educational tools. These teachers can be deployed to assist the 32 Gender equality schools not covered by the project. The project targeted all schoolchildren and The project provided education on man- teachers irrespective of their gender. groves and ecosystems through new tools of learning such as computers. Traditional Lessons learned culture was also used in innovative ways: a A difference can be made by changing the song and a seed game were introduced, and educational system to incorporate environ- the flower of rathamilla (L. littorea) nominated mental studies as a subject. This can help to as the flower of Maduganga. influence attitudes in the younger generation by teaching them about conservation meth- Challenges ods and the importance of the Maduganga Some older teachers were not ready to wetland. accept new concepts and teaching meth- If the project’s outputs are sustained, ods, and were reluctant to use new technol- teachers will approach their classes with ogy and modern equipment. The planned greater enthusiasm and confidence; and activities of the project also had to be rede- both students and teachers will enjoy the signed on certain occasions to suit the cur- learning experience more. Before long, riculum as teachers hesitated to spend time schoolchildren in the Maduganga area will on new activities. Most local schools do not have a sound foundation for understanding have computers and those that exist are not environmental issues. Their knowledge of maintained properly. For these reasons, the the Maduganga wetland ecosystem and its CONTACT INFORMATION teachers’ guide had to be revised several importance should motivate them to protect Ecocare Centre for Environmental Education and Conservation times, resulting in extra time spent and extra and conserve their natural heritage. (ECO-CEN) costs. One important lesson was that, before Another challenge was the poor public starting a project of this type, it is impor- Environmental Information Centre, image of NGOs, which made it hard to win tant to assess the situation on the ground YMBA Building, Fort, Galle, Sri Lanka community support during the early stages directly rather than rely on secondary infor- of the project. mation. Tel: +94 91 2227077

140 5.28 Removing pond apple from parts of the Maduganga wetland

Balapitiya, secured a small grant from MFF to control the spread of this invasive species and restore affected mangrove areas.

Target beneficiaries The Maduganga wetland community, including students and visitors.

Outputs > Clearing of pond apple from an area of 0.2 hectares.

> Planting of 1,800 seedlings of Rhizophora mucronata.

Accomplishments and challenges

, Maduganga, Sri Lanka © R. Mahindapala Sri Lanka © R. Maduganga, glabra , of A. Area cleared The project managed to remove pond apple growth and replant mangroves in a part of the Objectives wetland. It also increased the community’s The objectives of this project were to remove appreciation of the importance of mangroves the invasive species Annona glabra from through an awareness workshop. selected locations in the Maduganga wetland, and to restore these areas through Challenges SRI mangrove replanting. Although the original plan was to clear an LANKA area of 0.6 hectares, hire charges for back- Background hoes rose after the proposal was submitted 5.28Ú A. glabra, commonly known as pond apple, and their use had to be curtailed. Further, is an aggressive, invasive tropical fruit tree project administration was time-consuming which grows in wetland areas and can choke and difficulties were encountered in getting LOCATION mangrove swamps. Its seedlings carpet the the necessary approvals to carry out activi- Maduganga, Sri Lanka banks of watercourses, preventing other ties. PRIORITY POWS plant species from germinating or growing. Strategies for Management The dense thickets it forms can gradually Lessons learned Civil Society Engagement replace everything else in the canopy, and It is only through raising awareness that the DURATION pose a threat to the survival of native wetland community can learn how to protect and Ten months and mangrove communities. conserve mangroves. The project’s efforts The Maduganga wetland in south-west in this respect encouraged the community MFF GRANT AMOUNT US$3,842 Sri Lanka has been designated a Ram- to get involved in replanting mangroves, and sar Wetland of International Importance. In also stimulated the interest of schoolchildren recent years, several areas of the wetland in learning more about forest values. have been threatened by pond apple growth. MDF is committed to monitoring the The Maduganga Development Foundation, growth of the replanted area, identifying and an NGO based in the nearby community of if necessary removing any regrowth of A.

141 glabra. It is expected, however, that clearing pond apple from the area will facilitate rapid natural regeneration of the native plant community.

CONTACT INFORMATION Maduganga Development Foundation (MDF)

373C Galle Road, Pathegamgoda, Balapitiya, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 77 9714278

142 5.29 Improved community management of the Maduganga wetland

In particular, the project aimed to supply local fishermen with an environmentally friendly and cost-effective replacement for the kerosene lamps they generally use for night fishing. Each fishing boat is estimated to use one litre of kerosene nightly, costing US$0.75. In a pilot initiative, the Nagenahiru Foundation gave 18 fishermen electric lamps, charged in the daytime by two community- operated solar-powered units.

Target beneficiaries Community members living around the powered lamp, Maduganga, Sri Lanka © K. Ekaratne Sri Lanka © K. Maduganga, powered lamp, - Maduganga estuary.

Outputs > Improvements to Pathamulla Mangrove

Demonstrating the solar Education Centre.

Objectives > Delivery of 16 awareness programmes This project had four main objectives: and 23 education camps.

1 to raise awareness of the importance of > Provision of 18 solar-powered LED/CFL the Maduganga ecosystem; lamps to 18 fishermen. SRI LANKA 2 to pilot alternative livelihood activities for > Provision of two community-operated those engaged in harmful practices; solar-powered charging units. 5.29Ú 3 to safeguard the health of the wetland > Training for 50 women in reed handicraft ecosystem; and production. LOCATION Maduganga, Sri Lanka 4 to establish an environmental task force > Training for 50 women in organic home PRIORITY POWS to conserve the wetland ecosystem. gardening. Civil Society Engagement Background > Establishment of a model mangrove DURATION Eight months The mangroves of the Maduganga estuary nursery and planting of 3,000 mangrove play important ecological, economic and seedlings. MFF GRANT AMOUNT social roles. Conserving this ecosystem US$4,386 is vital, which means teaching local com- > Creation of an environmental task force munities how to manage and protect it for with 100 members. future generations. The Nagenahiru Founda- tion, a local NGO, created an eight-month Accomplishments and programme to highlight the importance of challenges mangroves and develop alternative sources People’s attitudes towards conserving the of income for enhancing livelihoods without wetland have changed. The community 143 damaging the forests. has gained insights into the importance of mangroves and the environment, and has tionally depend on men to bring in the income become more enthusiastic about protecting and women to look after the home and chil- the ecosystem. In practical terms, partici- dren. Through this project, both men and pants planted 3,000 mangrove seedlings in women were given opportunities to enhance an effort to restore degraded coastal veg- their incomes. Men made savings by using etation. the new lamps. Women trained in handicrafts The project also helped the Pathamulla and home gardening contributed to the well- Mangrove Education Centre to educate being of their families and gained some eco- schoolchildren and local people about the nomic independence. importance of safeguarding the coastline. Fishermen switched from polluting kero- Climate change sene lamps to more environmentally friendly The move to electric lamps has eliminated electric lamps. This eliminated the emission carbon dioxide and other emissions from of 3.15 kg of carbon dioxide and kerosene burning kerosene, reducing the impact of fumes by each lamp, each night. Each fish- fishing on fishermen’s health and the atmos- erman also saves about US$220 annually in phere. kerosene costs. Women were trained in handicraft pro- Lessons learned duction and organic home gardening meth- The 18 fishermen now enjoy night fishing in ods to supplement their income and give a fume-free environment with reduced health them economic opportunities on a par with risks (constant exposure to noxious kerosene men. They can now make a greater contribu- fumes is unhealthy). The new electric lamps tion to their family’s income. allow uninterrupted fishing irrespective of the weather, unlike kerosene lamps which cannot Challenge be used in the wind and rain. The fishermen One challenge faced by the project was con- appreciate the economic and environmental stant flooding, which hindered the growth of benefits of the lamps and have continued to the replanted mangrove seedlings. use them. It is important to educate communities Contributions to cross-cutting through awareness programmes, and in this themes respect the Pathamulla Mangrove Education Communications Centre played a key role. Especially important An environmental exhibition was mounted by are training courses which will motivate and schoolchildren to highlight the importance of inspire community members. the environment. Lastly the women targeted in this project have taken well to home gardening and Gender equality handicrafts, indicating that the project’s The project benefited and empowered both choice of alternative activities was an appro- men and women. Local communities tradi- priate one.

CONTACT INFORMATION Nagenahiru Foundation

11/4 Patabendimulla, Ambalangoda, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 91 2256621 144 5.30 Empowering fisherwomen by generating additional income from the cultivation of Aloe vera (Phase 1)

local crop-growing conditions are generally unfavourable, alternative ways of generating household income are needed that are cost-effective and environmentally friendly. To this end, the project sought to encourage households to cultivate Aloe vera (Aloe vera) to meet the high demand for its products in the medicine and cosmetics industries. Aloe vera (known locally as komarika) is a multi-purpose plant, providing medicine and drink. Aloe gel is the base for soaps, body lotions, skin care products, foot creams and many modern cosmetics, and reportedly has antiseptic properties. The latex is a well- known laxative. In recent years the demand for Aloe vera products has grown rapidly both locally and internationally.

Aloe vera plantation managers, Puttalam, Sri Lanka © S. Christensen Sri Lanka © S. Puttalam, Aloe vera plantation managers, Aloe vera thrives in the dry, sandy conditions around Puttalam lagoon, and wild Objectives plants collected from this area have long This project had four main objectives: been used for soaps, lotions, creams and other products by cosmetic manufacturers 1 to reduce pressure on Bar Reef and its in Sri Lanka. Using an MFF small grant, the associated marine and coastal resources; Marine and Coastal Resources Conserva- 5.30Ú SRI tion Foundation (MCRCF), an NGO based in LANKA 2 to increase the income of poor coastal Kalpitiya, launched a programme to cultivate householders; Aloe vera on the homesteads of 15 selected fisher families. 3 to empower women; and The introduction of a supplementary means of generating income, especially LOCATION 4 to stimulate income generation. for local women, was considered a feasi- Puttalam, Sri Lanka ble approach to reduce fishing pressure. PRIORITY POWS Background MCRCF implemented the project in col- Sustainable Livelihoods Puttalam lagoon is renowned in Sri Lanka for laboration with three local fishery societies: its finfish and crustacean fishery. The lagoon the Semuthu Fisheries Cooperative Society DURATION Five months from January to supports over 3,000 fishermen from 28 reg- in Kudawa, and the St Sebastian Fisheries May 2009 istered fishery societies, who together are Cooperative Societies in Kudawa and Ana- responsible for increasing exploitation pres- wasala. MFF GRANT AMOUNT US$4,386 sure on the natural resources. Communities around the lagoon have responded to declin- Target beneficiaries ing fishery production and rising fuel prices Fifteen fisher families in Puttalam lagoon. by intensifying their fishing efforts, causing negative impacts on the vital reef ecosys- Outputs tem and its biodiversity. Because land- > Training of 15 fisher families, especially based income opportunities are limited, and the women, in cultivating Aloe vera. 145 > Provision of plants and necessary tools to at women, giving them a livelihood of their “The project built trust in the families. About 575 Aloe vera plants own and empowering them economically. the alternative livelihood were given to each family. option among the Lessons learned > The establishment of a buy-back system Demand for Aloe vera plants has grown rap- communities dependent operated by MCRCF. idly among fisher families. A plant nursery on coastal resources.” should be established to meet this demand. — HASANTHA AMARASEKERA > Provision of an improved income-gener- Mulching is required, but chemical fertilis- PROJECT MANAGER, MCRCF ating activity for 15 fishing families. ers are unnecessary. Too much shade has a negative impact on plant growth. Accomplishments and The creation of market linkages by challenges MCRCF was an important contributor to Fifteen poor fisher families now have an success. With MCRCF’s support, an Aloe alternative source of income. The project vera cultivators’ society was formed and links also successfully linked the families to Janet made to reputable private companies, allow- Ayurveda, a cosmetics company wanting to ing households to expand cultivation. procure Aloe vera for its products. The diversification of livelihoods has Self-confidence was built up among poor helped to reduce pressure on coastal eco- families who used to be engaged only in fish- systems and resources, as fishermen spend ing activities. More fishermen now focus on more time on cultivation and less time fishing. cultivating Aloe vera and spend less time MCRCF is continuing to support the fishing. project by giving free technical advice to local people interested in cultivating Aloe vera. Contributions to cross-cutting More and more fisher families are turning to themes Aloe vera cultivation as it is proving to be not Gender equality just a supplement to their income but also a Aloe vera cultivation has been aimed primarily profitable business in its own right.

CONTACT INFORMATION Marine and Coastal Resources Conservation Foundation (MCRCF)

School Lane, Kandakuliya North, Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 32 3292516

146 5.31 Empowering fisherwomen by generating additional income from the cultivation of Aloe vera (Phase 2)

hold incomes, the local NGO Marine and Coastal Resources Conservation Foundation (MCRCF) proposed introducing household cultivation of Aloe vera (Aloe vera, known locally as komarika). To ensure the sustainability of this activity, MCRCF sought to establish strong market linkages with businesses demanding Aloe vera products.

Target beneficiaries Fifteen fisher families.

Outputs > Training of 15 fisher families, especially the women, in cultivating Aloe vera.

> Provision of plants and necessary tools to

Harvesting Aloe vera, Puttalam, Sri Lanka © K. Ekaratne Sri Lanka © K. Puttalam, Aloe vera, Harvesting the families. About 575 Aloe vera plants were given to each family. Objectives This project had four main objectives: > The establishment of a buy-back system operated by MCRCF. 1 to reduce pressure on Bar Reef and its associated marine and coastal resources; > Provision of water pumps to ten fishing 5.31Ú SRI families for garden watering. LANKA 2 to increase the income of poor coastal householders; > Construction of two tube wells.

3 to empower women; and > Installation of two drip irrigation systems.

LOCATION 4 to stimulate income generation > Provision of an improved income-gener- Puttalam, Sri Lanka ating activity for 15 fishing families. PRIORITY POWS Background Sustainable Livelihoods The coastal community of Kudawa village Accomplishments and faces the dual challenge of declining natu- challenges DURATION Five months from July to ral resources and an increasing cost of liv- The project built up trust in the community, November 2009 ing. To compensate, community members strengthening relationships between people have been intensifying their use of coastal through closer integration and collaborative MFF GRANT AMOUNT US$4,386 resources, leading to accelerated degrada- action. Fisher families gained self-confidence tion of the coastal ecosystem and declin- from earning a supplementary income. They ing biodiversity. Urgent action is needed to spent less time at sea and more time on land introduce alternative means of generating helping with cultivation. income, ideally ones that are cost-effective The project transformed 1.6 hectares of and environmentally friendly. To this end of bare land into a productive Aloe vera plot. reducing poverty and increasing house- It increased the number of home gardens 147 with water pumps. The participating families Lessons learned “Since my first Aloe vera improved their skills in record keeping and Participating in developing an alternative live- harvest in December 2009, maintaining their gardens. Market linkages lihood strengthened the self-confidence of were established with Janet Ayurveda, a community members. Once they saw how I have deposited US$304 leading cosmetics company in Sri Lanka. easy, cheap and profitable Aloe vera cultiva- in my two daughters’ tion can be, they became interested in try- savings bank account.” Challenges ing it themselves. Now that they have more — DEEPIKA ENAT EDIRISINGE One drawback is that the fishing families who experience of the business of cultivation, they PROJECT BENEFICIARY, have converted to cultivating Aloe vera are remain positive about its benefits and are pre- ANAWASALA, KALPITIYA finding that demand is currently low. Also, pared to continue their work. knowledge about Aloe vera cultivation is gen- Despite the current weakness of demand, erally lacking among other fishing families. the future looks promising as market linkages have been formed and an Aloe vera cultiva- Contributions to cross-cutting tor’s society set up under the guidance of themes MCRCF, which is also giving free advice to Gender equality cultivators. Although it targeted entire families, the The success of this project has led other project’s focus was on empowering women community members to start cultivating Aloe economically. vera of their own accord.

CONTACT INFORMATION Marine and Coastal Resources Conservation Foundation (MCRCF)

School Lane, Kandakuliya North, Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 32 3292516

148 5.32 Sustainable livelihood development for low- income families in the Puttalam lagoon area

Target beneficiaries Forty low-income families living in the Palavi area of Puttalam.

Outputs > Establishment of two women’s organisations.

> Delivery of awareness programmes on the importance of the local environment.

> Delivery of awareness programmes on gender equality and human rights.

> Organisation of an educational trip.

> Delivery of four training events on busi-

Handicraft livelihoods, Puttalam, Sri Lanka © R. Mahindapala Sri Lanka © R. Puttalam, Handicraft livelihoods, ness-related topics.

Objectives > Active engagement of 40 women in busi- The project had two main objectives: ness ventures.

1 to develop the skills and knowledge of > Establishment of a revolving loan fund. 40 underprivileged women from all eth- 5.32Ú SRI nic groups living next to Puttalam lagoon; Accomplishments and LANKA and challenges Women were empowered to build a liveli- 2 to improve the socio-economic status hood for themselves without needing help of 40 families through the introduction of from the men in their family. Such women’s environmentally friendly alternative liveli- development activities often have far-reach- LOCATION hoods. ing impacts extending beyond the boundary Puttalam, Sri Lanka of the household. PRIORITY POWS Background Sustainable Livelihoods This project focused on enhancing the liveli- Contributions to cross-cutting hoods of women from 40 low-income fami- themes DURATION Gender equality Six months lies living in the vicinity of Puttalam lagoon. It aimed to increase women’s self-confidence This project targeted women, helping to MFF GRANT AMOUNT and empower them economically through empower them economically. US$3,939 awareness programmes on gender equality and human rights, and through the provision Lessons learned of loans for small business ventures. To ensure the sustainability of projects aimed

149 at supporting underprivileged communities, it is essential to involve community members in project design, seek their cooperation in every activity from the outset, and give them responsibility for the project’s success. Also important is giving participants space to solve problems and manage conflicts amongst themselves without outside interference.

527, Wilpotha, Chilaw, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 60 2321380

150 5.33 Replanting mangroves and introducing eco- friendly home gardening

> Creation of environmental awareness.

> Establishment of 30 home gardens.

> Provision of training in composting.

> Demonstration of soil conservation methods.

> Establishment and maintenance of a mangrove nursery.

> Establishment of wind breaks and live fences.

> Mounting of a drawing exhibition.

> Compost preparation, Puttalam, Sri Lanka © K. Ekaratne Sri Lanka © K. Puttalam, Compost preparation, Monitoring and evaluation of home gardens, fruit plants and trees. Objectives This project sought to conserve the man- > Replanting of mangroves on a 0.4-hec- grove environment of Kalpitiya lagoon and tare area using 2,000 plants of Rhizo- develop agricultural practices such as home phora sp. and two other species. gardening. 5.33Ú SRI Accomplishments and LANKA Background challenges The area around Kalpitiya lagoon, which lies As a result of the project, the fishing commu- next to Puttalam lagoon, is characterised by nities around Kalpitiya lagoon are more aware shallow water tables and permeable soils of the importance of the mangroves. Their prone to leaching. These make its ground- community network has been strengthened, LOCATION water particularly vulnerable to contamination enhancing sharing of knowledge among vil- Puttalam, Sri Lanka from the chemicals used in farming. Further, lagers. A mangrove nursery was success- PRIORITY POWS high rates of soil erosion cause sedimentation fully established to supply replanting, and Strategies for Management of silt in the lagoon’s mangrove ecosystem. will continue to be maintained. Encouraged Sustainable Livelihoods Together, soil erosion and excessive use of by the positive results and benefits of home DURATION chemicals have led to groundwater pollution gardening, project beneficiaries have been Six months and degradation of mangrove ecosystems motivated to adopt it as an additional source in the area. of food and income. MFF GRANT AMOUNT US$3,904 Target beneficiaries Challenges Thirty men and women of the communities One drawback of the project was a lack of living next to Kalpitiya lagoon participation. Another was the lack of mangrove maps and related information, which Outputs hindered implementation of mangrove > Local group building and capacity devel- replanting and the nursery programme. 151 opment. A severe drought lasting 5–6 months also delayed mangrove replanting and planting of stant awareness-raising efforts are needed home gardens, and limited watering of crops. to instil local appreciation of the importance of mangroves. Contributions to cross-cutting Successes were achieved in two main themes areas. First, the target communities devel- Communications and gender equality oped an interest and desire in protecting the The project mounted a drawing exhibition to mangrove ecosystem. Second, the project create environmental awareness, and sought introduced the communities to home gar- to involve both women and men in its activi- dening as an alternative means of providing ties. food and cash income. The activities started by the project have Lessons learned now been integrated with a larger agricultural Mapping and planning of destroyed or development programme, helping to support degraded mangrove areas are needed to the planning, implementation and monitoring support any replanting programme, and con- that will ensure their long-term sustainability.

CONTACT INFORMATION Sewalanka Foundation

432A, 2nd Floor, Colombo Road, Boralasgamuwa, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 47 5675614

152 5.34 Community-based mangrove planting at Kurakkanhena

is now threatened by degradation of the rich mangrove stands bordering the lagoon caused by population growth, economic development and a general lack of environmental awareness. Around 100 families in the area cut mangroves for the firewood trade, for fuelwood, and to clear land for prawn culture. This pressure on the ecosystem has affected its biodiversity and productivity – fish populations have declined dramatically, reducing catches and fishing incomes. Limited awareness of the value of mangroves and a lack of community involvement have made this trend difficult to reverse, creating an urgent need for based mangrove planting at Kurakkanhena, Sri Lanka © K. Ekaratne Sri Lanka © K. based mangrove planting at Kurakkanhena, - interventions to rehabilitate degraded mangrove forests and institute proper commu-

Community nity-based management. A leading local fishery society, the Objectives Semuthu Fisheries Cooperative Society Ltd, This project had four objectives: secured a small grant from MFF to restore the dwindling mangrove vegetation around 1 to enhance awareness of the value of part of the lagoon, educate local people and mangroves; schoolchildren on the value of mangroves, 5.34Ú SRI and develop alternative livelihoods. Project LANKA 2 to demonstrate approaches to successful activities were implemented in partnership mangrove restoration; with the St Mary’s Fisheries Cooperative Society of Kurakkanhena. 3 to prevent further destruction of mangroves; and Target beneficiaries LOCATION Fisher families in Kurakkanhena village. Puttalam, Sri Lanka 4 to develop alternative livelihoods. PRIORITY POWS Outputs Strategies for Management Background > Training for community members in nurs- Community Resilience Puttalam lagoon on Sri Lanka’s north-west ery establishment and management. DURATION coast is noted nationally for its high biodi- Six months versity. The lagoon encompasses about 600 > Establishment and management of seven hectares of mangroves, 700 hectares of community-based mangrove nurseries. MFF GRANT AMOUNT US$4,232 salt marshes, extensive mud flats, seagrass beds, and the estuaries of two rivers, the Kala > Implementation of a community-based Oya and Mee Oya. mangrove replanting campaign. The village of Kurakkanhena lies on the northern side of the lagoon. Like other com- > Planting of 10,000 mangrove propagules munities living around the lagoon, the main on a 0.4-hectare plot, and fencing of the livelihood of Kurakkanhena is fishing. This plot. 153 > Delivery of awareness programmes for age them to reduce the amount of wood they “The fuel-efficient stoves schoolchildren and community members. cut from mangroves. These stoves helped provided through the to reduce the consumption of firewood, and project enabled us to cut > Production of brochures on mangroves also increased awareness of the threats to in the Sinhala and Tamil languages. mangroves among project beneficiaries. our fuelwood usage by 40% to 50%.” > Challenges Provision of fuel-efficient firewood-gas — MS G. SUBASHINI FERNANDO stoves to 30 families. The challenges faced by the project included PROJECT BENEFICIARY a lack of information on mangrove restoration Accomplishments and techniques, poor weather during the planting challenges programme, and an inadequate amount of The project selected appropriate species time to tend the planting until it was properly and sites for replanting after assessing the established. However, a five-member com- existing natural vegetation in the area. It mittee was formed to tend the replanted established seven mangrove nurseries, and plot under the support and guidance of the provided seeds and other necessary materi- Marine and Coastal Resources Conservation als and equipment. The mangrove planting Foundation (MCRCF), a local NGO. was carried out with species such as Rhizo- phora spp., Avicennia spp., Excoecaria agal- Contributions to cross-cutting locha and Lumnitzera racemosa. Community themes members took part in the replanting cam- Communications paign and helped to fence off the planted Mangrove awareness brochures in the Sin- area to protect it from grazing animals. hala and Tamil languages were produced Members of St Mary’s Fisheries Coopera- with support from MCRCF and disseminated tive Society who took part in project activities to schoolchildren and community members. acquired a high level of competence in mangrove nursery maintenance. The Kurakkan- Lessons learned hena Fisheries Society asked for the district Since changing weather conditions can forest officer to act as guardian of the Kurig- have an impact on tree growth and under- nanpitiya mangrove forest, which the com- mine replanting efforts, it is important to build munity helped restore. flexibility into the project schedule from the The project conducted awareness pro- outset. Donors should consider this con- grammes for schoolchildren and members straint when disbursing funds. Projects of this of St Mary’s Fisheries Cooperative Society nature should also last for at least 18 months on the importance of mangroves and man- if they are to have appreciable results. CONTACT INFORMATION grove fauna. Nearly 400 students from three Future projects should aim to build knowl- Mr H. S. Amarasekera Consultant schools, and 65 members of the Coopera- edge and experience of working with man- tive Society, participated in these activities, grove species other than Rhizophora and Semuthu Fisheries Cooperative auguring well for future sustainability. Bruguiera, and to that end should promote Society Ltd, Puttalam, Sri Lanka The project also supplied fuel-efficient a dialogue between practitioners and scien- firewood-gas stoves to 30 families to encour- tists. Tel: +94 77 2263365

154 5.35 Replanting mangroves in the Dutch Canal to enhance ecosystem productivity

fisheries industry. In recent times, however, the mangroves lining the Canal’s banks have been cleared illegally to set up prawn farms. The consequences of this loss and degradation of forests have included the reduction of finfish and crustacean catches, a decline in biodiversity, irregular water flows, and the drying up of natural springs. Sri Lanka’s National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA) obtained a small grant from MFF to restore a section of the degraded mangrove area along the Canal. As part of the rehabilitation of the prawn aquaculture industry in Puttalam, NAQDA has been implementing a programme to dredge the Dutch Canal, the main source of water for local prawn farmers, to improve

Replanting mangroves in the Dutch Canal, Sri Lanka © R. Mahindapala Sri Lanka © R. Replanting mangroves in the Dutch Canal, its flow. Its long-term objective, to which this project contributed, is to improve the water Objectives quality of the canal ecosystem and its associ- This project had four main objectives: ated fish breeding grounds, and so improve the income of the local fishing community. 1 to improve the water quality of Puttalam lagoon; Target beneficiaries 5.35Ú SRI The fishing community and water users along LANKA 2 to increase the availability of fish breeding the Dutch Canal in Puttalam district. grounds; Outputs 3 to increase the income of the local fishing > Planting of 11,080 mangrove plants at community; and three different sites. LOCATION Puttalam, Sri Lanka 4 to protect the natural environment of the > Installation of signboards at the three PRIORITY POWS Dutch Canal. planting sites. Reef to Ridge Civil Society Engagement Background > Establishment of a demonstration plot DURATION The Dutch Canal was constructed during with 75 different species of plants found Nine months the time of Dutch control over the maritime in mangroves. districts of Sri Lanka (then Ceylon). Once a MFF GRANT AMOUNT > US$4,386 popular supply route linking Colombo with Delivery of two awareness programmes. Puttalam, this 100-km canal is still an important source of water for communities on Sri > Training for 95 farmers. Lanka’s north-west coast from Negombo to Puttalam lagoon. The Canal and the areas Accomplishments and around Puttalam lagoon have played an challenges important historical, economic and ecologi- The project increased community aware- 155 cal role in the development of Sri Lanka’s ness of the importance of mangroves and the efforts to restore and enhance the canal eco- at the site in Viruthodei was interrupted by system. A total of 11,080 mangrove plants flooding. were planted, and by the end of 2009 overall survival rates were around 80%. Most seed- Lessons learned lings were planted only in November 2009, The project learned important lessons about however. It is hoped that the establishment planting mangroves. One is that good quality of a demonstration plot, the awareness pro- seedlings are scarce. Another is that the tim- grammes organised for schoolchildren, and ing of seed availability should be considered the involvement of the community in project when planning project activities. Also, for activities, will motivate beneficiaries to pro- the best results, Rhizophora spp. should be tect the replanted areas. planted at a spacing of one metre; Avicennia marina at 50 cm. Challenges The time allocated by the project for One problem encountered was that the replanting was inadequate for monitoring of planting site at Pulidvayal had to be rejected results. Follow-up activities will be carried because of social conflict, forcing the project out by NAQDA prawn farm monitoring units, to move to another location. Also, replanting together with farmers.

CONTACT INFORMATION National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA)

758 Baseline Road, Dematagoda, Colombo 9, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 11 4721676

156 5.36 Fuel-efficient stoves for coastal communities

> Restoration of the local lagoon area with 4,000 mangrove plants.

> Planting of 0.2 hectares with an alternative fuelwood species.

> Delivery of five awareness programmes for regular mangrove users.

> Delivery of four awareness programmes for 200 schoolchildren.

Accomplishments and challenges Fuel-efficient stoves were supplied to 390 households: 300 in Palavi village by the Vini- vida NGO Coalition for Eradicating Poverty

Fuel efficient stove, Puttalam, Sri Lanka © K. Ekaratne Sri Lanka © K. Puttalam, Fuel efficient stove, through Knowledge and Communication; 60 in Ammathota Fishing Village by PEARLS Objectives (Peaceful Environment Assured Right Last- The objective of this project was to reha- ing Solutions); and 30 in Kurakkanhena vil- bilitate and conserve threatened mangrove lage by the Semuthu Fisheries Cooperative ecosystems using participatory approaches. Society Ltd. The fuel-efficient stoves, a new tech- 5.36Ú SRI Background nology for the area, were adopted and LANKA The mangrove ecosystem around Puttalam actively used by all beneficiary households. lagoon is under threat from over-exploitation Users reported that the time taken to cook and neglect. Urgent action is needed to pro- a standard dhal curry with the fuel-efficient tect the remaining mangroves and rehabilitate stove was less than that of the conventional degraded forest areas. In the three lagoon vil- open hearth. Overall, the fuel-efficient cook- LOCATION lages of Palavi, Pallivasalthurai (Ammathota ing stoves reduced fuelwood usage by 40% Puttalam, Sri Lanka Fishing Village) and Kurakkanhena, villagers to 50%. Further, due to the stoves’ higher PRIORITY POWS – like villagers across Sri Lanka – use wood, efficiency, women spent less time preparing Strategies for Management including wood from mangroves, as fuel for meals for the family and more time on other cooking. To reduce wood consumption and pursuits. DURATION One year reduce pressure on mangroves, fuel-efficient The lagoon area around the three vil- stoves were introduced to 390 households lages was also replanted with 4,000 man- MFF GRANT AMOUNT as a sub-activity of three separate projects. grove plants, but a Gliricidia fuelwood plan- US$3,947 tation was affected by drought, reducing the Target beneficiaries impact of the project. Nevertheless, the com- 390 households in three lagoon villages. munity was involved in the replanting of the mangroves and local schoolchildren learned Outputs about the importance of intact mangrove > Supply of 390 cooking stoves. ecosystems.

157 Contributions to cross-cutting themes Gender equality This project targeted both men and women as beneficiaries.

Lessons learned Cooperation with the Grama Niladhari (government-appointed village leader) is vital for the successful implementation of project activities. Weather conditions must also be Making a fuel efficient stove, Puttalam, Sri Lanka considered when planning project activities. © R. Mahindapala

CONTACT INFORMATION Vinivida NGO Coalition for Eradicating Poverty through Knowledge and Communication

Kiriyankalliya, Mudalama, Sri Lanka

158 5.37 Preserving Puttalam lagoon for future generations

Outputs > Delivery of awareness programmes and workshops.

> Provision of training in developing home gardens.

> Creation of 15 home gardens.

> Planting of 4,000 Rhizophora seedlings.

> Installation of 40 clay stoves to reduce consumption of mangrove wood.

> Provision of cages for crab fattening to three villagers.

> Crab cages, Puttalam, Sri Lanka © K. Ekaratne Sri Lanka © K. Puttalam, Crab cages, Adoption of goat rearing by nine widows

Objectives Accomplishments and The primary objective of this project was to challenges protect and manage the natural resources The two main achievements of the project of Puttalam lagoon, on which fishing com- were increased local awareness of the munities have long depended and continue environment and ecosystems of Puttalam 5.37Ú SRI to depend. lagoon, and increased income-generating LANKA opportunities. Background In practical terms, 4,000 Rhizophora This project was implemented in the multi- seedlings were successfully established. ethnic fishing village of Ammathottam. A local Clay stoves were enthusiastically adopted by community-based organisation, PEARLS 40 women, and 41 families were given 260 LOCATION (Peaceful Environment Assured Right Lasting coconut seedlings and seeds for nine varie- Puttalam, Sri Lanka Solutions), and the Ammathottam Janahanda ties of vegetables to cultivate in their home PRIORITY POWS Fishing Women’s Guild worked together gardens. These have provided vegetables Strategies for Management to protect the environment and resources for home consumption and sale, increasing Sustainable Livelihoods of Puttalam lagoon and the Ammathottam household income. Three villagers were pro- DURATION shoreline. The project partners aimed to vided with crab cages and trained in using Ten months achieve this goal through awareness pro- them. grammes, replanting of mangroves, home MFF GRANT AMOUNT Challenges US$3,882 gardening, providing clay stoves to reduce firewood use, and raising incomes through One drawback was that some fishermen did activities such as goat farming and crab fat- not help to protect the newly planted man- tening. groves because they were ignorant of their value. These fishermen have continued to cut Target beneficiaries down mangroves for construction materials, Families in Ammathottam fishing village. firewood and other purposes. 159 Contributions to cross-cutting them enough time to harden their shells, thus themes increasing their market value. Good security Gender equality measures are essential for crab-fattening Women, especially widows, were given an activities, however. opportunity to earn extra income from home Families took to the clay stoves once gardening and goat rearing. they realised they are cheaper, easier and quicker to use for cooking. This helped to Lessons learned reduce the demand for mangrove wood as Training and awareness programmes proved fuel for cooking. The planting of fast-growing vital as the local fishing community knew little tree species such as Portia sp. also helped to about environmental values and threats. reduce mangrove cutting, while also provid- Putting soft-shelled crabs in cages gave ing fodder for livestock.

CONTACT INFORMATION Peaceful Environment Assured Right Lasting Solutions (PEARLS)

Kalpitiya Road, Pallivasalthurai, Puttalam, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 71 9203154

160 5.38 Safeguarding mangroves through awareness programmes

Target beneficiaries The fishing community of Mulipuram at Puttalam lagoon.

Outputs > Delivery of awareness programmes.

> Organization of an art competition for schoolchildren.

> Delivery of livelihood training programmes.

> Training of local village volunteers in capacity building.

> Installation of signboards informing the

planting at Puttalam, Sri Lanka © K. Ekaratne Sri Lanka © K. Rhizophora mucronata planting at Puttalam, community about MFF.

Objectives > Planting of one hectare of mangroves. The objective of the project was to safeguard the mangroves fringing Puttalam lagoon by Accomplishments and raising awareness of their importance among challenges local communities. The community planted one hectare of 5.38Ú SRI mangroves and erected signboards inform- LANKA Background ing people about the project and MFF. The Puttalam lagoon is noted nationally in Sri awareness programmes and livelihood train- Lanka for its high biodiversity. The lagoon ing programmes gave men, women and chil- extends over some 600 hectares of man- dren valuable knowledge about mangroves groves, 700 hectares of salt marshes, exten- and the coastal environment. As a result, the LOCATION sive mud flats, seagrass beds and the estuar- community is now more aware of the envi- Mulipuram, Puttalam, Sri Lanka ies of two rivers, the Kala Oya and Mee Oya. ronmental importance of the mangroves bor- PRIORITY POWS Fishing is the main livelihood of the communi- dering the lagoon. Strategies for Management ties living around the lagoon. Civil Society Engagement Over time, the rich mangrove stands bor- Challenges DURATION dering the lagoon have been degraded by the At the outset of the project, mobilizing the Eight months collection of fuel wood by local people and community proved difficult as they expected by encroachment, including the construction too much from NGOs who were unable to MFF GRANT AMOUNT US$4,374 of unauthorised buildings and conversion of meet their expectations. forest land to salt pans. Recognising that Not all of the sites identified for replanting the illegal destruction of mangroves must be mangroves were suitable because of their soil stopped, the leaders of the local fishing com- conditions or exposure to waves at high tide. munities proposed this project to safeguard Lastly, in some sites, mangroves planted the coastal mangrove belt and make people close to the seashore were damaged by the aware of the threats it faces. activities of fishermen. 161 Contributions to cross-cutting income generation methods also serves as themes a motivating factor. Communications and gender equality The project grantee learned that when Signboards were erected to disseminate restoring deforested mangrove areas, the information to the community, and the ben- soil (ideally sandy or finer sediments) has to eficiaries of the project included women’s be stable enough to ensure minimal erosion groups and women’s societies. during tree growth. The community as a whole learned how Lessons learned to tend and protect mangrove plants. The The way a project motivates community newly restored mangroves are expected to members to participate influences the way it provide additional vegetation cover for the achieves its results. Through empowerment, coast. To ensure their survival, the commu- and the support and presence of government nity, fishermen and forest field officers have officials, communities can be encouraged to continued to monitor the planting sites after contribute strongly to the project. Including the end of project.

CONTACT INFORMATION Friendly Environmental Cultural Economic Technological Support Organization

36 Masjid Road, Puttalam, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 32 2265664

162 Thailand

SGF project achievements The SGF projects in Thailand targeted areas With nearly 6,000 households directly along the Andaman Sea coast impacted by involved in SGF projects in Thailand, the the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, as well as experience has led to greater awareness of those experiencing ecosystem degradation the value of coastal habitats. Many commu- from human activities such as the clearing of nity groups have also acquired new knowl- mangroves for prawn farms and other natural edge and skills to improve their communica- forests for rubber and oil palm plantations. tion and management capacities. To foster Although the conversion or degrada- knowledge sharing at the community level, tion of coastal ecosystems was previously new networks have been established and ignored in Thailand, the widespread loss of old networks strengthened, and several new coastal habitats has prompting the govern- youth groups formed. ment to introduce a conservation and restoration policy for mangroves. Many of the SGF Conclusions projects were able to support this in practice. The Thai SGF projects exemplify an important Mangrove rehabilitation (POW 2) and building principle (also demonstrated by a number of community capacity for mangrove ecosys- projects in other countries), namely, that local tem conservation and management (POW partners are the primary agent for long-term 6) were the main focus of many of the Thai sustainability. Hence, any improvements in projects. their management capacity increase the like- The status of mangroves and coastal lihood that project innovations will be main- habitats was significantly improved through tained after the project ends. the collective outputs from the 15 projects. The value of involving local authorities In total, nearly 2,000 hectares of mangrove and agencies was also well-demonstrated by were demarcated, replanted or rehabilitated several projects in Thailand. In some cases in some form. this not only resulted in official recognition of The projects in Thailand were particularly the project, but also elicited direct financial or successful in rehabilitating and demarcat- in-kind support from government agencies. ing coastal ecosystem management zones, The management capacities of commu- enabling local communities to become more nity groups were noticeably strengthened involved in coastal resources conservation by many of the projects. Communities were and management. Breeding and nursery also encouraged to develop their own ideas, areas for commercially valuable aquatic spe- for example the use of Nypa palm to control cies such as clams and crabs were estab- weeds in mangrove plantations, and to share lished, and at least one endangered species their successes and concerns with other of otter was protected at one of the project stakeholder groups such as prawn farmers sites (Project 6.6). and tourist operators.

163 SGF THAILAND PROJECTS 6.1 Conserving wetlands on the Andaman coast 6.2 Conserving mangroves as a local food source 6.3 Raising awareness and promoting the use of local knowledge in managing coastal resources 6.4 Building a community network for managing mangroves and other coastal resources 6.5 Participatory rehabilitation and conservation of aquatic habitats at Mae Nang Khao 6.6 Restoring mangroves for nak thale (otters) 6.7 Strengthening the capacity of a community network for managing Phuket’s coastal resources 6.8 Strengthening coastal livelihoods and community-based tourism 6.9 Mangroves for the future 6.10 Planting Pandanus palm to protect mangroves 6.11 Rehabilitating mangroves and beach forests at Khlong Prasong 6.12 Building community capacity for managing coastal resources at Talingchan 6.13 Collective rehabilitation and conservation of mangroves at Ban Don Bay 6.14 Rehabilitating and conserving habitats for clams 6.15 Strengthening conservation of mangroves and other marine and coastal resources at Thong Toam Yai Bay

THAILAND

6.15 ÚÚ6.14 6.1 Ú 6.5Ú Ú6.13 6.4 6.11 6.2Ú 6.12 Ú ÚÚ 6.3 Ú 6.10 6.6 Ú 6.7 6.8 6.9

General location of SGF Phase 1 projects in southern Peninsular Thailand

164 6.1 Conserving wetlands on the Andaman coast

phu villages. Its aim initially was to assist the victims of the tsunami and rehabilitate damaged mangrove areas. Since then, the network has operated continuously to conserve mangroves and other coastal resources with support from public and private organisations such as UNDP, IUCN, Farmers Federation Association for Development, Raks Thai Foundation, World Vision, Save the Anda- man Network, and the Thai government’s Mangrove Development Station 9.

Target beneficiaries The main beneficiaries were 120 of the 829 households in the three core villages of the Kapoe Mangrove Rehabilitation Network.

Conserving wetlands, Andaman coast, Thailand © S. Sereepaowong Thailand © S. Andaman coast, Conserving wetlands, Outputs > Nine hectares of rehabilitated mangrove Objectives area added to the 256-hectare commu- This project aimed to ensure the sustainable nity protected area by planting N. fruti- use of mangroves, maintain biodiversity, and cans to provide raw material for income- generate supplementary income for local generating activities. 6.1 Ú people, especially from the use of the palm Nypa fruticans. Its specific objectives were: > Capacity built among community mem- THAILAND bers and youth groups through active 1 to demonstrate how mangrove forest participation in conservation activities. rehabilitation supports community livelihoods; > Conservation awareness of at least 60% of the targeted population enhanced LOCATION 2 to provide communities with knowledge through active and more frequent assem- Koh Yai Rang mangrove area, and information on managing mangroves, bly for community activities. Kapoe, Ranong, Thailand and raise community awareness of natu- PRIORITY POWS ral resources conservation; and > Adoption of community regulations for Reef to Ridge the use of community forests. Sustainable Livelihoods 3 Integrated Coastal Planning to enhance community participation in managing collective mangrove areas > Conservation of juvenile crabs and juve- DURATION and protecting them against pollution and niles of other aquatic species in an area May 2009 to November 2010 encroachment. of about one hectare. MFF GRANT AMOUNT US$9,737 Background Accomplishments and The Mangrove Rehabilitation Network of challenges Kapoe sub-district in Ranong province was Participants demonstrated their enhanced established in 2005, after the 2004 Indian capacity for rehabilitation through boundary Ocean tsunami, by community leaders from demarcation, nursery construction, replant- 165 Ban Chi Mi, Ban Darn and Ban Banglam- ing and weeding. One community adopted an innovative project demarcated two areas as a black approach to controlling an aggressive climb- crab bank and a mangrove nursery for dem- ing weed known as fish bladder (Canscora onstration and learning. pentanthera). Fish bladder grows well in the open sun and can smother newly planted Challenges mangroves. Villagers discovered, however, Crab-eating macaque monkeys (Macaca that planting Nypa palm can check weed fascicularis) uprooted newly planted Nypa growth and so reduce the time and labour palms, and crabs also damaged the palm needed for weeding. The palm is also a good seedlings, making frequent replanting nec- source of supplementary income. essary. One effective community learning mechanism was a raft in Kapoe Canal. Moored Partners and their contribution Andaman coast project stakeholder, Thailand © S. Sereepaowong among the mangroves, the raft is used as The participating communities made cash a floating exhibition for youth conservation and in-kind contributions worth US$3,150 activities. Behind the raft, on a mudflat, the and US$4,845 respectively. “The project changed people’s attitudes and CONTACT INFORMATION Mr Wiroj Dejsongpraek outlook, encouraging Project Coordinator them to be more open Kapoe Mangrove Rehabilitation Network 6/3 Moo 8, Kapoe, and listen more closely to Ranong 85120, Thailand communal concerns.”

Tel: +66 81 0891822 — MR WIROJ DEJSONGPRAEK PROJECT COORDINATOR

166 6.2 Conserving mangroves as a local food source

aquaculture, rubber cultivation and providing services to tourists.

Outputs > An increase in capacity and awareness among members of youth and women’s groups.

> Training for 30 people in the importance of intact mangroves as a food source.

> Compilation of data on 33 plant and 70 animal species found locally.

> Compilation of local knowledge about mangroves in the form of 70 mangrove- based food recipes. Teaching children how to process food from mangroves, Phang Nga, Thailand © P. Parndam Thailand © P. Phang Nga, children how to process food from mangroves, Teaching > A revival of local learning about mangrove Objectives foods among women’s and youth groups, The central goal of this project was to reha- with 40 members of the youth group bilitate and conserve mangroves and coastal taught to produce food from at least 30 resources, consistent with Thailand’s national species of tree found in mangroves. strategy for managing and reversing coastal THAILAND erosion. This would lead, it was hoped, to > Protection of a 320-hectare area of local action to ensure rehabilitation, a revival mangroves through a community forest 6.2 Ú of local knowledge, and the creation of local management scheme, with an additional sources of food for women’s groups and the 3,000 mangrove trees planted. younger generation. > Establishment of a conservation zone for LOCATION Background crabs. Takauthung, Phang Nga, Thailand The Phang Nga Bay Coastal Fishing Com- > PRIORITY POWS munity Food Security Project was launched in Publication of 100 copies of a Thai lan- Knowledge for Management 2000 by local developers and youth groups. guage case study of local foods. Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation The original aim of the project, which this Civil Society Engagement small grant sought to build on, was to pro- Accomplishments and DURATION mote the participation of community-based challenges May 2009 to November 2010 organizations in managing coastal resources The Phang Nga Provincial Mangrove Learn- MFF GRANT AMOUNT and building economic self-reliance. ing Promotion Unit chose Ban Thonglarng as US$9,834 a pilot village for learning about and compiling Target beneficiaries data on local foods. The Mangrove Manage- A total of 434 households from the villages of ment Unit 22 in Phang Nga provided a patrol Ban Laemhin, Ban Ao Makham, Ban Khlong boat for mangrove surveillance. Khian and Ban Thonglarng in the vicinity of The project used food security as an entry Phang Nga Bay National Park. The villagers point for coastal ecosystem management in 167 here typically depend on small-scale fishing, the communities living around Phang Nga Bay. Local knowledge about food became bers of the youth group were keen to learn the driving force for cooperation among dif- through hands-on experience. ferent sectors at all administrative levels, including provincial and local government Lessons learned bodies. Support from local administrative organizations and responsible government agencies Contributions to cross-cutting is important. Once communities joined forces themes to protect the mangroves, local authorities Communications recognised the strength of local feeling and Photos depicting activities by the project’s began lending their support. youth group were shortlisted in the “Chang- Learning by doing is generally necessary Women mentoring youth on traditional foods found on ing the World by Volunteering Hearts” pho- to produce the best results, especially when mangrove mudflats, Phang Nga, Thailand © P. Parndam tography contest and published in a local building capacity and raising awareness. magazine, Documentary. Partners and their contribution Gender equality The participating communities made cash Women have always maintained and passed and in-kind contributions of US$4,200 and on their knowledge about the use of local US$27,000 respectively. Mangrove Manage- plants as food and medicine. The project ment Unit 22 at Takuathung, Phang Nga, gave them an opportunity to transfer this contributed US$667 in cash and a patrol knowledge to the younger generation. Mem- boat for mangrove surveillance work.

CONTACT INFORMATION Mr Pichet Parndam Project Coordinator

Phang Nga Bay Coastal Fishing Community 39 Moo 3, Pa Klork, Thalarng, Phuket 83110, Thailand

Tel: +66 89 8731051 Email: [email protected]

168 6.3 Raising awareness and promoting the use of local knowledge in managing coastal resources

fishing. Average yearly incomes are around US$2,000 per person.

Target beneficiaries A total of 290 households from five target villages.

Outputs > Establishment of a volunteer youth group to conserve coastal resources.

> An increase in community awareness. This allowed community members to articulate their environmental and livelihood concerns, and apply what they learned to:

Villagers and SGF management team at Koh Khiam, Phang Nga, Thailand © S. Sereepaowong Thailand © S. Phang Nga, Villagers and SGF managementKhiam, team at Koh preventing the expansion of shrimp farms in the area; Objectives This project aimed to contribute to the MFF 3 demarcating seven mangrove plots as strategies of building and encouraging the community forests; and application of knowledge, and promoting improved environmental governance in 3 establishing two village mangrove THAILAND coastal areas. Project activities consisted learning centres. of building the capacity of local people by enhancing community learning and knowl- Accomplishments and 6.3Ú edge management. challenges Local authorities recognized a 200-hectare Background mangrove area in one village as a commu- LOCATION Koh Khiam is one of five target villages situ- nity forest. Community forests in the four Phang Nga Bay, Phang Nga, Thailand ated in the lower part of Phang Nga Bay. other villages still await approval. The project PRIORITY POWS Like the other four villages, Koh Khiam lies reached out to other community networks in Civil Society Engagement between coconut and rubber plantations on Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi provinces, and its landward side and mangrove forests on ultimately plans to reach as far as Ranong DURATION October 2009 to December 2010 its coastal side. The mangrove ecosystems province on the north Andaman coast. fringing the target villages are drained and The project successfully involved wom- MFF GRANT AMOUNT interlinked by four creeks. This area was en’s groups in its conservation activities. US$11,065 once regarded as one of the richest coastal During these activities, women’s leaders ecosystems in Thailand, with its extensive and members of youth groups displayed seagrass beds and coral reefs supporting the results of their efforts to use local natural a number of endangered aquatic species. resources as substitutes for bought goods. In recent years its productivity and diversity have been degraded by development, prawn Challenges farming and other activities, but local people The project was unable to reach out to every 169 still earn their living mostly from small-scale group in the community. As a result, some members were unaware of its activities. village mangrove learning centres records Where possible, extra efforts were made to these activities for visitors. communicate with these groups. Some project activities called for a rela- Lessons learned tively large amount of time which busy villag- Cooperation among various donors and ers were often unable to give. agencies before launching projects is essential for smooth implementation and optimal Contributions to cross-cutting results. themes Gender equality and communications Partners and their contribution Representatives of the women’s group in Together, participating communities and the Women and youth presenting local mangrove products, each target village actively participated in Restoration Project for Small-Scale Fishery Phang Nga, Thailand © S. Sereepaowong events to present the products they were in Andaman Coast made cash and in-kind making with materials from their commu- contributions of US$17,258 and US$465 nity forests. A photographic exhibition in the respectively.

CONTACT INFORMATION Mr Thanu Nabnian Project Coordinator

Andaman Project for Participatory Restoration of Natural Resources 32/3 Behind City Hall, Soi Tampungchang, Taichang, Muang, Phang Nga 82000, Thailand

Tel: +66 81 5375467 Email: [email protected]

170 6.4 Building a community network for managing mangroves and other coastal resources

> Preparation of a clear networking action plan, including events to commemorate mangrove protection efforts on 14 Febru- ary each year.

> Development of action plans with activities in mangrove rehabilitation, forest surveillance, zoning, and species regeneration.

> Involvement of youth groups for wider learning and networking.

> Empowerment of women’s groups through strengthening and application of local knowledge on wild foods.

> Children planting mangroves, Phang Nga Bay, Thailand © P. Parndam Thailand © P. Phang Nga Bay, Children planting mangroves, Establishment of a community fund of US$5,000 for use by 13 conservation Objectives groups in 18 different communities. This project aimed to rehabilitate and protect mangroves and coastal resources in Phang > Protection of about 480 hectares of Nga Bay by engaging people from all sectors mangroves, and planting of an additional of society. 15,000 mangrove trees. 6.4 Ú Background > Establishment of a demonstration site for THAILAND The Phang Nga Bay Coastal Fishing Com- regenerating stocks of blue swimming munity Food Security Project was launched crab (Portunus pelagicus). in 2000 by local developers and youth groups. Its original aim was to promote the > An increase in understanding of coastal LOCATION participation of community-based organi- resources management among residents Phang Nga Bay, Phang Nga and zations in managing coastal resources and of Phuket, with at least 5,000 people join- Phuket, Thailand strengthening their economic self-reliance. ing events organized by the network and PRIORITY POWS This small grant project sought to build on 600 people applying for membership in Civil Society Engagement the achievements of the initiative. the network. Capacity Building Community Resilience Target beneficiaries Accomplishments and DURATION A total of 600 households from 19 commu- challenges May 2009 to November 2010 nities, situated mostly in the middle part of Thanks to the project the voices of communi- MFF GRANT AMOUNT Phang Nga Bay. ties were heard publicly in both Phuket and US$9,347 Phang Nga provinces. In several cases, com- Outputs munities were able to establish a communal > Creation of a coordinating network as a forest conservation area in the face of unsuit- mechanism for managing mangroves and able and destructive development projects. coastal resources. This success was attributable both to direct 171 community involvement and to the influence Lessons learned of good conservation practices. Appropriately designed project activities can stimulate communities to take part in protect- Contributions to cross-cutting ing coastal ecosystems. themes Gender equality Partners and their contribution The project sought to promote participa- The participating communities made cash tion by men and women equally. Women’s and in-kind contributions of US$2,087 and leaders were observed to be more open and US$30,167 respectively. The Thai Health Pro- more willing to talk about the conflicts or motion Foundation contributed US$12,895 problems facing their communities. in cash. Stakeholders listen to a network meeting, Phang Nga Bay, Thailand © S. Sriaram CONTACT INFORMATION Mr Pichet Parndam Project Coordinator

Phang Nga Bay Coastal Fishing Community 39 Moo 3, Pa Klork, Thalarng, Phuket 83110, Thailand

Tel: +66 89 8731051 Email: [email protected]

172 6.5 Participatory rehabilitation and conservation of aquatic habitats at Mae Nang Khao

government agencies aimed at encouraging local participation in conserving mangroves.

Target beneficiaries One hundred households (out of 250) who earn their living from fishing and farming.

Outputs > Releasing of over 11,000 juvenile fish in a protected mangrove area of 10 hectares.

> Reforestation of about 32 hectares of degraded forest with 9,000 mangrove plants.

> Reduction of destructive fishing methods in the project area. Patrolling the community conservation area, Kuraburi, Thailand © S. Sereepaowong Thailand © S. Kuraburi, the community conservationPatrolling area, Accomplishments and Objectives challenges This project aimed to use participatory This project paved the way for close coop- approaches to involve communities in pro- eration and mutual support between govern- tecting, rehabilitating and planning the sus- ment agencies and project beneficiaries. The 6.5Ú tainable use of coastal resources. stakeholders affirmed the project’s contribution to enhancing collective efforts focused Background on environmental conservation, an activity THAILAND The village of Tung Rak is located in a moun- that the community values especially after tainous forest area on Thailand’s north Anda- the experience of the 2004 tsunami. man coast, in the sub-district of Mae Nang The project established regulations for Khao. After the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, communities to use and protect local man- LOCATION displaced coastal families migrated into the groves collectively. A mangrove area of about Ban Tung Rak, Mae Nang Khao, village area and established new homes. 2,400 hectares was zoned as a habitat for Kuraburi, Phang Nga, Thailand The nearby ecosystem of Mae Nang juvenile fish and other aquatic animals. PRIORITY POWS Khao mountain is under threat. This area Another area of similar size was zoned as a Strategies for Management covers about 3,520 hectares of national for- community forest. DURATION est reserve land, lying unprotected outside May 2009 to November 2010 the region’s major national parks and wildlife Challenges sanctuaries. The major threats to the forests The grantees identified poor weather condi- MFF GRANT AMOUNT US$9,164 of Mae Nang Khao include clearing for culti- tions as a major cause of delay in project vation, mainly of rubber and fruit trees, and activities. illegal logging and hunting. Six other communities share this ecosystem. Contributions to cross-cutting The Mangrove Conservation Group of themes Mae Nang Khao was originally established in Communications 2005 as the Mangrove Resources Manage- The project made efforts to keep commu- 173 ment Group of Tung Rak, with support from nities informed about its activities by using available communication facilities such as the village’s public loudspeaker, and by organizing public village meetings.

Lessons learned Participatory processes are an imperative for conserving the environment and natural resources.

Partners and their contribution The participating communities made cash and in-kind contributions of US$250 and Rhizophora stands reforested and managed by the community, Kuraburi, Thailand © S. Sereepaowong US$2,334 respectively.

CONTACT INFORMATION Mr Suchart Mittulakarn Project Coordinator

Mae Nang Khao Mangrove Conservation Group 42 Moo 6, Office of Kamnan Tambon Mae Nang Khao, Kuraburi, Phang Nga 82150, Thailand

Tel: +66 87 2672710 Email: [email protected]

174 6.6 Restoring mangroves for nak thale (otters)

Target beneficiaries About half of the 956 households in the three target villages.

Outputs > Establishment of a working group and youth network with detailed action plans to protect local otters and manage the mangroves in Ban Bangla.

> Collection of ideas and insights from community leaders on using otters as a strategic tool to involve the wider public in mangrove management.

> A doubling of the fish catch, evidence of improving mangrove productivity. Signposting the otter sanctuary, Pa Klork, Thailand © P. Parndam Thailand © P. Klork, Pa Signposting the otter sanctuary, > Community-based management of 192 Objectives hectares of mangroves. The objective of this project was to build community capacity to demarcate and man- > Establishment of an alliance of 365 stu- age conservation zones for local otter popu- dents and other residents of Phuket to lations and a community mangrove area. protect mangroves. THAILAND Background Accomplishments and The Phuket Women’s Capacity Development challenges 6.6Ú Project was established in 1998 as an NGO The demarcation of a mangrove conservation supporting activities in coastal and urban area served as an incentive for community communities in Phuket province. The Project members to restore habitats for otters. It also LOCATION aims to promote and manage campaigns on served to protect the mangrove forest from Pa Klork, Phuket, Thailand gender equality, self-sufficiency, and partici- further encroachment. PRIORITY POWS pation in managing coastal resources. After the project ended, community Knowledge for Management The Project secured a small grant from leaders reported that eight otters had been Civil Society Engagement MFF to support its work to conserve and spotted in the mangrove forest. The return Capacity Building rehabilitate the remaining 192 hectares of of these otters to the area reflects the recov- DURATION mangrove forest at Khlong Tha Rua Man- ering state of the mangroves. Further, the May 2009 to November 2010 grove Forest Reserve in Phuket by promot- community identified three new mudflats MFF GRANT AMOUNT ing participation with local community-based with large crab populations which they also US$9,404 organisations. The small grant work focused attribute to recovery of the mangrove forest. on three villages in the vicinity of the Forest Project leaders plan to propose the mid- Reserve, Ban Phakcheed, Ban Yamu and dle island and Phakcheed Canal as additional Ban Bangla. The villagers in this area depend conservation zones in the area. The canal on goods and services from mangrove for- serves as a transport channel out to sea. ests in Ban Bangla. Once established as a conservation zone, 175 it would help to stop any encroachment on conserving otters and other rare marine and the mangroves by development projects or coastal species. prawn farms. The project will use its otter conservation Contributions to cross-cutting strategy to link with other communities and themes agencies at all levels to promote replication Gender equality and mainstreaming of its approaches. Wom- The women’s group of Ban Bangla played en’s and youth groups will play a major part an important role in implementing project in this effort. activities, not to mention their everyday fam- The Learning Promotion Unit of Phuket ily responsibilities. The group’s participation is Mangrove Resources Development Station a reflection of its members’ growing capacity Traditional launching of the otter project, Pa Klork, selected Ban Bangla as a learning centre for to plan and manage the sustainable use of Thailand © P. Parndam indigenous knowledge about mangroves in natural resources. Phuket province. Members of youth groups of various ages were invited to take part in Lessons learned “Where urbanization is community activities such as replanting and Since otters are an indicator of the health of gradually spreading, a breeding of mangrove crabs. mangroves and coastal resources generally, critical question is how According to community members, communities see them as flagship species wastewater from neighbouring prawn farms for conservation activities and a vehicle for a concerned public has degraded water quality and harmed fish promoting conservation messages in other can check or control farming. The project shared its message areas. environmentally destructive about otter conservation with prawn farm development.” owners, who expressed an interest in using Partners and their contribution the species as a focus for tourism. The participating communities and grantee — COMMUNITY MEMBERS made cash and in-kind contributions of Challenges US$6,667 and US$23,334 respectively. The Project leaders had to work hard to build Thai Health Promotion Foundation contrib- local people’s understanding of the need for uted US$8,334 in cash.

CONTACT INFORMATION Ms Rattanaphron Jaengjaidee Project Manager

Phuket Women’s Capacity Development Project 258/34 Moo Baan Charoensuk, Srisunthorn, Thalang, Phuket 83110, Thailand

Tel: +66 81 9705216 Email: [email protected]

176 6.7 Strengthening the capacity of a community network for managing Phuket’s coastal resources

ecotourism. Yearly per capita income at the time of the project was about US$2,334.

Outputs > Management of 60 hectares of mangroves as a community forest, with technical support from the Phuket Mangrove Research Station.

> Planting and maintenance of 1,700 seedlings of different mangrove species.

> Conservation areas for seagrass and mangroves clearly demarcated, recorded on maps, and identified by 120 signboards posted in one community forest.

> Ban Kuku community protected area, Phuket, Thailand © S. Sereepaowong Thailand © S. Phuket, community protected area, Ban Kuku Compilation of a database of mangrove flora and fauna. This helped communities Objectives to identify new food products and prepare The long-term goal of this small grant project plans for sustainable use and conserva- was to support Thailand’s national coastal tion of their resources. resources policy. Its specific objective was to build the capacity and awareness of com- > An increase in capacity evidenced by THAILAND munity groups and organizations for playing the communities’ confidence and ability an effective part in formulating and imple- in formulating action plans, particularly menting public policy for the conservation a community network action plan and 6.7Ú and sustainable use of marine and coastal budget for 2011. resources. > Establishment of a fund to protect man- LOCATION Background groves in one village by mobilising the Muang and Thalang, Phuket, Thailand The Phuket Fisher-Folk Network was estab- community’s own resources. PRIORITY POWS lished in 2006 by members of a group of Civil Society Engagement small-scale fishing communities. Its aim was Accomplishments and Coastal Governance to advocate against poorly formulated poli- challenges DURATION cies for fisheries and tourism which had led to In Ban Tha La in Thalang district, project October 2009 to October 2010 mangrove encroachment and the degrada- beneficiaries received additional support tion of marine resources. from several agencies. This helped to build MFF GRANT AMOUNT US$11,007 and integrate different groups in the village, Target beneficiaries including small-scale fishers, a weavers’ The project targeted fishing communities in group, a food-processing group, and a tour- four villages along Phuket’s eastern coast. ism group. Project and other support also The main beneficiaries were 230 of the 4,878 led to the demarcation of a marine protected households in these villages. Most of these zone in front of Ban Tha La. households earn their living from small-scale In Ban Kuku in Muang district, 120 hec- 177 fishing, agriculture, trade and services, and tares of mangrove forest were brought under community management, and another 10 publications and by promoting its activities hectares reclaimed successfully by the com- widely. munity through legal procedures. Lessons learned Challenges The regular work commitments of beneficiar- Despite the increased capacity of community ies can affect scheduling of project activities, leaders, the target villages still face a number as some participants are likely to be busy of threats and concerns. At Ban Tha La, the during the day. A number of meetings and issue is local infrastructure development, workshops may have to be scheduled in the including a tourist programme and the con- evening. Regular dialogue and coordination struction of sea ports and a small private air- with different stakeholders help to facilitate Community network meeting in Phuket, Thailand field. For Ban Kuku, near Phuket’s provincial implementation of project activities. © S. Sereepaowong capital, the issues are land-use conflicts and related legal questions. Partners and their contribution The Andaman Project for Participatory Res- Contributions to cross-cutting toration of Natural Resources contributed themes US$18,010 in cash. The participating com- Communications munities made a total in-kind contribution of The project raised its profile through print US$12,367.

CONTACT INFORMATION Mr Pitthaya Yadum Project Coordinator

Phuket Fisher-Folk Network 24/28 Moo 1, Vichit, Muang, Phuket, Thailand

Tel: +66 89 8696189 Email: [email protected]

178 6.8 Strengthening coastal livelihoods and community-based tourism

> Promotion of alternative occupations to protect coastal and marine ecosystems and resources.

> Establishment of a youth group called “Young Volunteers” to participate in project activities, such as promoting ecotourism by developing appropriate tour equipment and manuals.

> Establishment of a waste bank in the village and along the beach, supported by the municipality.

> Planting of palm trees and mangroves near tourist sites.

Grantee and UNDP management team at boat service dock, Phuket, Thailand © S. Sriaram Thailand © S. Phuket, Grantee and UNDP management team at boat service dock, Accomplishments and challenges Objectives Project beneficiaries became more organized This project aimed to strengthen the capacity in designing eco-friendly tourist products, of community members in designing environ- including a tourist boat facility where boat- ment friendly tourism activities, as well as to ing standards and regulations are displayed. improve local environmental governance in THAILAND coastal areas. Challenges The leadership of the youth group was inter- Background rupted during the project, resulting in limited 6.8Ú Ban Bangkhonthi is a coastal community participation by its members. Project meet- in Rawai, a sub-district of southern Phuket. ings were difficult to organize because most Once an isolated fishing village, it now finds participants had regular work or other busi- LOCATION itself surrounded by growing urbanization ness during the day. The project resolved this Chalong Bay (from Cape Phanwa to with hotels, resorts and expensive housing. problem by holding meetings in the evenings. Ban Bangkhonthi), Phuket, Thailand Most people in Ban Bangkhonthi earn a living PRIORITY POWS from small-scale fishing and providing serv- Contributions to cross-cutting Civil Society Engagement ices for tourists. themes DURATION Communications October 2009 to October 2010 Target beneficiaries The project increased its visibility by co-host- Twenty-five community members involved in ing an event on water transport safety with MFF GRANT AMOUNT US$11,065 small-scale fishing and earning supplemen- local small-scale tourist businesses. tary income from tourism. Lessons learned Outputs Gradually encouraging community members > Improved capacity of communities to to meet and talk with different stakeholders, develop secure livelihoods through envi- especially government agencies, helped to ronmentally friendly tourism activities. build local confidence and mutual trust. 179 Partners and their contribution The Green Fins Association made a cash contribution of US$6,174, and together with the participating community made an in-kind contribution valued at US$3,067. The Phuket Marine Biological Centre made an in-kind contribution valued at US$2,966.

CONTACT INFORMATION Ms Kanyarat Kosavisutte Chairperson

Green Fins Association Local youth training, Phuket, Thailand © K. Kosawisuthi 34/52 Moo 8, Soi Boonbandarn, Sakdidet Road, Vichit, Muang, Phuket 83000, Thailand

Tel: +66 81 6917309 Email: [email protected]

180 6.9 Mangroves for the future

and now manages 48 of the 290 hectares of remaining mangrove forest in Phuket. Com- munity members have also established a savings project. Pu Darm, the second target community, is situated at the northern end of Phuket.

Target beneficiaries A total of 225 households in Kingkaew Soi 1 and 16 households in Pu Darm.

Outputs > Launching of capacity-building programmes on community waste management, coastal resource management and demarcating mangrove areas for reforestation and conservation. Community water treatment facility, Phuket, Thailand © S. Sereepaowong Thailand © S. Phuket, Community water treatment facility, > In Pu Darm, installation of a community- Objectives wide filtration system for reducing exces- The primary aim of this project was to sup- sive nutrient run-off in wastewater from port community organizing processes that households. address local environment and development issues, including conserving natural > Capacity of community members built for THAILAND resources. managing the wastewater filtration system, reducing run-off into the 100-hec- Background tare mangrove area next to the village. 6.9Ú Kingkaew Soi 1 is a semi-urban community of about 385 households. Its residents pur- > Establishment of links between target sue various occupations, ranging from pro- communities and other communities LOCATION viding general and professional services to who had heard about and wanted to learn Kingkaew Soi 1 and Pu Darm, Phuket, running small businesses and fishing. As a more about the project. Thailand new community with a diverse background, PRIORITY POWS it still lacks appropriate infrastructure. An Accomplishments and Civil Society Engagement estimated 40% of residents still depend on challenges Sustainable Livelihoods local mangrove forests for fishing and other At Kingkaew, 48 hectares of mangroves DURATION daily needs. were officially demarcated and managed October 2009 to December 2010 In 2007, members of the community as a community forest, and a plan prepared MFF GRANT AMOUNT launched a network with over 30 similar for their management. Within this forest, a US$10,860 communities around Phuket to rehabilitate small communal plot of the medicinal plant degraded mangroves. They received support sea holly (Acanthus ebracteatus) has been from the Community Organization Develop- protected. ment Institute, a public agency, and the gov- Pu Darm community has received many ernment’s Mangrove Development Station visitors, both Thai and foreign, wanting to 23 in Phuket. The network has carried out learn about its innovative wastewater treat- 181 various projects similar to the current one, ment system. The system has now been shared with communities in neighbouring ties and responsible government agencies. countries such as Myanmar. The project was able to create community–government links, and also attracted Contributions to cross-cutting research institutes and other interested themes organizations to its sites. Communications Lastly the impact of project activities can The development and outcomes of project be enhanced by linking them to other issues activities were documented on community in the community. In this case, the project bulletin boards and posters. was successful in building links to activities aimed at resolving land-use conflicts. Lessons learned Close up of water treatment facility, Phuket, Thailand Project capacity-building activities, both by Partners and their contribution © S. Sereepaowong the network itself and by MFF, were useful as The Chumchonthai Foundation and Com- they were able to promote more systematic munity Organization Development Institute learning among network leaders. together contributed US$6,667 in cash. The Efforts are needed to strengthen mutual participating communities made an in-kind understanding between targeted communi- contribution valued at US$5,000.

CONTACT INFORMATION Mr Chokedee Somprom Project Coordinator

Phuket Livable Community and City Action 35/50 Moo 3, Rassada Road, Rassada, Muang, Phuket 83000, Thailand

Tel: +66 81 5388028 Email: [email protected]

182 6.10 Planting Pandanus palm to protect mangroves

group has reached out to 11 villages in the area. Through regular conservation and sustainable use activities, one of the villages was recognized by Krabi province as a model village for environmental conservation in 2008.

Target beneficiaries People in 188 households earning a living from working on rubber and oil palm plantations, small-scale fishing, and trade and services.

Outputs > Organisation and facilitation of a community forum for 90 stakeholders to introduce the project’s objectives and leaves for processing, Krabi, Thailand © S. Sereepaowong Thailand © S. Krabi, leaves for processing, Pandanus approaches, and to gain support and

Peeling Peeling agreement from local landowners and government officials. Objectives This project had three specific objectives: > Establishment of a no-encroachment boundary line extending about three 1 to demarcate a “no encroachment” area kilometres across local mangroves and of mangroves; marked on large-scale maps. THAILAND 2 to ensure sufficient Pandanus supplies > Planting of 2,700 Pandanus plants (with

6.10 to support weaving and handicrafts pro- an 80% survival rate) along the bound- Ú duction aimed at increasing community ary line to protect about one hectare of incomes; and mangroves.

LOCATION 3 to increase conservation awareness and Accomplishments and Ban Khlong Yang, Koh Lanta, capacity among youth groups and com- challenges Krabi, Thailand munity members. Community leaders, government officers and PRIORITY POWS landowners came to a mutual understand- Economic Valuation Background ing regarding the use of marginal land to be Sustainable Livelihoods Sustainable Business Practices The area around Ban Khlong Yang in Koh planted with Pandanus. Lanta district of Krabi province is predomi- Demarcating the mangrove area indirectly DURATION nantly flat land, suitable for rubber and oil helped to reduce water pollution and improve May 2009 to November 2010 palm plantations. The coastal ecosystem is the condition of the mangroves. MFF GRANT AMOUNT a combination of wet forest and mangroves. Community members now have an ade- US$9,696 The Coordinating Centre of the Conser- quate supply of Pandanus for use in weaving vation Network for Mangrove Protection was and handicrafts, and as a result have started established in 2005 by village volunteers from to gain some supplementary income. three villages. The Network aims to protect Lastly, local youth group members have a local marine and coastal resources. To scale better understanding of the value of conserv- 183 up conservation activities, the volunteer ing mangroves and coastal resources. Challenges school. Members of the group demonstrated Unclear boundaries between private land their skills in weaving with enthusiasm, even and public mangrove areas were a chal- though it is a time-consuming activity. Pro- lenge. Because of disputed boundaries, sev- ducing a mat of two square metres takes eral landowners did not allow any Pandanus about 10 days, for example. However, the planting. The project organized negotiations returns are thought to be worth the effort, with these landowners in open fora that particularly as prices are strong. The cur- included women and youth groups. These rent price of dyed Pandanus fibre is about were successful in several cases, allowing US$13–17 per kg. the project to plant Pandanus on private land. Project beneficiaries will continue to monitor and prevent any encroachment in Contributions to cross-cutting the reforested Pandanus areas, promote Pandanus leaf products, Krabi, Thailand © P. Thongkong themes supplementary income generation, espe- Gender equality cially through weavers’ groups, and teach The local Pandanus Weaver Women’s Group local knowledge about Pandanus weaving “The community set up took the lead in the project’s handicraft sup- in community schools to instil conservation a good example for port activity. awareness in younger generations. conservation. It is difficult Lessons learned Partners and their contribution to see how this project The Pandanus Weaver Women’s Group The participating communities made an in- could be replicated or managed to generate some income from the kind contribution valued at US$10,750, and products they sold, as well as pass on their the Khlong Yang Sub-district Administrative scaled up successfully knowledge to youth groups in the community Organization contributed US$734 in cash. within a few years, unless there is practical policy CONTACT INFORMATION Mr Phisit Thongkhong support and systematic Project Manager enforcement.”

Coordinating Centre of the Conservation — MR PHISIT THONGKHONG Network for Mangrove Protection PROJECT MANAGER c/o Ban Khoke Yung School, Moo 3, Khlong Yang, Koh Lanta, Krabi 81120, Thailand

Tel: +66 89 5116851 Email: [email protected]

184 6.11 Rehabilitating mangroves and beach forests at Khlong Prasong

community conflict caused by competition between tourism businesses.

Target beneficiaries The project targeted 5,373 people from 903 families on Khlong Prasong, 98% of whom are Muslim and have a yearly income of about US$834. Direct beneficiaries were drawn from 100 families earning a living from farming and small-scale fishing, and 120 dependent on fishing and mangrove forests.

Outputs > Capacity increased for conserving marine and coastal resources, as observed from the community’s ability to formulate strategies and collaborate with other major

Patrolling the beach forest rehabilitation site, Khlong Prasong, Thailand © S. Sereepaowong Thailand © S. Khlong Prasong, the beach forest rehabilitationPatrolling site, stakeholders.

Objectives > Production of 500 booklets to promote This project aimed to increase community conservation awareness among youth capacity in marine and coastal resource con- and community groups in Koh Klang. servation; to build community awareness and THAILAND knowledge about mangroves and beach for- > Planting of 700 mangrove seedlings with est rehabilitation; and to undertake rehabilita- community support along Khlong Talu. 6.11 tion activities in Koh Klang and Khlong Talu. Ú Its long-term objective was to build knowl- > Planting by the community of a further edge and awareness for the sustainable use 13,000 mangrove seedlings on deserted of coastal resources in Krabi estuary. prawn farms covering about four hectares.

LOCATION Background Accomplishments and Khlong Prasong, Krabi, Thailand Koh Klang is a village on the small island of challenges PRIORITY POWS Khlong Prasong, 10 km offshore from Krabi The community contributed to protecting an Coastal Governance town. Covering 1,120 hectares and sur- islet of mangroves adjacent to Koh Klang. Marine Protected Areas rounded by mangroves, the inner area of The project also allowed the community to Sustainable Business Practices Khlong Prasong is used for cultivation. Its continue managing the “Pa Khlong Lad Yao”, DURATION largely Muslim population subsists on small- or Lad Yao Canal Forest, established in 2006 October 2009 to October 2010 scale fishing, rice growing, prawn culture by a UNDP small grant project to promote MFF GRANT AMOUNT and servicing tourists. Erosion is a noticeable tropical forests. US$10,156 problem on the island’s coastline. The Environmental Conservation Group Challenges of Koh Klang is a local NGO established The propagation and replanting of man- with support from the Bank for Agriculture grove plants was affected by dry weather, and Agricultural Cooperatives in Krabi. and constant rains and storms damaged the Since 2001 the Group has worked to reduce replanted seedlings. 185 Contributions to cross-cutting Lessons learned themes Appropriate project timing is important. At Communications certain times of the year (particularly Novem- The project raised its profile through an inter- ber to February) local people are too busy national youth camp, the Wetlands School fishing or farming to play a full part in project Network Exchange Event, held in Decem- activities. ber 2009. At this event, students from China, Planting sites must be selected carefully. Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Thailand joined In some project areas, there was not enough in project activities and planted mangroves. water for planting mangroves between The project was also featured in a local November and April. magazine, Lueang Krabi, published by the The number of seedlings prepared for Waste recycling in the community, Khlong Prasong, Krabi Provincial Administrative Organiza- replanting proved to be insufficient. How- Thailand © S. Sereepaowong tion. Some of the articles on the project were ever, the government’s Mangrove Resources republished on the website of Wetlands Inter- Development Station 26 at Krabi kindly national Thailand. donated enough seedlings to make up the shortfall. Climate change People in some communities on Khlong Pra- Partners and their contribution song piloted a climate change adaptation The Environmental Conservation Group strategy whereby bamboo piling and con- of Koh Klang made cash and in-kind concrete drainage pipes are laid along the coast tributions of US$2,834 and US$2,834 to reduce the force of large waves. respectively.

CONTACT INFORMATION Mr Nont Mee-Larm Project Coordinator

Environmental Conservation Group of Koh Klang 118 Moo 1, Khlong Prasong, Muang, Krabi 81000, Thailand

Tel: +66 87 2652631 Email: [email protected]

186 6.12 Building community capacity for managing coastal resources at Talingchan

families earning their living from small-scale fishing were direct beneficiaries.

Outputs > Increased income from supplementary livelihood activities such as raising mushrooms and black crabs.

> Recognition from the provincial fishery office.

> Establishment of a community economic area in mangroves covering about nine hectares.

Accomplishments and challenges

thatch, Talingchan, Thailand © S. Sereepaowong Thailand © S. Talingchan, fruticans thatch, making N. Woman Although land ownership in some areas is unclear, several forest plots have been Objectives demarcated as public mangrove areas. The This project sought to encourage participa- project reforested those plots which had tory processes of rehabilitating, conserving clear boundaries. and managing natural resources which will The project also promoted the culture of lead to increased capacity of communities, black crabs, grouper and mushrooms, and THAILAND more secure livelihoods, and the sustainable the use of the palm Nypa fruticans. management of coastal resources. As there is no officially recognised land 6.12 Ú ownership in the area, the project had to Background carry out its activities discreetly. Despite this, The sub-district of Talingchan covers 24 km² project leaders report that the communities to the east of the Krabi River estuary, a Ram- achieved the project’s goal, successfully LOCATION sar Wetland of International Importance. building their capacity for managing coastal Talingchan, Krabi, Thailand There are six villages in the sub-district, the resources. The community mobilized itself PRIORITY POWS majority of whose residents are Muslim and to demarcate mangroves against encroach- Knowledge for Management earn a living from fishing and farming. Large ment, and was quite successful in keeping Strategies for Management parts of this area have been converted into out encroachers. Civil Society Engagement prawn farms, some of which have been DURATION deserted. Challenges October 2009 to October 2010 The project suffered from limited coopera- MFF GRANT AMOUNT Target beneficiaries tion among public agencies and a lack of US$8,805 The project’s target population was over data and information. Some issues were too 5,000 people from 1,020 families with a yearly complex for communities to address alone. income of about US$667 per person from Dealing with land tenure, for example, is a fishing, farming and other activities. Sixty major challenge, especially when the com-

187 munity has already identified several plots of of community radio, community signboards land as public mangrove forest. and other village facilities, as well as community discussion groups. Contributions to cross-cutting themes Lessons learned Communications Limited cooperation from relevant govern- The project increased its visibility and under- ment agencies can hinder project imple- standing among local people through the use mentation.

CONTACT INFORMATION Mr Boonnum Bor-Nha Project Coordinator Stands of N. fruticans protected by the community, Talingchan, Thailand © S. Sereepaowong Coffee Corner Group of Ban Talingchan 33 Moo 2, Talingchan, Nua Khlong, Krabi 81130, Thailand

Tel: +66 83 5078160 Email: [email protected]

188 6.13 Collective rehabilitation and conservation of mangroves at Ban Don Bay

mainly with donations from community members, and has also cooperated with NGOs and other development projects.

Target beneficiaries About half of the 2,890 households in the project area, most of whom earn their living from small-scale fishing or depend on other coastal resources for their livelihoods.

Outputs > Capacity built within the target population and networks established to monitor environmental conditions across the project area.

> Demarcation of a conservation area for

Conserving mangroves in Ban Don Bay, Thailand © S. Sereepaowong Thailand © S. Conserving mangroves in Ban Don Bay, protection and natural regeneration to prevent illegal fishing. Objectives This project aimed to rehabilitate and protect > Capacity built to conduct local resource local coastal resources. It set a target of a inventories. 20% increase in mangrove cover in its focal area, to be achieved in an integrated manner > Production and distribution of a set of Ú6.13 at village, district and provincial levels. educational reference materials about mangroves and threatened flora and THAILAND Background fauna in Ban Don Bay. Ban Don Bay is an integrated marine and coastal ecosystem on the southern Gulf of Accomplishments and Thailand, extending about 120 km. Once challenges LOCATION rated one of the most biodiverse areas in Members of community-based organisa- Ban Don Bay, Surat Thani, Thailand the Gulf of Thailand, with habitats such as tions and their leaders developed technical PRIORITY POWS mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs, and managerial skills. A number of commu- Sustainable Livelihoods it has now been badly degraded by aquac- nity members were elected as heads of sub- Community Resilience ulture, destructive fishing, pollution, conflict district administrative organizations. These Integrated Coastal Planning among resource users and a lack of intersec- organizations provided additional co-financ- DURATION toral cooperation. The bay was designated a ing to support project activities. May 2009 to November 2010 Ramsar Wetland of International Importance Community organizations demarcated MFF GRANT AMOUNT in 2000. and managed a conservation zone in the US$9,722 The Ban Don Bay Conservation Network sub-districts of Khao Than and Tha Chang. was established 30 years ago by local people Participating sub-district administrative who were experiencing the negative impacts organizations updated their data and other of environmental degradation and wanted to information on local socio-economic indica- take collective action to address it. The Net- tors for future reference and use by officials work has financed its conservation activities and households in the project area. 189 The project brought together several A website, www.tnewsnetwork.com, national partners and local government featured a “Public Forum on Ban Don Bay authorities to participate in strengthening Coastal Resources Management” on 28 July conservation efforts, launched community- 2009. Another website, www.suratnews. based research on coastal resource conser- com, featured visits to the project area by vation and ecotourism, and promoted sus- NGOs and a group of Japanese students on tainable livelihood activities. 1 September 2009.

Challenges Lessons learned Competition among community groups With coastal and marine ecosystems better delayed funding and complicated financial protected and more productive, members of Demarcating a mangrove protection zone, Ban Don Bay, arrangements. The project committee resolved the Network feel confident they can set up Thailand © Ban Don Bay Conservation Network this issue by setting up a strict auditing system. a rotating fund to finance livelihood activities Conflict between communities and pri- and a savings group to assist members. The vate businesses in Khlong Chanark sub- two funds will be managed by network mem- district made demarcation of a conservation bers and are expected to be self-financing. zone there difficult. The network coordinated Currently the Network is reaching out to with relevant government agencies, local younger people to promote a more harmoni- administrative organizations and NGOs to ous and collaborative, as opposed to adver- resolve this conflict. sarial, approach to conservation.

Contributions to cross-cutting Partners and their contribution themes Community-based organisations made cash Communications and in-kind contributions worth US$1,200 A media spot on the Ban Don Bay Network and US$14,720 respectively. Local adminis- was featured by the local newspaper, radio trative organizations made in-kind contribu- station and television network. This focused tions valued at US$300 in total. The Surat on a community meeting with the gover- Thani Provincial Public Health Office contrib- nor of Surat Thani to express local people’s uted US$12,600 in cash, and the Office of gratitude for a new patrol boat and sets of the Governor of Surat Thani contributed a network surveillance equipment donated by patrol boat and surveillance equipment worth the province. US$16,667.

CONTACT INFORMATION Ms Nipa Salpradi Project Manager

Ban Don Bay Conservation Network 180/3 Moo 1, Pathumphorn Road, Makhamtia, Muang, Surat Thani 84000, Thailand

Tel: +66 89 4738933 Email: [email protected]

190 6.14 Rehabilitating and conserving habitats for clams

ment’s Mangrove Resources Development Station 12 at Chumphon. Initially comprising 80 members, the group has launched various efforts to rehabilitate degraded mangroves and deserted prawn farms in the area. The group also organizes clean-up activities after monsoon storms.

Target beneficiaries Forty of 79 households in Siab Yuan who practise small-scale fishing and aquaculture.

Outputs > Establishment of a 2-km mangrove reforestation zone along the coast.

> Establishment of a 5.5-hectare commu-

Objectives > Establishment of a conservation zone for The main objective of this project was to razor clams (Solen spp.). rehabilitate mangroves for sustainable use and supplementary local income. > Planting of about 10,000 mangroves Ú6.14 along the coast. Background THAILAND Siab Yuan is a small fishing village situated on > Adoption of community regulations to the coast of Thunkha-Sawi Bay near Mu Koh protect seagrass and clam conservation Chumphon Marine National Park. Because zones. of its location and natural sedimentation, this park used to be one of the richest for marine > Demarcation of 16 hectares of mangroves LOCATION species, especially clams, on the western as a rehabilitation zone. Siab Yuan, Chumphon, Thailand coast of the Gulf of Thailand. Poor planning, PRIORITY POWS however, together with upland cultivation, Accomplishments and Capacity Building has resulted in a dwindling clam population. challenges Sustainable Livelihoods Most of the families who participated in In an area of the bay near the shore, the com- DURATION the project make their living from small-scale munity set out bamboo stakes demarcating May 2009 to November 2010 fishing and aquaculture, as well as some lim- a zone for raising clams. The community also ited cultivation of rubber and oil palm on small developed regulations to protect this zone. MFF GRANT AMOUNT US$9,980 hillside plots. Cultivation of these plots has About 16 hectares of mangroves were caused noticeable soil erosion, stimulating demarcated as a rehabilitation zone and have community members to explore a ridge-to- been under constant community protection. reef conservation approach. The Sea and Coastal Resources Pro- Challenges tection Volunteer Group of Siab Yuan was Severe monsoon storms devastated the formed in 2007 with help from the govern- clam raising zone. 191 Contributions to cross-cutting providing mutual support is vital for the suc- themes cessful implementation of project activities. Climate change The community sees mangrove reforestation Partners and their contribution as a strategy to lessen the effect of severe In-kind contributions were made by the com- storms that may be linked to future climate munity (US$28,480), Mangrove Resources change. Development Station 12 (US$100), and Darnsawi sub-district administrative organi- Lessons learned zation (US$34). The Petroleum Authority of Maintaining a positive community spirit by Thailand took part in mangrove planting.

CONTACT INFORMATION Clams from the community conservation area, Siab Yuan, Thailand © S. Sereepaowong Mr Sanya Parnsakul Project Coordinator

Sea and Coastal Resources Protec- tion Volunteer Group of Siab Yuan 1 Moo 5, Darnsawi, Sawi, Chumphon 86130, Thailand

Tel: +66 81 6778958

192 6.15 Strengthening conservation of mangroves and other marine and coastal resources at Thong Toam Yai Bay

about US$2,000–2,667 per person from small-scale fishing.

Outputs > Planting of mangrove seedlings on deserted prawn farms covering about four hectares.

> Training for 35 members of a youth group and 30 members of the community on the “Revival of Thong Toam Bay”.

> Launching of activities to collect and dis- pose of waste, reforest mangrove areas and collaborate with surrounding communities on conservation activities.

> Mr Watcharin Sawangkan with mangrove seedlings, Thong Toam Yai, Thailand © S. Sereepaowong Thailand © S. Yai, Toam Thong SawangkanWatcharin with mangrove seedlings, Mr Establishment of a clearly demarcated fish refuge. Objectives The long-term goal of this project was to > Compilation of a plant species database rehabilitate and conserve coastal resources. for use in future conservation activities. 6.15 Ú Its specific objectives were to reforest mangrove areas and establish a conservation Accomplishments and area for fish. This was to be achieved by inte- challenges THAILAND grating coastal resource management issues Members of the project took part in a National into community livelihood activities and into a Symposium on Climate Change Adaption community development plan. and Disaster Preparedness in December 2010. Thong Toam Yai won first prize in the Background UNDP GEF-led search for the best com- LOCATION Thong Toam Yai is a small coastal commu- munity project to adapt to climate change. Thong Toam Yai, Chumphon, Thailand nity, members of which depend heavily on the The award recognised the community’s PRIORITY POWS marine and coastal resources of Thong Toam innovative “eco-friendly tourism” which inte- Knowledge for Management Yai Bay. Most are engaged in small-scale fish- grates climate-change-sensitive strategies. Strategies for Management ing and aquaculture, or work on rubber and Mr Watcharin Sawangkan, the project coor- Civil Society Engagement oil palm plantations. Nine families in the vil- dinator, presented the history of conservation DURATION lage have started ecotourism activities and efforts in the area and accepted the award on October 2009 to October 2010 homestay ventures. behalf of the community. MFF GRANT AMOUNT As a result of winning this award, the US$9,979 Target beneficiaries project received national recognition for its The main beneficiaries were 203 households community-led efforts and US$10,000 in at Thong Toam Yai with a yearly income of additional support.

193 Contributions to cross-cutting may last only one year. More durable materi- themes als would last longer but are more costly to Climate change transport and sink. Integrating climate-change-sensitive strategies into project activities proved of major Partners and their contribution: benefit for the community. Community members made an in-kind contribution valued at US$13,894. The Darnsawi Lessons learned sub-district administrative organisation con- Artificial reefs made of degradable materials tributed US$967 in cash.

CONTACT INFORMATION Mr Watcharin Sawangkan Avicennia seedling at Thong Toam Yai Bay mangrove Project Coordinator nursery, Thailand © S. Sereepaowong

Darnsawi Sub-district Administrative Organization Conservation Group 188/129 Saladaeng Road, Thatapao, Muang, Chumphon 86000, Thailand

Tel: +66 89 8730279 Email: [email protected]

194 Mangroves for the Future (MFF) is a partnership-based initiative promoting investments in coastal ecosystems that support sustainable development. MFF provides a collaborative plat- form for the many countries, sectors and agencies tackling the challenges to coastal ecosystem conservation and livelihood sustainability, and is helping them to work towards a common goal.

MFF builds on a history of coastal management efforts before and after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, especially the call to sustain the momentum and partnerships generated by the immediate post-tsunami response. After focusing initially on the countries worst-affected by the tsunami – India, Indonesia, Maldives, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Thailand – MFF has now expanded to include Pakistan and Viet Nam. MFF will also continue to reach out to other countries in the region facing similar challenges, with the overall aim of promoting an integrated, ocean-wide approach to coastal area management.

MFF seeks to achieve demonstrable results through regional cooperation, national programme support, private sector engagement and community action. This is being realized through con- certed actions and projects to generate and share knowledge more effectively, empower institutions and communities, and enhance the governance of coastal ecosystems.

Although MFF has chosen mangroves as its flagship ecosystem, the initiative embraces all coastal ecosystems, including coral reefs, estuaries, lagoons, wetlands, beaches and seagrass beds. Its management strategy is based on specific national and regional needs for long-term sustainable management of coastal ecosystems. These priorities, as well as newly emerging issues, are reviewed regularly by the MFF Regional Steering Committee to ensure that MFF continues to be a highly relevant and responsive initiative.

Learn more at: www.mangrovesforthefuture.org