Strict embargo: Tuesday July 26, 2016 (09.31 IST, 04.01 GMT, 12.01am EDT) President of Sri Lanka opens world’s first mangrove museum on World Mangrove Day Funds raised to secure protection for all of Sri Lanka’s mangrove forests, fight climate change July 26, 2016, World Mangrove Day: The President of Sri Lanka, Maithripala Sirisena, will open the world’s first mangrove museum on World Mangrove Day (July 26) in Chilaw, Pambala Lagoon in Sri Lanka’s Puttlam District. The President will also announce that $3.4 million (498.6M LKR) has now been raised by island conservation organisation Seacology, enabling Sri Lanka to become the first country in the world to protect all of its mangrove forests. The funding is part of a pioneering partnership between Seacology, the Sri Lankan government, and local NGO Sudeesa, who hope the project will be a model for mangrove forest conservation around the world. The project combines legal protection, education, and conservation on the ground, whilst supporting sustainable economic development for Sri Lanka’s coastal communities. “It is not a secret that the strip of Kadolana (mangroves) around the shoreline of Sri Lanka is faced with a threat due to indiscriminate construction of buildings and industries. That is why we took steps to re-cultivate Kadolana and preserve the existing mangrove to rectify this lapse. The UNESCO declared July 26 as the International Mangrove Day by emphasizing the importance of mangrove cultivation to ease the disasters which can arise in the future due to global warming. I congratulate the Ministry of Environment, Sudeesa, and Seacology, which sponsored the programme, to achieve the objectives of International Mangrove Day and wish it every success.” — The President of Sri Lanka, Maithripala Sirisena Funded by Seacology, the new mangrove museum will play a pivotal role in mangrove forest protection in Sri Lanka: It will provide a base for training adults in mangrove forest conservation and educating children about the value of mangrove forests. Over 20,000 children are expected to visit the museum in the first year. Recognising the importance of education in mangrove forest conservation, the Sri Lankan government has also incorporated this into the national curriculum. “Mangroves swiftly absorb carbon dioxide and inject oxygen into the atmosphere, maintaining an ecological balance that is vital for the environment. It is my belief that the mangrove restoration project will generate much-needed awareness among key stakeholders such as the community, leisure sector personnel, tourists, and the general public. I wish to thank Sudeesa and Seacology for this much-needed initiative; it is my hope that this would be the beginning of a long-term effort to sustain the mangroves for greater conservation benefits.” — The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe Launched in May 2015, this groundbreaking project has already achieved significant results: • The Sri Lankan government has identified all of the country’s 37,050 acres (14,993 ha) of mangrove forests and has surveyed and demarcated almost half of them. The surveys identified previously unknown mangrove forest areas, which have been marked for replanting or protection. The government has also introduced legislation to protect mangroves and assigned forest officers to help guard them. • Sudeesa has created three nurseries to cultivate half a million seedlings as part of the project’s goal of replanting more than 1,000 acres (404 ha) of mangrove forests in 2016. A further 8,600 acres (3,480 ha) will be replanted during the project’s lifetime. To date, over a quarter of a million mangrove seedlings (comprising 22 species native to Sri Lanka) have been grown; more than 50,000 of them have been planted with the help of the Sri Lankan Navy, schoolchildren, and community members. • Sudeesa is providing job training and microloans, financed by Seacology, to women and youth in coastal communities. This encourages alternatives to cutting mangroves, such as sustainable farming and ecotourism, which generate income for poor families and protect mangrove forests. Since launching the project’s Livelihoods Programme, 438 community organisations have been set up in nine coastal districts, 575 women have completed a three-day training programme, 348 youths have completed a seven-day programme, and 381 women have received microloans to support new sustainable businesses. In return, each community organisation has agreed to help protect 21 acres (8.5 ha) of mangrove forests. Working at a grassroots level, this innovative partnership has transformed the lives of some of the poorest people in Sri Lanka whilst also offering protection for mangrove forests. “This project shows how important it is to work with local people to protect mangroves. By offering training and funding to develop alternatives to cutting mangroves, the project’s Livelihoods Programme is alleviating poverty as well as protecting mangroves. It’s a win-win situation.” — Duane Silverstein, Executive Director of Seacology In the last 50 years, over half the world’s mangrove forests have been destroyed. In Sri Lanka, almost three quarters of the mangrove forests have been lost since the beginning of the 19th century, largely due to the devastating Civil War (1983-2009) and to the destruction of mangroves for fuel, conversion to shrimp farms, croplands, and development. After years of instability, the Sri Lankan government is now leading the world in mangrove forest conservation, and Sri Lanka is set to become a model for others to follow. “Sri Lanka is showing the world that it is possible to conserve mangrove forests whilst also improving the lives of local people, restoring wildlife habitats, and helping to ameliorate climate change. This inspirational project is an excellent example of what can be achieved for mangrove forest protection. We hope that other countries with mangrove forests will follow Sri Lanka’s lead and replicate the success of this model.” — Ms. Dhammika Wijayasinghe, Secretary General, Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO Although fully funded, there is still work to be done before the project reaches completion in Spring 2020. Over the next four years: • The Sri Lankan government will demarcate, legally declare, and gazette all mangrove land, and will deploy forest officers to protect the forests; • Sudeesa will continue to cultivate mangrove seedlings to replant in coastal provinces, restoring at least 9,600 acres (3,885) of degraded shoreline; • Sudeesa will train an additional 6,925 women and 7,152 youths, and will offer 14,619 more microloans to meet the project’s target of providing alternative job training and microloans to 15,000 women and youths in 1,500 communities; • Project partners will share information and best practices with other countries, showcasing Sri Lanka as a model. Although the project’s funding target of $3.4 million (498.6M LKR) has been met, Seacology will continue to raise money to boost funding for the Livelihoods Programme, enabling more Sri Lankans to take out microloans, get job training, and find alternatives to cutting mangrove forests. NOTES TO EDITORS MEDIA CONTACTS: - Sudeesa: Chairman, Anuradha Wickramasinghe: 0094 32 2248707 [email protected] - Seacology: Executive Director, Duane Silverstein: + (US) 510 282-3505 (cell) +(US) 510 559-3505 INTERVIEW and PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: Tuesday July 26, 2016 LOCATION: The Secaology-Sudeesa Mangrove Museum, Chilaw, Pambala Lagoon, Puttlam District Duane Silverstein, Executive Director, Seacology and one of the world’s leading experts on islands and island conservation. (Speaks English) Anuradha Wickramasinghe, Chairman of Sudeesa (Speaks English and Sinhalese) NEW PHOTOS and B-ROLL FOOTAGE available INFOGRAPHICS and CASE STUDIES available BACKGROUND INFORMATION: • Mangrove forests are vital for blue carbon as they sequester more carbon per equivalent area than other types of forests and so play an important role in ameliorating climate change; their root systems serve as nurseries for many species of fish which populate coral reefs; and they act as buffer zones to limit damage caused by tsunamis, hurricanes and storms. • Seacology: www.seacology.org Seacology protects the marine and terrestrial environments of islands around the world. Since 1991, California-based Seacology has launched 275 projects in 57 countries protecting nearly 1.5 million acres of threatened island habitat. • Sudeesa: Sri Lanka based NGO Sudeesa (formerly known as the Small Fishers Federation of Sri Lanka) improves the lives of low income families by providing appropriate skills and investments for environmentally-friendly vocations which safeguard Sri Lanka’s coastal ecosystems. • UNESCO World Mangrove Day: 26 July is now officially recognised by UNESCO as International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem. The Mangrove Action Project has been commemorating July 26 as Mangrove Action Day for the last 15 years but this is the first time that the day has been officially recognised and celebrated in this way, acknowledging the increasing importance of mangrove forests for combatting climate change and protecting islands from tsunamis, hurricanes and storms. • The Seacology – Sudeesa Mangrove Museum is situated adjacent to mangrove forest in Chilaw, Pambala lagoon, in Sri Lanka’s Puttlam District. • Replanting has begun in several locations in Sri Lanka including Kalpitiya islands, Nachchikalliya in North-western Province, and Jaffna Peninsula in Northern Province. ENDS .