Sri Lanka’s Fifth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity Sri Lanka’s SRi LaNka’S FiFth NatioNaL RepoRt to the CoNveNtioN oN BioLogiCaL DiveRSity 2014 2014 Biodiversity Secretariat Ministry of Environment & Renewable Energy Sri Lanka’s Fifth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity 2014 Biodiversity Secretariat Ministry of Environment & Renewable Energy Sri Lanka’s Fifth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity 2014 Copyright © Biodiversity Secretariat, Ministry of Environment & Renewable Energy 2014 All right reserved Biodiversity Secretariat Ministry of Environment and Renewable Energy 980/5, Wickramasinghe Place, Ethul Kotte, Sri Lanka Tel : +94 11 2883374 Email: [email protected] Editor and Team Leader: Mr.Herath M. Bandaratillake Compilers: Part I - Dr. Jinie S. Dela Part II - Prof. Udith Jayasinghe Part III - Mr. M.G.W.M.W.T.B. Dissanayake Front Cover Photos: George Van der Poorten Mendis Wickramasinghe Arjan Rajasuriya Back Cover Photos: Upul Wickramasinghe Chanuka Maheshani Sachintha Rajapakse Manoj Prasanna The Photographs in this document cannot be used without permission from the copyright holder SRI LANKA’S FIFTH NATIONAL REPORT TO THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, 2014 Contents List of Abbreviations v List of Tables vii List of Boxes viii List of Figures viii Acknowledgements ix Message x Foreword xi Executive Summary xii Part 1: An update on biodiversity status, trends and threats, and implications for human well being 2 1. 1 Introduction 2 1.1.1 Sri Lanka’s exceptional biodiversity: ecosystems and species: update 2 1.1.2 What this report contains 3 1.2 National and global Importance of Sri Lanka’s biodiversity 3 1.2.1 Insight into the earth’s evolutionary past 3 1.2.2 Exceptional diversity, endemism and relict species 4 1.2.3 Ecosystems of global importance 7 1.2.4 Role of biodiversity for provision of ecosystem services 8 1.2.4.1. Examples of economically important ecosystem services 14 - Tourism sector 14 - Agriculture sector 15 - Fisheries sector 18 - Energy sector 19 - Water sector 20 - Health sector 20 - Bio-prospecting, bio-mimicry and natural product development 21 1.3 Current status, major changes and trends in the biodiversity 22 1.3.1 Trends in Protected Areas 22 1.3.2 Trends in Forest Systems 24 1.3.2.1 Natural forests 24 1.3.2.2 Forest Plantations 26 1.3.2.3 Grasslands 26 1.3.3 Trends in Non-Forest tree resources 26 1.3.4 Trends in Wetlands 27 1.3.5 Trends in Coastal and Marine systems 28 iv 1.3.5.1 Coral reefs 28 1.3.5.2 Mangroves and Salt Marshes 28 1.3.5.3 Seagrass beds 28 1.3.5.4 Lagoons and Estuaries 29 1.3.5.5 Sustainability of the Coastal and Marine Biodiversity 29 1.3.5.6 Positive action taken to conserve coastal and marine biodiversity 29 1.3.6 Trends in Agricultural systems and livestock breeding 30 1.3.6.1 Agricultural systems 30 1.3.6.2 Livestock Sector 31 1.4 Major threats to biodiversity in the country 32 1.4.1 Threats to terrestrial wild species 35 1.4.2 Threats to wild relatives of crops 36 1.5 Impacts of change in biodiversity for ecosystem services 37 1.5.1 Impacts of habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation 37 1.5.2 Impacts of pollution 38 1.5.3 Impact of over exploitation of biological resources 38 1.5.4 Impact of the spread of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) 39 1.5.5 Escalation of human-wildlife conflict 39 1.5.6 Reduced potential for crop enhancement and bio-prospecting 40 1.6 Possible future changes in biodiversity and their impacts 40 Part II: The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, Its implementation and the mainstreaming of biodiversity 44 2.1 Introduction 44 2.1.1 Thematic programs and cross-cutting issues established by the CBD 44 2.1.2 National Goal and Broad Objectives of Biodiversity Conservation 45 2.2 The biodiversity targets set by Sri Lanka 46 2.3 Updating the NBSAP to incorporate targets 47 2.4 Actions taken to implement the convention since Fourth NR 47 2.5 Effectiveness of mainstreaming biodiversity 68 2.51 Projects and programs 69 2.5.2 Other significant institutional programmes 71 2.5.3 Mobilize stakeholders 72 2.5.4 Further improvements 72 v SRI LANKA’S FIFTH NATIONAL REPORT TO THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, 2014 2.6 Progress of implementation of the NBSAP 72 2.6.1 Implementation of Recommended Actions under the BCAP thematic areas 73 2.6.1.1 Progress Related to “Forests” 73 2.6.1.2 Progress related to “Wetlands” 73 2.6.1.3 Progress related to “Coastal and Marine Systems” 74 2.6.1.4 Progress related to “Agricultural Systems” 74 2.6.1.5 Breakdown on level of achievement of BCAP recommended actions 74 2.6.2 Implementation of Priority Recommendations in the Addendum 75 Part III: Progress towards the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets and Contributions to the relevant Millennium Development Goals 78 3.1 Introduction 78 3.2 Progress towards the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets 78 3.2.1 Strategic Goal A: Address the causes of biodiversity loss 79 3.2.2 Strategic Goal B: Reduce the pressures on biodiversity 83 3.2.3 Strategic Goal C: Improve the status of biodiversity 90 3.2.4 Strategic Goal D: Enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity 94 3.2.5 Strategic Goal E: Enhance implementation through participatory approaches 96 3.3 The contribution of actions to implement the convention towards the Achievement of the relevant targets of the MDGs in Sri Lanka 104 3.4 Lessons learned from the implementation of CBD in Sri Lanka 106 Appendices: Appendix I: Information concerning the reporting Party and preparation of the fifth national report 107 Appendix II: Further sources of information 113 Annexes: Annex 1: Detailed case studies of the Central Highlands World Heritage Site 120 Annex 2: Impacts of actions implemented for prevention/mitigation of threats 122 vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ADB Asian Development Bank Aus AID Australian Agency for International Development CARP Council for Agricultural Research Policy CB Central Bank CBD Convention on Biological Diversity CCA Coast Conservation Act CCD Coast Conservation Department CCD Coast Conservation Department CEA Central Environmental Authority CWR Crop Wild Relatives CZMP Coastal Zone Management Plan DAPH Department of Animal Production & Health DAPH Department of Animal Production and Health DAU Department of Ayurveda DEA Department of Export Agriculture DEA Department of Export Agriculture NARESA Natural Resources, Energy and Science Authority of Sri Lanka DNBG Department of National Botanic Gardens DNZG Department of National Zoological Gardens DoA Department of Agriculture DoEA Department of Export Agriculture DWLC Department of Wildlife Conservation EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EIMS Environmental Information Management System EN Endangered species EPA Environmental Protection Area FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations FCRDI Field Crop Research and Development Institute FD Forest Department FFPO Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance FFPO Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance FNR Fifth National Report FO Forest Ordinance FO Forest Ordinance FR Forest Reserves FSMP Forestry Sector Master Plan GEF Global Environment Facility GIS Geographical Information System GOSL Government of Sri Lanka HORDI Horticultural Research and Development Institute vii SRI LANKA’S FIFTH NATIONAL REPORT TO THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, 2014 IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources IWMI International Water Management Institute KDN Kanneliya-Dediyagala-Nakiyadeniya Forest Complex MAB UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme MEPA Marine Environment Protection Authority MoERE Ministry of Environment and Renewable Energy NAQDA National Aquaculture Development Authority NARA National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency NCR National Conservation Review NCR National Conservation Review NGO Non Governmental Organization NHWAA National Heritage and Wilderness Areas Act NSC National Steering Committee NSF The National Science Foundation NTFP Non Timber Forest Products NTFP Non Timber Forest Products NWP National Wetland Policy OSF Other State Forest PA Protected Area PGRC Plant Genetic Resource Centre RRDI Rice Research and Development Institute UNCCD UN Convention to Combat Désertification UNEP United Nations Environment Programme UNESCO United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization VRI Veterinary Research Institute WCMC World Conservation and Monitoring Center WCP Wetland Conservation Project viii LIST OF TablES Table 1: Specific objectives and recommended actions listed under BCAP thematic area Table 2: The Progress of Achieving Aichi Biodiversity Targets Table 1.1: Ecosystem diversity in Sri Lanka: status and trends Table 1.2: Species diversity among selected groups of Sri Lanka’s fauna and flora in terrestrial and freshwater wetlands Table 1.3: Species diversity among selected groups of fauna in coastal and marine systems Table 1.4: Summary of floriculture exports for Sri Lanka by product category from 2009-2013 Table 1.5: Number and extent of protected areas administered by FD and the DWLC Table 1.6: Changes in area under International Protected Areas and Ramsar sites Table 1.7: Comparison of forest cover in Sri Lanka in 1992, 1999 and 2010 Table 1.8: Threats identified for major forest types during the 2012 Red listing exercise Table1.9: Trends in germplasm collection status by crop group at the PGRC Table 1.10: Summary of main threats to biodiversity in Sri Lanka Table 1.11: Changing threat status of indigenous