Giving LIFE to Our Beaches – A Public – Private – Community Partnership

As an island nation, Sri Lanka boasts of a coastline extending over 1,300km. A little-known fact is that our coastal and marine area is approximately 8 times the total land area of our country. With 103 rivers debouching into the ocean, approximately 85% of marine litter, originates from mismanaged, land-based, human activities. With a wave and tidal action, this litter accumulates on beaches posing threats and risks to industries and livelihoods that depend upon them as well as to the general aesthetic beauty of our island nation – known the world over as a beach paradise!

To maximize sustainable utilization of our beaches, it is imperative that we take measures to keep them clean and free of hazards allowing for free public movement and recreation. The solid waste which is found on our shores is often not only of local origin but also washed up from overseas. Plastic, glass, aluminum, and rubber-based material, if collected and directed appropriately, can be turned into valuable resources through upcycling and recycling. Mismanagement of plastic waste can result in leaching and the generation of microplastics, which via the food chain can re-accumulate, threatening the safety and wellbeing of coastal and marine fauna. It is also an imminent health hazard.

Given that urgent action is needed to ensure that our beaches are constantly monitored, cleaned, and managed sustainably – with the involvement of all stakeholders, BSL led by the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) has launched Life to Our Beaches – a program to clean and maintain selected beach stretches. Community involvement is an indispensable component in maintaining beaches. It is an opportunity for local coastal communities to generate an additional income whilst contributing to a worthy national cause. It is not just collecting trash from the beaches. It goes beyond sensitizing and educating coastal communities on solid waste management whilst contributing to improving their living standards.

Community members, who will act as beach caretakers under this program, are Samurdhi beneficiaries. They will be trained on waste collection and segregation. The collected recyclable/ reusable plastic waste will be sold to recyclers so that community members can directly gain an additional income. Increasing plastic waste collection will also contribute to increasing national plastic waste recycling rates, which are currently significantly low. This will also improve circular economic activities. When coastal stretches are maintained clean and healthy, local, and international visitors will make frequent visits to these destinations so that associated communities can set up new businesses targeting visitors. This will be a boost to the local economy.

We invite you to join hands with BSL in its Life to Our Beaches Program – Contact us for more information.

BSL’s Biodiversity Project Ranking Scheme (BPRS) – a pathway to sustainable projects!

BSL urges all companies engaged in biodiversity-related projects to get them ranked, thus improving designing, implementation, and monitoring.

As in other Asian economies, in Sri Lanka, the private sector is the engine of growth. Sustaining high economic growth rates and improving the lives of the poor or marginalized communities whilst not compromising on environmental conservation and management is one of the biggest challenges facing growing economies. Many of the services that biodiversity and ecosystems provide are currently severely threatened. Safeguarding Sri Lanka’s biological diversity is integral to sustainable development, competitiveness, economic growth, and employment.

Some of the larger multinational and national companies operating in the country have included environmental and social dimensions into their growth agenda. A scoping study undertaken by Biodiversity Sri Lanka (BSL) in 2018 revealed that the private sector is increasingly taking an active role in environmental sustainability and biodiversity conservation issues both within and outside of its core business. Most initiatives in this direction are either carried out internally by companies themselves with the assistance of specialized non-governmental organizations, or by direct links with state institutions. Significant advancements have been made and some best practices and outstanding projects have been recognized by recent award schemes. These worthy examples have displayed sustained commitment, serving as inspirations to others. However, it is recognized that a large number of projects still do not realize their intended goals and objectives, leaning towards non-optimum use of much needed resources.

Much of these projects are designed on the assumption that they will lead to conservation of key biological resources. Hence, monitoring, evaluation, and assessment are primary tools to determine whether they are meeting intended targets and objectives. Such assessments may also serve as useful reference materials for government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and others involved in the design, implementation, or evaluation of biodiversity/ environmental projects. Thus, more attention must be paid to drive the private sector to incorporate well-defined scientific approaches in projects, devise action plan-based operations including community involvement, and achieving core objectives by defining suitable methodologies that recognizes the importance of these projects in addressing national biodiversity conservation priorities

In this context, Biodiversity Sri Lanka’s (BSL) Biodiversity Project Ranking Scheme (BPRS) was developed to aid private sector companies in improving the design and implementation of biodiversity conservation-related projects. This scheme endeavors to ensure that private sector-led biodiversity conservation projects, support national conservation efforts and maximizes the positive impacts of such projects on conserving and managing the country’s national biological heritage.  A Project Ranking Support Manual aims at helping project planners, managers, implementers, and monitors to further understand the BPRS criteria, and to assist in ensuring that the design and implementation of a project is in line with the requirements of the scheme.  Through pilot testing, this scheme has been refined to enable users to utilize it not only as a means of ranking projects nearing completion or are in its final stages but also in project design.

Following the audit of a project by our Auditor Bank of eminent scientists, respective companies will be awarded a Star Rank and exclusive use of the Project Ranking Logo.

Do not miss this valuable opportunity – Contact us!

COP 26 – What Next!

By the end of COP26 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), held in Glasgow, UK in November 2021, 151 countries had submitted new climate plans, known as nationally determined contributions, or NDCs to slash their carbon emissions by 2030. To keep the goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees C within reach, we need to cut global emissions in half by the end of this decade. In contrast, the United Nations calculates that these plans, as they stand, but the world on track for 2.5 degrees C warming by the end of the century. That is better than the 4 degrees C trajectory the world was on before the Paris Agreement was struck, but still extremely dangerous.

But some 2030 targets of major emitters, particularly those from Australia, China, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Russia are so weak that they don’t offer credible pathways to achieve their net-zero targets. The Glasgow decision calls on countries to “revisit and strengthen” their 2030 targets by the end of 2022 to align them with the Paris Agreement’s temperature goals. In addition, the pact asks nations to consider further actions to curb potent non-CO2 gases, such as methane, and includes language emphasizing the need to “phase down unabated coal” and “phase-out fossil fuel subsidies.” This marked the first-time negotiators have explicitly referenced shifting away from coal and phasing out fossil fuel subsidies in the COP decision text.

This COP finally recognized the importance of nature for both reducing emissions and building resilience to the impacts of climate change, both in the formal text and also through a raft of initiatives announced on the sidelines. Once we see major emitters’ new climate targets by the end of 2022, we will have a much better idea of whether we will be able to avoid breaching that temperature threshold — and if we do breach it, by how much.

Financial Support for Developing Counties

• In 2009, rich nations committed to mobilizing $100 billion a year by 2020 and through 2025 to support climate efforts in developing countries. Developed countries failed to meet that goal in 2020. The COP26 outcome made it clear that these countries have not fulfilled this goal and stipulated that those countries must report on their progress. The post-2025 climate finance goal is expected to be set by 2024.
• Developed countries also agreed to at least double funding for adaptation by 2025, which would amount to at least $40 billion. This is a significant milestone to address the imbalance between funding for mitigation and adaptation efforts; adaptation finance currently amounts to only a quarter of total climate finance, while need to adapt to the increasing impacts of the climate crisis continues to grow.
• The Adaptation Fund reached unprecedented levels of contributions, with new pledges for $356 million that represent almost three times its mobilization target for 2022.
• COP26 also took steps to help developing countries access good quality finance options. For example, encouraging multilateral institutions to further consider the links between climate vulnerabilities and the need for concessional financial resources for developing countries — such as securing grants rather than loans to avoid increasing their debt burden.

Loss and Damage

COP26 finally put the critical issue of loss and damage squarely on the main stage. Climate change is already causing devastating losses of lives, land, and livelihoods. Some damages are permanent — from communities that are wiped out, to islands disappearing beneath the waves, to water resources that are drying up.  Loss and damage are likely to be one of the bigger issues leading up to the COP27 summit in Egypt next year.

Significant outside the negotiations

• a bold commitment from India to reach net-zero emissions by 2070 including ambitious renewable energy targets for 2030)
• 109 countries signed up to the Global Methane Pledge to slash emissions by 30% by 2030
• A pledge by 141 countries to halt and reverse forest loss by 2030 (backed by $18 billion in funding, including $1.7 billion dedicated to support indigenous peoples).
• The UK announced the Glasgow Breakthroughs, a set of global targets meant to dramatically accelerate the innovation and use of clean technologies in five emissions-heavy sectors: power, road transport, steel, hydrogen, and agriculture

Where do we go from here?

• In the year ahead, major emitters need to ramp up their 2030 emissions reduction targets to align with 1.5 degrees C
• more robust approaches are needed to hold all actors accountable for the many commitments made in Glasgow, and much more attention is needed on how to meet the urgent needs of climate-vulnerable countries to help them deal with climate impacts and transition to net-zero economies.
• The Glasgow Climate Pact outlines the key steps to do so. But it is only once this is achieved that we will truly have a shot at reaching the 1.5 degrees C goal and building a safer and more just future for us all.

By the end of this century, Sri Lanka is likely to see an increase of 2-3 °C average temperature rise. There is likely to be significant inundation all around the coast, particularly in places like Negombo and Galle. The country has seen a historical increase, in both the number and intensity of droughts, floods, geographic changes, vector-borne diseases, coastal erosion, tropical storms, lightning, crop failures, landslides, and siltation of reservoirs.  All of these are related, at least partially, to temperature and rainfall changes. These events have devastating and adverse impacts on our environment, citizens, infrastructure, businesses, and the national budget. The rising costs of climate change are being and will be, borne by the Sri Lankan public and by corporations that suffer damage.  It is also being borne by future generations as the country increases its debt burden on this account.  Likely, an inequitable proportion of these losses will be borne by poor and marginalized citizens, living along the banks of canals, rivers, and along the coast or residing in landslide-prone areas. Sri Lanka has little choice but to prepare for and adapt to climate change.  Sri Lanka’s greenhouse gas emissions are minuscule in comparison to those of developed nations, India, or China.  Climate We cannot stop climate change on our own, but we can prepare for it, safeguard ourselves from it, mitigate its impacts, and where we are the winners of climate change, we can capitalize and make the best of it.

What’s for Business

Over half of the UK’s largest businesses have committed to eliminate their contribution to carbon emissions by 2050. The UK government is calling on the global private sector to follow the UK’s example and join the UN Race to Zero. As of today, 60 of the UK’s FTSE 100 companies have signed up to the United Nation’s Race to Zero campaign – the largest ever global alliance committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 at the latest

Globally, over 5,200 companies of all sizes have now joined the UN Race to Zero, representing sectors like transport, technology, manufacturing, retail, and finance. Nearly half of these are British businesses, with the UK private sector demonstrating international leadership in global efforts to tackle climate change. The Race to Zero acts as a kickstart for companies going green, guiding their actions in the transition to net-zero and positioning businesses at the forefront of the global race to develop new green technology, kick-start new industries, and attract private investment. Businesses both large and small, across all sectors of the global economy, have a crucial role to play in both reducing their environmental impact and developing the green technologies that will set us on the path to net-zero.

Over 2,000 small businesses from across the UK have pledged to reduce their emissions and join the Race to Zero through the Together for Our Planet Business Climate Leaders campaign, launched to help small businesses go green. Acting on climate change will help businesses:

• grow
• seize new opportunities
• create new jobs,
• encourage investment
• adapt against the challenges of a changing planet
• reducing emissions can lower businesses’ running costs, save them money
• attract new customers
• maintain a competitive advantage locally and globally.

The commitments must build on the government’s Net Zero Strategy, which outlines measures to transition to a green and sustainable future.

• to take urgent action and demonstrate their climate leadership by signing-up to Race to Zero and setting out clear pathways to get to net zero.
• make tangible climate commitments that helps chart our path to net zero emissions by 2050.
• grasp the economic opportunities
• Step up to drive the innovation needed
• Net Zero awards – a competition launched to find the best small businesses taking innovative steps to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The Heroes of Net Zero Awards

We must make collective efforts to encourage businesses to go green. We call on all businesses, of all sizes, to pledge to go One Step Greener and sign up to the globally-recognized UN Race to Zero Climate Commitment so, they can protect the planet and their business, and help us start a green business revolution.

Sampath Bank continues to ramp up efforts to protect the environment

As the world continues to grapple with a multitude of environmental issues caused by irresponsible consumption and ecological degradation, businesses have stepped in to play a greater role in protecting the environment.

Enterprises are working closely with governments, business partners, customers, and all other stakeholders on developing business models that are good for the environment, the society, and their bottom line. Sampath Bank is one such responsible enterprise that has continued to champion the cause of the environment.

Right from its inception, sustainability has been one of the key priorities for the bank which has always adopted an environmentally friendly business model by leveraging emerging technologies.

Sampath Bank’s continued investments in the digitalisation of its core operations are one of the key drivers of its sustainability efforts. Over the years, the bank has introduced several pathbreaking digital solutions such as Sampath Vishwa, Payeasy, WePay and Slip-less Banking, to the market.

Transforming the way businesses and consumers access financial services, they have helped more Sri Lankans gain access to these services. At the same time, they have also played a significant role in helping protect the environment by enabling the bank, its customers and business partners to cut down on their environmental footprint.

The bank’s commitment to the environment extends to its business dealings too. Serving as an active partner of the country’s Non-Conventional Renewable Energy (NCRE) sector, Sampath Bank has offered financing for several renewable energy projects around the island.

Taking a hard look at every element of its operations, Sampath Bank strives to continuously identify more ways in which it can minimise its impact on the environment. The bank has been scaling up the deployment of energy efficient lighting and air conditioning solutions to drive energy efficiency and reduce its energy consumption levels.

Simultaneously, Sampath Bank has also been diligently looking at using alternative sources of energy for powering its operations. The bank embarked on a solar migration project in 2016 and has rolled out rooftop solar systems across several of its branches.

The bank is well aware of the fact that the things that get measured, get done. Hence it tracks its environmental performance and benchmarks its progress against peers. Sampath Bank monitors its Carbon Footprint closely and measures its direct and indirect emissions using the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) protocol.

Captured in the Bank’s annual Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions inventory report, this data helps it strengthen its carbon management strategy and pursue new opportunities for carbon reduction.

“Sri Lankan society has always placed great emphasis on living in harmony with nature. Conserving natural resources and protecting the environment has been an integral part of our culture. Being a responsible enterprise that takes great pride in its Sri Lankan roots, Sampath Bank remains committed to championing environmental sustainability through our eco-conscious business model as well as our continued investments in energy conservation and environment-centred CSR initiatives.

“In light of the rising concerns around global warming and other environmental issues, we are expanding the scope and scale of our sustainability and community outreach efforts to have a greater positive impact on both society and the environment. We will continue to engage with all stakeholders to present a better future for all Sri Lankans,” said Sampath Bank PLC Managing Director Nanda Fernando.

Going beyond its business activities, Sampath Bank has been investing heavily on the environment through its strategic corporate social responsibility initiatives as well.

Sampath Bank has always taken great pride in Sri Lanka’s heritage and is hence well aware of the significance of the country’s network of inland tanks or ‘wewas’, built eons ago by the past kings. Serving as the principal source of water for irrigation and domestic use in the country’s dry and intermediate zones, the tanks also support rich ecosystems made up of countless plants, animals and insects around them.

The bank has been restoring dilapidated tanks through its flagship CSR program, ‘Wewata Jeewayak’. To date, 10 tanks have been renovated under the project, and work on three more tanks are currently underway. Ensuring a continued, reliable supply of water for families engaged in farming and other related activities, the restoration of these tanks also nourishes the ecosystem intrinsically linked to it, thereby helping conserve and nurture the region’s biodiversity.

The bank is also involved in a five-year project together with Biodiversity Sri Lanka to restore 10 hectares of degraded forest land in the Halgahawala Forest Reserve in Opatha, Galle. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Forest Department of Sri Lanka are offering technical assistance to the program which is aimed at increasing the number of plants in the area from 9,000 to 30,000. A plant nursery consisting of 4,500 plants has been set up to nurture a variety of species.

In addition to these programs, Sampath Bank has been supporting the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) of Sri Lanka’s conservation efforts for over 27 years. The bank has been contributing a sum of Rs. 5 to the society for every new Sampath Debit Card issued.

The bank also engages with school children through its Gasai Mamai Pubudu Potai initiative, aimed at encouraging young Sri Lankans to be more environmentally conscious. Under this unique program, Sampath Bank offers fruit saplings to children in primary schools. These saplings are planted within the school premises and the children are entrusted with the task of caring for them till they grow into fruit bearing trees.

Thus, with everything from its core operations to community outreach efforts being focused on protecting the environment, it is evident that Sampath Bank truly does have the environment at the heart of its business.

Soil Organic Carbon Stocks in Wetlands maintain a steady Carbon Cycle – In Celebration of World Wetlands Day

On 2nd of February 2022, as it does each year, the world celebrated World Wetlands Day. The pre-declared theme for this year was “Wetlands Action for People and Nature” which has been set to draw attention on the sustainable use of wetlands and for promoting wetland conservation efforts. A wetland is an area of land that is either covered by water or saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Marshes, swamps, bogs, and fens are the four main types of wetlands.

Wetlands are highly productive ecosystems which offer various ecosystem services such as increased water quality, flood regulation, nutrient recycling, pollution control, providing habitat and breeding grounds for fauna and flora species including migratory water birds and for providing recreational, economic and cultural services to people.

The extent of the world’s wetlands is estimated to be about 5–8% of the total land surface on earth. Despite this low representation as a percentage of area on land, wetlands among all terrestrial ecosystems have the best capacity to sequester and retain carbon through long term burial. Soils have a significant capacity to sequester carbon. Out of the total storage of carbon in earth’s soils 20-30% are stored in wetlands (Lal 2008).  Carbon sequestration rates of coastal wetlands and freshwater wetlands are higher than terrestrial forests.  Waterlogging soils limit oxygen transmission and creates an anaerobic condition. This condition slows down the decomposition rate of organic matter, leading to build up and storage of large amounts of organic carbon in wetland sediments. The hydrological connection between waterways and their associated floodplains plays an important role in terms of exchange of carbon and nutrients (i.e., wetlands can trap carbon rich sediments from catchments, but may also disperse carbon through water flow into floodplains[1])

Wetlands play an important role in regulating exchanges of greenhouse gases (GHGs). They play both roles as sink (process that absorbs) and source (process that releases) in term of absorbing and emitting GHGs. The anaerobic conditions are conducive to the production of greenhouse gases such as methane (CH4). When wetlands are flooded and anaerobic conditions exist, methane is produced. When these wetlands are dry, they act as methane sinks. Comparatively, coastal wetlands emit lower methane than freshwater wetlands because salinity inhibits the production of methane.

Wetlands have a significant potential in addressing climate change mitigation due to their high capacity to sequester carbon dioxide (CO2). Peatlands which are a type of wetland are recognized as the largest natural terrestrial carbon sink. Worldwide, the remaining area of near natural peatland sequesters 0.37 gigatonnes of CO2 per annum (IUCN, 2021). The same source indicates that peat soils contain more than 600 gigatonnes of carbon which represents up to 44% of all soil carbon, and exceeds the carbon stored in all other vegetation types including the world’s forests. Wetlands could also become net carbon sources due to natural processes and anthropogenic activities. Degraded peatlands act as major sources of GHG emissions, releasing roughly 5% of all global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions per annum. In fact, land use changes cause abrupt, significant changes in wetland soils which could potentially convert long-term carbon sinks into sources of carbon in the atmosphere.

The impacts of climate change on wetlands are complex. As indicated through a study in Australia, warmer climates will accelerate the rate of production of carbon dioxide and methane from wetland soils, wetter climates will increase wetland surface areas and promote carbon sequestration and increased primary production, but may increase methane emissions. Drier climates will increase the oxidation of carbon stores but reduce methane emissions.

The Ramsar Convention recognizes the importance of the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. Reduction of land-based emissions via conservation of existing wetland ecosystems and the increase in the rate of carbon sequestration by wetland ecosystems will reduce net GHG emissions that would lessen the pressure on natural and human systems from climate change. Therefore, managing soil organic carbon stocks in wetlands should be given a high priority in order to maintain a steady carbon cycle and thereby address climate change mitigation aspects.

[1] https://www.awe.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/wetlands-role-carbon-cycle.pdf, Accessed on Feb 25, 2022

Cinnamon Lakeside goes green supporting the LIFE Kanneliya Project

BSL’s Member Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo gifted 320 Mee plants to BSL’s flagship project “LIFE” – A landmark public-private initiative to restore a degraded fern land in Halgahawala, Opatha, within the Kanneliya Forest Reserve.

Employing principles of restoration ecology, LIFE will restore the rain forest, enhance ecological functions, habitat quality, species diversity, and the capacity to provide biodiversity and ecosystem services. A Biodiversity Credit Accrual System for Sri Lanka will also be developed in parallel to LIFE, ultimately assigning a unit value for the enhancement of biodiversity and ecosystem services, resulting from the ecological restoration.  A Bio Register will be established to record credits accrued by nationally significant restoration activities.

On the recommendation of Mr. Kamal Munasinghe, General Manager of Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo and Cinnamon Grand Colombo, 320 Mee saplings were handed over to the reforestation project in Kanneliya, which was initiated by the Biodiversity Sri Lanka and IUCN Sri Lanka, on February 1, 2022. For this purpose, Mr. Nalin Munasinghe – Programme Coordinator, IUCN Mr. Naalin Perera – Programme Officer – Biodiversity, IUCN, and Mr. M. M. Hanan Public Relations and Communications Coordinator of BSL were present at this ceremony.

Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo is a hotel dedicated to environmentally friendly methods. The hotel places a strong emphasis on the three pillars of sustainability: social, environmental, and economic. The hotel crew is spearheading the tree-planting effort, which includes everything from seed collection to growing and planting seedlings to project management and monitoring planting sites. This initiative began in the second half of 2019, and the team stayed in the hotel to attend for the plants even during the country’s lockdown times.

During the partner field visit on February 3rd, 2022, the plants were taken to the restoration site and ceremonially planted by hotel staff.

Moves to establish and operationalize private sector consortia to facilitate EPR implementation

At the global level, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems are successfully implemented through a participatory process called Producer Responsibility Organizations (PRO). In Sri Lanka, knowledge and understanding among stakeholders on successful EPR models implemented in other parts of the world are currently inadequate. Following the EPR Roadmap, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) together with the Ministry of Environment, the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), and Biodiversity Sri Lanka (BSL) have taken steps to implement EPR for plastic waste voluntarily targeting PET and HIPS through a project supported by USAID’s Clean Cities Blue Ocean Program.

At the outset, two private sector consortia have been developed through extensive consultations with corporate entities involved in importing, manufacturing, and using Poly-ethylene Terephthalate (PET) and High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) respectively, in order to coordinate collect-back/recycling of plastic packaging in Sri Lanka. The private sector consortia have initially been established under the auspices of the CCC and BSL, with a view to subsequently incorporate as PROs. The main role of the two private sector-led consortia would be to support the realization of annual collect-back targets to be assigned by the Plastic Expert Committee (PEC) of the CEA in close collaboration with all relevant stakeholders. Assigning annual collect back targets will be based on volumes of plastics consumed by corporates. The project will create the necessary enabling environment in collaboration with relevant Government Agencies. This includes establishing an online Plastic Waste Reporting System and developing a verification system for EPR on plastic waste management. The consortia will operate on a not-for-profit basis.

Membership of the private sector consortia is open to brand owners, plastics importers, and packaging manufacturers dealing with PET and HIPS. Calling for membership is ongoing through relevant sectoral associations and public advertisements. In order to facilitate collection and recycling programs efficiently, the project will encourage tri-partite partnerships amongst corporates dealing with PET and HIPS, collectors, and recyclers, which will eventually enable the achievement of assigned collect-back targets.

The two private sector consortia will offer multiple benefits to its membership. They will support the generation of economies of scale, the reduction of EPR costs for individual companies, enhancing collective bargaining power, and adopting a high-impact country-focused, solution-oriented approach to plastic waste management, which will be more efficient and effective compared to the present CSR and marketing led collection/recycling initiatives confined to a few leading corporates.

The project will facilitate many functions of the private sector consortia such as acting as the interface between the CEA and the private sector, promoting membership in the consortia, coordinating the achievement of EPR collect-back targets assigned to its membership, facilitating incentivization collectors/recyclers by brand owners, importers, and manufacturers, ensuring data collection and verification of collect-back/recycling volumes, and reporting to the PEC of CEA on an annual basis, on behalf of its membership.

Furthermore, the project will implement directives received from the Project Steering Committee (PSC) established to oversee the overall implementation of the Project, undertake awareness campaigns to educate the public on responsible waste disposal, with a view to an increasing collection of post-consumer plastic waste and obtain and collate information and intelligence on the gaps, infrastructure needs, and other requirements to be supported to popularize collect back/recycling of plastic waste from industries and households. The two consortia will initially be advised and guided by the PSC.

Recently, identified entities in the PET and HIPS domains were invited to join as members of the PET and HIPS consortia. More than 31 companies, including key market leaders, have already joined the PET consortium. Most notably, when it comes to soft drinks market share, the PET consortium has already covered more than 70% of PET usage in Sri Lanka. More companies are currently joining both consortia. Cargills Ceylon PLC, which is one of the largest conglomerates in the country has already joined the HIPS consortium.

There are a number of SME-type water bottlers that operate in isolation and are geographically dispersed all over the country. These SMEs are not connected to any of the national-level policy dialogues. Even though their PET usage is insignificant and incomparable with other medium to large-scale PET users, the project has been making attempts to educate and engage them into the EPR system.

The 2nd PET and HIPS Consortia meetings were conducted in February with around 50 manufacturers, users, and brand owners in attendance. Overall, the participants were enthusiastic about engaging in discussions and they maintained a positive view towards the implementation of EPR on plastic waste in a voluntary basis soon.  This consortia-based EPR implementation on plastic waste could be considered a trailblazing achievement, not only in Sri Lanka but also for the South Asian Region.

LIFE – Kanneliya project partners engage in site visit

Following multiple setbacks caused by the COVID 19 outbreak, BSL planned a field visit to the LIFE project site with the help of IUCN. LIFE is a groundbreaking public-private effort in Halgahawala, Opatha, within the Kanneliya Forest Reserve to restore a degraded fern land. The visit was arranged to demonstrate progress and the most significant milestones achieved during the years of implementation. The project has just completed its fourth year.

LIFE aims to pilot test the feasibility of restoring a completely degraded rainforest patch within the Kanneliya Conservation Forest in Southern Sri Lanka. The site has been cleared for cultivation and subsequently abandoned, resulting in its colonization by the pioneer fern species Dicranopterus linearis (Kekilla). In the past, the Forest Department has tried to restore this site by planting Eucalyptus trees which has not been successful. Thus, LIFE has undertaken to restore a 10-ha extent of this degraded forest patch, using principles of restoration ecology, to enhance its ecological functions, habitat quality, species diversity, and capacity to provide biodiversity and ecosystem services that are in close approximation to what prevailed there, before it was converted to its present state.

During the visit IUCN technical staff explained about the overall progress. Since the initiation of ground-level activities of the project in April 2018, several key achievements have been reached, regardless of the challenges posed by rugged terrain, poor access to the site, erratic climate patterns, and most recently the COVID-19 pandemic. The completed activities include ground preparation, fencing of the site, planting, and the systematic collection of information for the development of the Biodiversity Credit Accrual Scheme (BCAS). To protect the new plants from herbivores roaming the area, a fence of 1,400m in length was established encircling the entire project site. Concrete posts of 5’ height and barbed wire were used for this purpose. In addition, expansion of the intensive restoration area beyond that accomplished during the third year, application of organic fertilizer, planting of shade plants and forest plants, maintaining the fence, nursery management, watering and protecting plants from herbivores were carried out during the reporting period.

A nursery was established on-site, to maintain the seedlings until they are planted. To avoid plants from catching (forest) fire in the dry season, a 6’ wide fire belt was established by removing the Kekilla. Shade plants namely Glyricidia sp., Erythrina sp. “Kenda” and native species including “Hora”, “Goraka”, “Kata Kaela”, “Wal Del” and “Nawanda”, were also planted. The plants were obtained from local communities and the Forest Department. The plant nursery established by the project currently maintains more than 3,500 plants. Plants are transferred to the field on a regular basis. Hence, the nursery is being continuously improved to ensure an un-interrupted source of seedlings for planting. Seeds and seedlings are collected from the adjacent forest area for gap filling, potted in bags, and raised in the nursery until they are ready to be transferred to the field.

Field staff also explained about a significant method of application fertilizer, soil conservation and improvement methods and dry season watering.

Soil tests conducted by the Soil Science Department of the University of Peradeniya confirmed the highly degraded status and poor nutritional condition of the soil at the restoration site. As such, as per initial recommendations received, the application of fertilizers was initiated. Compost, organic pellet fertilizer, inorganic fertilizer, and dolomite were used systematically and carefully due to the sensitive nature of the site. Phosphate and nitrate tests were conducted with samples taken from the site and from an adjacent location. The tests revealed zero impact of the application of inorganic fertilizers to the forest and stream ecosystems of the area.

Soil plays a critical role in forest restoration as poor-soil suppresses plant growth. Due to heavy soil erosion and subsequent invasion of Kekilla, together with forest fires, have caused the soil condition in the site to been very poor. During the reporting period, several actions such as the introduction of live fences, soil conservation bunds, and barriers, the introduction of legume species, were carried out to improve the soil condition.

A watering system was established to ensure a continuous supply of water to plants during the dry season. Clay pitchers are placed next to selected plants located in the dry, hilly areas of the site to ensure water availability to plants during dry times. Also, a layer of coir or coconut husks were added to the planting pits, to retain moisture conditions for a longer period of time.

Representatives from partnering companies expressed their appreciation for the progress made over the last few years. Among them it was Senal Siriwardene from Jetwing who said “over the past years we see marked differences with the efforts put in here that have made a massive difference to the environment and lot of the native vegetation are being put in, pushing the fern cover back. It’s a winning moment for us and all involved in this project”.

Arrangements are being made to sustain the site with the involvement of the project partners, after the fifth and final year of this phase.

Material Recovery Facility: is it a game changer in plastic waste collection in Sri Lanka?

There are a number of plastic waste recyclers/processors successfully operating commercial operations converting plastic waste into marketable products. Existing processors have a substantial capacity to recycle plastic waste released into the market/environment and are willing and planning to expand their processing capacity. Though lack of accurate and reliable data on plastic use, volumes of plastic products in circulation, and the quantity of plastic waste collected in Sri Lanka are serious issues, it is estimated that around 20% of PET and 3% of HIPS are being collected at present. As per senior officials at the Central Environmental Authority, both formal and informal private sector actors in the plastic waste sector do not report on the quantities of their plastic waste collection and recycling at the moment.  As the plastic recyclers are operating below capacity, increasing the collection of post-consumer plastic waste, and channeling them to reliable recycling operations are considered most crucial.

A framework for plastic waste collection has been developed through the project “Enhancing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) through a Public-Private Partnership Approach” which is being implemented by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) with the technical assistance of Biodiversity Sri Lanka (BSL). The purpose of the project, which has received the official endorsement of the Ministry of Environment (MoE), is to implement an EPR system for plastic waste on a voluntary basis which was developed using a consultative process by CCC and BSL, through USAID’s Municipal Waste Recycling Program (MWRP).

The overall objective of developing the Plastic Waste Collection Framework is to increase the collection and recycling of post-consumer plastic packaging in Sri Lanka, using a partnership approach. It also aims to examine the currently existing collection mechanisms and propose a common collection framework to streamline and strengthen plastic waste collection in the country, making recommendations to ensure successful execution.

Existing Plastic Waste Collection Options

The placement of waste collection bins is a common practice to facilitate and encourage responsible disposal of used plastics by consumers. A number of organizations particularly corporates such as Coca-Cola, John Keells (Plasticcycle), and Eco Friends have already placed waste collection bins in schools, supermarkets, hotels, temples, commercial establishments, expressways and many private sector companies have planned to support waste collection through this mechanism.  The application of innovative mobile apps by Local Government Authorities (LGAs) to streamline waste collection is a recent breakthrough in Sri Lanka, since thus far, LGAs have relied only on traditional methods for waste collection. These Apps contain useful features including viewing the locations of garbage trucks, types of waste accepted and enables direct communications between officials and residents as well as allows posting of complaints.

There are a substantial number of more organized waste collectors, who have been registered with the Central Environment Authority (CEA) and/or the Western Province Waste Management Authority. (WP-WMA). Though, there is no huge variation in the scale of operation between the informal waste collectors and the registered waste collectors, the registered collectors can be considered as more organized as they are linked with regulatory authorities, thus having more access to information, guidance, and advice on proper waste collection practices.

Innovation in Plastic Waste Collection

Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) is a somewhat novel concept for Sri Lanka. The establishment of MRFs is aimed at collecting all types of waste at a central location, making waste collection more efficient and effective, allowing for increase of economies of scale as well as the ability to use new technologies for more efficient waste collection operations. The establishment and operation of MRFs are carried out as joint initiatives of corporates/brand owners and recyclers, which help recyclers to continue their waste processing operations efficiently, whilst providing opportunities for corporates/brand owners to fulfil their EPR responsibilities

Based on the trend in the recyclable waste collection market in Sri Lanka, the establishment of an integrated waste collection network which is primarily based on MRFs is proposed. Even though prominence is given to MRFs in the proposed integrated network, setting up of collection centers and other types of collection methods in peripheral areas are also encouraged and promoted as MRFs alone might find it challenging to meet high volume requirements, which is essential to cover the significantly high initial and operational cost of the MRFs.

The market entry to set up MRFs for collecting recyclable waste should be kept open to any interested new comers, without any entry barriers. It is essential for MRFs to work closely with existing and potentially new local level actors in each location in order to support local plastic waste collection efforts and livelihoods while ensuring that their collection volumes are fulfilled and they are at full operational capacity. Further, the proposed MRF-centered network is not considered a competing force against existing waste collection facilities such as collection centers. Moreover, the high cost of transportation of collected plastic waste, which is borne by informal and semi-organized actors at the moment, can get reduced through the proposed MRF network as collectors could deliver their collection to MRFs without transporting them to leading recyclers in Colombo.

Through careful assessment of existing collection mechanisms and based on the consultations with key players in the plastic waste value chain, there is general consensus that the most sensible and practical approach for increasing waste collection is to develop an integrated waste collection framework i.e. MRF Network, by strengthening existing collection mechanisms with closer and mutually beneficial linkages between the various actors in the value chain.

Biodiversity Sri Lanka launches its Second Public Private Community partnership – Life to Our Mangroves

The project ‘LIFE To Our Mangroves’ was officially launched on the 7^th of February 2022 by Biodiversity Sri Lanka and its members. A simple function was held at the lawn of Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company PLC in Peliyagoda. Due to the prevailing health crisis, the secretariat hosted an outdoor event following the health guidelines with limited participation.

This is BSL’s second public-private community partnership. The project will generate multiple environmental as well as socio-economic benefits. Overall, the intervention will enhance the resilience of the mangrove ecosystem, its capacity for renewal, and the provision of ecosystem services, whilst contributing to the socio-economic development of local communities.

BSL signed Partnership Agreements with Citizens Development Business Finance PLC, Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company, Dole Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd., Dynawash Ltd., Eswaran Brothers Exports (Pvt.) Ltd. and National Development Bank PLC  – all BSL members who will engage in this endeavor.

On the 12th of December 2021, Biodiversity Sri Lanka and the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to carry out this project. Mr. M. G. C. Sooriyabandara, Director-General of the Department of Wildlife Conservation, and Mr. Chandrarathna D Vithanage, Director of Biodiversity Sri Lanka, signed the document at the Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Known as ‘the Lungs of the Sea’, mangrove ecosystems provide critical services for the maintenance and wellbeing of global biodiversity. They are also of equal importance to humans living in the tropical belt, in terms of the ecosystem services that they provide, and the options offered by them as livelihoods to the major proportion of populations that live in the coastal zones of the region. In the context of the single-most debilitating challenge that humankind faces currently, mangroves play a significant role in fighting climate change as unique and productive Carbon sinks, and by acting as a protective barrier for human settlements, against heightened natural disasters resulting from increased global temperatures. Therefore, there is special and increased focus being laid on the conservation and wise use of mangrove ecosystems around the world.

Mangrove ecosystems cover a land area of 0.23% of the total land area of Sri Lanka. In order to prioritize the protection of these mangrove forests, and more so urgently – a national policy to conserve and sustainably utilize mangrove ecosystems in Sri Lanka, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in March 2020.

Anaiwilunda Wetland Sanctuary, which covers an area of 1,397 ha, consists of forest wetlands including mangroves, coastal saltwater ecosystems, and freshwater lakes. It is located along the coastal belt between Chilaw and Puttalam in the Northwestern Province of Sri Lanka. It is one of Sri Lanka’s six RAMSAR wetlands. The sanctuary provides shelter to a host of threatened fish, amphibians, mammals, reptiles, and many migratory birds.

From 44.5 ha of degraded mangrove forest patches within the sanctuary, the DWC has agreed to guide Biodiversity Sri Lanka in initially restoring up to 25 ha, using accepted scientific principles within a period of five years. BSL Members will play an active role in this effort. The first two years will focus on planning, forging community partnerships, land preparation, nursery establishment, and planting activities. Years three-five will be allocated for gap filling and maintenance. Activities will be guided by IUCN’s Global Nature-based Solutions Standard. Baseline monitoring for the entire site is being undertaken by the DWC and monitoring of the BSL site will be in keeping with this overall M&E process.