A New Wave of Conservation: Spa Ceylon joins Biodiversity Sri Lanka to Protect Coral Reefs

Spa Ceylon, the world’s largest luxury Ayurveda brand has joined forces with Biodiversity Sri Lanka (BSL) to strengthen the “Life to Our Coral Reefs” initiative — an ambitious project to restore and conserve Sri Lanka’s vibrant coral ecosystems. Announced alongside Spa Ceylon’s latest Festive Collection, “Undersea Paradise,” this partnership seeks to spotlight the beauty and critical importance of coral reefs while inspiring people to protect these fragile ecosystems. The Life to Our Coral Reefs initiative was conceptualised and designed with the support of the Ambassade de France à Sri Lanka et aux Maldives.

The initiative is part of BSL’s LIFE Series, which is dedicated to preserving Sri Lanka’s unique natural landscapes, from lush forests and mangroves to pristine beaches and coral reefs. Coral reefs, covering less than 1% of the oceans yet supporting 25% of marine life, play an irreplaceable role in coastal protection and supporting livelihoods. However, they are under severe threat from climate change, pollution, and unsustainable fishing practices. Through collaborations with the Department of Wildlife Conservation, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Blue Resources Trust and the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), BSL is committed to reversing the tide.

With Spa Ceylon’s international reach across 33 countries and its dedication to ethical, eco-friendly practices, the partnership promises to amplify marine conservation efforts in Sri Lanka and beyond. The Undersea Paradise Festive Gallery at One Galle Face Mall from November 1-3 provides an immersive experience to inspire people to take action for marine conservation.

“Biodiversity is at the heart of today’s environmental challenges, from climate change to habitat loss,” says Dilhan Fernando, Chairperson of BSL. “It’s on all of us—businesses, NGOs, government, and individuals—to protect it. Through this collaboration, we hope to inspire others to safeguard our marine heritage for generations to come.”

By merging luxury wellness with ecological responsibility, Spa Ceylon and BSL are setting a powerful example of how businesses can lead the way in environmental stewardship, working together to make an enduring impact on Sri Lanka’s natural heritage.

The Vital Connection Between Biodiversity and Sustainability

In today’s rapidly changing world, the concepts of biodiversity and sustainability are more interconnected than ever before. ​ As leaders in the business community, it’s crucial to understand this nexus and take proactive steps to ensure that our economic activities support, rather than harm, the natural world that sustains us.

Why Biodiversity Matters

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth, encompassing different species, ecosystems, and genetic variations. ​ This diversity is not just about preserving the beauty of nature; it’s about maintaining the essential services that ecosystems provide. ​ These services include clean air and water, fertile soil for agriculture, pollination of crops, and climate regulation. In essence, biodiversity is the foundation of our well-being and economic prosperity. ​

The Role of Sustainability

Sustainability is about meeting our current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. ​ It involves balancing economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection. ​ When we integrate biodiversity into our sustainability efforts, we ensure that our natural resources are used wisely and conserved for the future. ​

The Business Case for Biodiversity

For businesses, embracing biodiversity and sustainability is not just a moral obligation; it’s a smart strategy. ​ Companies that prioritize these values often see numerous benefits, including:

• Enhanced Reputation: Consumers and investors are increasingly favoring companies that demonstrate environmental responsibility. By showing a commitment to biodiversity, your business can build a positive image and attract a loyal customer base that values sustainability.

• Risk Management: Healthy ecosystems can mitigate risks related to climate change, such as extreme weather events. For instance, forests and wetlands can act as natural buffers against floods and storms, reducing potential damage to infrastructure and operations. ​

• Innovation and Efficiency: Sustainable practices often lead to innovative solutions and more efficient use of resources, reducing costs in the long run. For example, adopting biodiverse agricultural practices can improve soil health and crop yields, leading to more resilient and productive farming systems. ​

• Market Opportunities: There is a growing market for eco-friendly products and services, providing new business opportunities. Consumers are willing to pay a premium for products that are sustainably sourced and produced, opening up new revenue streams for businesses that prioritize biodiversity. ​

Biodiversity Sri Lanka (BSL)

To make a meaningful impact, we invite you to join Biodiversity Sri Lanka (BSL). BSL is a platform that brings together businesses committed to biodiversity conservation and sustainable practices. By becoming a member, you can:

1. Collaborate: Work with other like-minded businesses to share knowledge and best practices. BSL provides a network where you can learn from the experiences of others and develop joint initiatives that amplify your impact.

• Report: Engage in biodiversity reporting to track and communicate your conservation efforts. Transparent reporting helps build trust with stakeholders and demonstrates your commitment to sustainability.

• Support: Contribute to projects that protect and restore Sri Lanka’s unique ecosystems. BSL facilitates various conservation projects that you can support, ensuring that your efforts are directed towards impactful and scientifically-backed initiatives.

Take Action Today

Your involvement through BSL can make a significant difference. Together, we can create a sustainable future where businesses thrive in harmony with nature. Let’s lead by example and show that economic success and environmental stewardship go hand in hand.

Biodiversity Sri Lanka celebrates World Wetlands Day, 2023 ‘Rejuvenating the Lungs of the Sea

Biodiversity Sri Lanka in partnership with Tokyo Cement Company (Lanka) PLC and Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts commemorated World Wetlands Day, 2023 ‘Rejuvenating the Lungs of the Sea’ on the 8^th of February, 2023 at the Hotel Cinnamon Grand from 3.30 to 5.30 p.m.

A wetland is an area of land covered by salt or fresh water, either seasonally or permanently. It has its own vegetation types and rich biodiversity, along with its own distinct ecosystem. Wetlands provide shelter to a wide array of biota, including water birds, mammals, fish, and insects, and also act as pit stops for migratory birds.

Wetlands also act as natural filters, commonly referred to as the ‘kidneys of the Earth’, trapping pollutants such as heavy metals and excessive nitrogen and phosphorous. They also act as a source of food for animals and human beings, hydrologically regulate erosion and flood and drought conditions and enable carbon sequestration and climate regulation. These systems store a total of 11.52 pentagrams of carbon, which is equivalent to roughly four years of annual carbon emissions by the country.

Carbon sequestration rates of coastal wetlands and freshwater wetlands are higher than terrestrial forests.  Waterlogging soils limit oxygen transmission and create an anaerobic condition.  This condition slows down the decomposition rate of organic matter, leading to the 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 the 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)   

From the existing 44.5 ha of degraded mangrove forest patches within the Anavilundawa wetland sanctuary, the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) has been guiding Biodiversity Sri Lanka since February 2022 in initially restoring up to 10.0 ha, using accepted scientific principles, with the Wayamba University of Sri Lanka playing the role of an expert advisor with respect to the science component of the project. Advice on establishing the biodiversity, soil, and hydrology baseline of the land plots, providing technical inputs for land preparation and establishing and maintaining field mangrove nurseries, planting mangroves and maintaining mangrove fields, and controlling potential pests and diseases on mangrove plants will be provided together with continued guidance and support for periodic data gathering and monitoring. Spanning an initial period of five years, with financial resources from its Membership, the first two years will focus on planning, forging community partnerships, land preparation, nursery establishment, and planting activities.

In celebration of the completion of a productive year of BSL public-private partnership ‘LIFE to Our Mangroves’, the wetlands day event was held, with the participation of distinguished speakers Prof. Sevvandi Jayakody, Senior Lecturer, Wayamba University, Chitral Jayatilake, Head of Eco-Tourism, Cinnamon Hotels and Mr. Salinda Kandapola, Corporate Sustainability Manager, Tokyo Cement Company (Lanka) PLC.

The first presentation of the event was done by Mr. Chitral Jayatilake, where he spoke about the sustainability projects carried out by Cinnamon Hotels. He highlighted the various wildlife conservation initiatives carried out by Cinnamon Wild Yala and Cinnamon Lodge Habarana in particular. Mr. Jayathilake also talked about the Eco-Tourism based approaches carried out by Cinnamon hotels.

Prof. Sevvandi Jayakody made a detailed presentation on the Importance of Mangrove ecosystems and progression at the Anawilundawa mangrove restoration site since the start of the project, from the obstacles they faced whilst selecting the site to the current status. Professor Jayakody indicated the research activities happening on the site, including floral and faunal surveys and water and soil quality analyses. She also highlighted the community involvement in the project stressing the support given by the neighboring villagers in seed collection, nursery preparation, etc.

Mr. Kandapola highlighted the Mangrove Re-planting Project in Cod Bay, Trincomalee – a project carried out by Tokyo Cement Company (Lanka) PLC, since 2012. He elaborated on details from the start of the project, how it was carried out from nursery preparation, indicating the species of Mangroves that were planted in the site and progression during the past 10 years (2012 to 2022). He also talked about the faunal species that were found on the site and the current status of the area restored.

A special panel discussion was held with the participation of distinguished panelists Prof. Sevvandi Jayakody, Dr. Shamen Vidanage, Senior Lecturer, University of Kelaniya, Mr. Graham Marshall, Chair- Marine Sub Committee, Wildlife & Nature Protection Society, and Mr. Sanith de Silva Wijeyeratne, Director/CEO, The Climate & Conservation Consortium. The panel discussion was moderated by Prof. Devaka Weerakoon, Senior Professor in Zoology & Environmental Sciences, University of Colombo. Following the panel discussion, an open discussion was held with audience participation.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the CCC and the CEA on the EPR Online Reporting Portal

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was recently signed between the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) and the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) on managing the EPR On-line Reporting Portal on the 18th of February 2023 at the CEA premises. The signing of the MoU was witnessed by Mr. Supun S. Pathirage, Chairman of the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), and Mr. Manjula De Silva, Secretary General/CEO of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. This MoU cements the relationship between the Parties for the handling of the EPR Reporting System.

The Online Plastic Waste Reporting Portal for the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Obligatory Companies was developed by Virtusa (Pvt) Ltd. with funding from the Clean Cities Blue (CCBO) initiative of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The Ceylon Chamber and Biodiversity Sri Lanka (BSL) officially inaugurated the EPR system on June 16, 2022, for the environmentally responsible management of plastic waste. To access the online portal, visit www.epr.lk

The initiative aims to increase plastic waste collection and recycling to minimize plastic pollution at the national level. The online reporting portal has been endorsed by the Ministry of Environment (MoE) and the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) and welcomed by the private sector.

On January 26, 2023, the project conducted a meeting with the CEA officials who are handling the online portal and with the Virtusa team. The main objective of this meeting is to discuss some technical difficulties and give some technical instructions to the employees of CEA who are handling the EPR Portal. The training was led with the assistance of Virtusa.

CEA convened a meeting with PET and HIPS Consortium members to inform them that CEA has taken over the responsibility of managing the Online Reporting System and that they should report on manufacturing and collection figures into the Portal beginning in January 2022. The CEA intends for EPR-obligatory companies to begin reporting annual plastic consumption and collecting post-consumer plastic in January 2023. The initial phase will focus on two types of plastics, namely, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) packaging. The outcome of voluntary EPR implementation will be documented to draw lessons that can be applied to a mandatory collection and reporting system in the future. The project and the CEA looked forward to any positive steps taken toward moving the national EPR process forward.

Progressing with Youth Leadership for Climate Action (YLCA)

Using British Council funds, Biodiversity Sri Lanka (BSL) is making progress on an initiative called Youth Leadership for Climate Action (YLCA), targeting young people living in the Colombo District. The programme intends to develop these young people into community leaders in climate action, through a series of residential training programs. Either individually or in groups, the candidates are expected to undertake a community intervention supporting climate action. We believe that through this programme, the young candidates will gain knowledge and skills to address local climate problems. The selected youth were provided with the chance to broaden their networks with other district YLCA teams recently at Mihilaka Medura, BMICH. Seventy-five young people from the Colombo, Gampaha, and Kandy districts attended this event.

After successfully completing the three training segments, which covered the journey of climate actions, the basics of project management, fundraising, environmental/social entrepreneurship, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), safeguarding and gender sensitivity communicating and networking through social media, etc., the candidates developed project proposals for community interventions climate issues. They will now put themselves into action. In presenting these community intervention ideas, the British Council created a platform in collaboration with BSL and WNPS. This serves as a networking opportunity.

Through a poster presentation at the event, the youth had the opportunity to share their intervention ideas with other youth and guests, network with them, and share their experiences. Additionally, it gave them the chance to network with well-known figures in fields connected to sustainability and the environment.

Working With Budding Youth Action Activists

24 candidates from the Colombo district were selected and trained to be leaders in climate action under the auspices of the Youth Leadership for Climate Action (YLCA) Project, funded by the British Council and implemented by Biodiversity Sri Lanka with technical support from Curve Up. The training program was conducted over a period of nine days, in all three languages. Split into 3 segments, the 1^st two segments were residential training programs whilst the 3^rd segment was a non-residential training program. Both the first and second training segments were conducted successfully, along with activities for skills development, climate awareness, and entertainment for the participants. The sessions were focused on the YLCA Learning Journey (YLCA River Journey), which is conducted in 5 phases: Me, Me, and You, We Together, Social Action, and Locally engaged-globally connected.

Here is a cross-section of participant feedback:

• “Compared to previous workshops we’ve attended, YLCA made each one of us gets involved in all the activities, keeping us away from boredom.” – Shaheer Ahamed
• “YLCA has made me look at the environment around me with a different perception, for example, I see a tree as something which helps reduce pollution in the air.” – Fathima Nawreen
• “Thank you so much for the excellent training. We were quite pleased with how much fun you made it for us! We gained a lot of knowledge. We were strongly urged to participate by the excellent facilitators.” -Kithiyon Yoganathan
• “The YLCA training program helped me a lot to think differently in terms of biodiversity and climate change.” – Junali Shaini
• “The program has instilled good values in me, to see the unseen side of climate change”. – Jathujan Mahendran

After a comprehensive training session on project development, along with expanded virtual discussions on the project proposals, followed by ideation and prototyping workshops, candidates were inspired to raise 8 project ideas (Individual & group), focused on climate change and biodiversity.   

Here are some of the Community Intervention Projects:

• Spread awareness on Biodegradable diapers and the long-term goal to introduce an appropriate biodegradable diaper product to the market.
• Upcycling the fabric waste to reduce the open burning of fabric waste and produce a new product.
• Tree planting program with the involvement of the children living under probation to enhance the air quality in the area while reducing air pollution and fostering a positive mindset in the children who are a part of the program.
• Make a video documentary to spreading awareness of environmental harm from lunch sheets.
• Eco-friendly play items for kids are designed and produced using wood waste materials. By utilizing eco-friendly toys instead of plastic ones, this encourages improving children’s attitudes while reducing plastic usage and waste.
• Spread awareness on the value of the wetlands, based on Bellanwila- Aththidiya Sanctuary. The long-term objective is to organize youth-focused wetland activist groups in the Aththidiya Sanctuary area.
• Innovative ways to manage garbage in schools through awareness, introducing waste management system, 3R, school gardening, etc
• Introduce a proper solution for food waste management by converting food waste into compost using a machine called a food waste accelerator.

Candidates will begin their three-month community intervention initiatives after the third segment of the training. While the intervention projects are in progress, a networking program for the candidates will be held on the first week of February 2023, with the involvement of stakeholders from the public and private sectors. At this event, the project teams will present their concepts, and the best project concept, best presenter, etc. will be chosen. Candidates from Kandy and Gampaha will also take part.

Keep in touch with us for more updates on this fascinating program.

Call for applications from budding Youth Climate Activists from Colombo District under “Youth Leadership for Climate Action” (YLCA) Project

Biodiversity Sri Lanka in partnership with British Council and Curve Up

The Context

Biodiversity Sri Lanka is a national platform entirely owned and driven by the private sector established to promote strong engagement of the corporate sector in sustainable development. BSL’s overall mandate is to help raise awareness of biodiversity and sustainability issues amongst the Sri Lankan business community.

Curve Up is a pioneering education technology company in Sri Lanka. Curve Up works closely with several schools, global institutes, SMEs, and NGO communities to partner and develop solutions that are more innovative, adaptive, and effective.

The British Council has undertaken the Youth Leadership for Climate Action Project in Sri Lanka which intends to offer Sri Lankan youth active at community level climate action the opportunity to develop their knowledge, skills, and networks to offer better, more impactful, and sustainable solutions to pressing social, economic, and environmental climate-related issues through the engagement of local communities. Together, Biodiversity Sri Lanka and Curve Up carry out Colombo District’s project activities of the YLCA Project.

Opportunity for Youth

The project will run from October 2022 to March 2023, during which time the selected youth will undergo a series of intensive residential training programs on topics related to climate change, project management, and personality development. Upon completion of all the training sessions, youth are required to develop and implement a Community Action Project (individual or group) related to Climate Change within Colombo District in keeping with the project’s timeline.

Who may apply,

• Age between 18-29 years
• A permanent/ temporary resident of the Colombo district
• Available to take part in residential training (9 days of residential training in 3 segments) and subsequent community actions
• Strong interest and commitment for environmental/ climate action
• Should be able to carry out Community Intervention/ Action Project within Colombo District
• Ability to work effectively with people of diverse backgrounds, genders, ethnicities, and religions.
• Good communication skills in Sinhala or Tamil (English is not essential)
• Being a member of a community-based organization or a Youth Club is desirable
• This call is open and inclusive. All are encouraged to apply if you match the eligibility criteria given above etc.

 

To apply please visit the below link.

Sinhala: https://forms.gle/43E5BDEf7yQqDNcLA

English: https://forms.gle/YT92osUdb7Wmrgbe9

Tamil: https://forms.gle/hwUExaP7WArUL18eA

The applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis so we would recommend applying early. The deadline for submitting applications is 24 October 2022.

For any queries, please contact Yoshan at [email protected] or 0779793951 or Roshan at [email protected] or 0715358068

Life to Our Mangroves – latest developments

More about our flagship project being undertaken jointly with the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC), the Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, and selected private sector partners in the Anawilundawa Ramsar wetland sanctuary…

The selected patches have been severely degraded due to intensive shrimp farming projects that took place over a decade ago. The intention is to restore these mangrove patches using established scientific principles, to enhance ecological functions, habitat quality, species diversity, and capacity to provide biodiversity and ecosystem services that are in close approximation to what prevailed before it was converted to the present state.

 

Hydrology in mangrove restoration is often overlooked

Hydrology is often overlooked in mangrove restoration projects, making it an important reason for failure. One of the reasons that hydrology is often not taken into account is that it is not easy to quantify. To overcome the hydrological challenges of the site, the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) made a request to Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) to undertake a comprehensive hydrological study for each plot. At the end of the study SLN developed contour maps for all plots, providing an analysis of the leveling in comparison with the Mean Sea Level. The contour map is helping to develop plans for irrigating the site, either by lagoon waters or waters from the Dutch Canal. Also, it will help in determining the types of species that could be planted in the different plots and understanding the hydrological patterns controlling the seedling establishment and successful growth of mangrove species.

Based on the SLN study engineers from the Department of Wildlife Conservation have mapped out points and designs to build culverts to obtain water for the plots from the Dutch Canal.

Project Field Coordinator – Dushan Samarasinghe

Maintaining genetic adaptation on-site

Proven studies provide information on the stage mangrove fruits become ready for harvesting. Community knowledge and experience are also taken into consideration in seed collection. The fruits or seeds will be

collected from the periphery of the area around the Dutch canal and sanctuary area with the help of community members, villagers, and fishermen. This is considered important, in terms of maintaining genetic adaptations on-site. Nurseries will be established by the propagation of collected fruits and seeds, and will be based on the lessons learned from the on-going pilot study;

The following species will be planted directly at the site:

• Rhizophora mucronata
• Rhizophora apiculata
• Bruguiera gymnorrhiza
• Bruguiera cylindrica
• Avicennia marina
• Avicennia officinalis
• Aegiceras corniculatum

The following species will be planted in nurseries:

• Xylocarpus granatum
• Lumnitzera racemosa
• Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea
• Nypa fruticans
• Heritiera littoralis

Since BSL’s plot 7 is located at the edge of the Dutch canal it is proposed to plant Rhizophora, Bruguiera, and Xylocorpus as the most preferred species. These species require adequate water availability to survive and grow. The landward plots will be restored with mixed species.

In addition to these, the Project is currently carrying out biodiversity surveys and soil analyses to establish baseline information for the Project.