‘Mainstreaming biodiversity conservation & sustainable use for

improved human nutrition and wellbeing’

Sri Lanka ComponentFirst International Steering Committee Meeting, 25th

April 2012Rio, Brazil

Anura WijesekaraNational Project Coordinator (PPG)

•The project plans over the 3 technical components including some key activities

•Where the project is going to work, which kinds of sites/ecosystems,

•The key collaborating partners identified nationally

•The project implementation and management plans at the national level to facilitate implementation

•The key next steps for the project (next 6 months)

Source: Dr. Renuka Jayatissa, MRI, Sri Lanka

Nutritional Status

Source: Dr. Renuka Jayatissa, MRI, Sri Lanka

Traditional Rice VarietiesTraditional Rice Varieties

Root and Tuber CropsRoot and Tuber Crops

Vegetables

Leafy Vegetables

Fruits Fruits

Wild Harvested Plants

Underutilized Crops

Component 1: Nutritional Benefits from Agriculture Biodiversity-Knowledge Base

1. Identify and Document important local agro-biodiversity in selected agro-ecosystems

2. Determine and educate the society on potential nutritional contribution from local agro-biodiversity

3. Document traditionally used food recipes for local agro-biodiversity and develop new recipes

4. Establish a national portal to disseminate information on local agro-biodiversity / their nutritional value / conservation status with links to FAO-INFOODS

5. Generate data for nutritional indicators for biodiversity6. Study and document threat to local biodiversity in three

selected ecosystems

Component 2: Policy and regulatory framework

1. Establish a national biodiversity Agriculture Development and Health coordinating Committee under the ministry of Environment with a link to national food security committee (cabinet approved)

2. Review national policies on agriculture and nutrition and prepare policy briefing for policy revision

3. Introduce new local agro-biodiversity market chain through provincial agriculture departments and ‘divineguma’ program of the ministry of economic development

Component 3: Increase awareness and out scaling

1. Intervene with existing government home garden popularizing program to in-cooperate use of local agro-biodiversity, external input saving and family nutritional status encasement

2. Use Women Agriculture Extension program of the department of agriculture to establish and evaluate low input, nutritional home gardens /introduction & popularization of recipies

3. Use NGO partners for planting material production, popularization of local agro-biodiversity conservation and utilization programs, market chain development and CBO establishment

4. Introduction of local agro-biodiversity for mid day meal program of the department of education in selected areas

5. Introduction of local agro-biodiversity preparations into tourist industry

6. Educate farmers in pilot site on ecosystem approach for agro-biodiversity conservation

7. Conduct diversity fairs

1. Gampola2. Udakumbura3. Sinharaja

1

2

3

3 Selected ecosystems

Pilot sites

1. Gampola Village in Kurunegala District

• Low country Dry Zone• Rice based cultivation under village tank system• Rice, Vegetables, freshwater fish• About 120 families• Primary School with mid day meal• Forest Department home garden improvement program

A typical tank cascade

Pilot sites

1. Udakumbura Village in KandyDistrict

• Mid country wet Zone• Rice based cultivation near Knuckles forest range• Rice, Vegetables, fruits, palm tapping• Kandiyan forest gardens• About 90 families• Primary School with mid day meal• DOA home garden improvement program

Pilot sites

1. Ambatenna Village in Ratnapura District

• Low country wet Zone• Tea based economy• Rice, Vegetables, fruits, root crops, palm tapping• About 100 families• Primary School with mid day meal• Forest Department CBO

Main Stakeholders – Agriculture Sector

•Department of Agriculture (Implementing Agency)

•Department of Export Agriculture

•Ministry of Rural Industries and Self Employment

•University of Peradeniya

•University of Ruhuna

•Community Development Center (NGO) Aranayake

•Green Movement of Sri Lanka (NGO)

•Sevalanka Foundation (NGO)

Main Stakeholders – Nutrition Sector

•Department of Health (Medical Research Institute & Nutrition Coordination Division)

•Department of Indigenous Medicine

•Wayamba University of Sri Lanka

•Nutritional Alliance of Sri Lanka (NGO organization)

•Ministry of Education

•University of Peradeniya

•University of Ruhuna

Main Stakeholders – Environment Sector

•Ministry of environment

•Biodiversity Secretariat

•Forest Department

•Green Movement of Sri Lanka

•Central Environment Authority

•National Botanic Gardens

•University of Sri Jayewardenepura

•Tourist Board

Structure and linkages of project partner organizations

HORDI Horticultural Crops Research & Development Institute FRU Food Research UnitCDC Community Development Center IFS Institute of Fundamental StudiesMRI Medical Research Institute BMARI Bandaranaike Memorial Ayurveda research institutePGRC Plant Generic Resource Center MOE Ministry of Education

Work During Next 6 months

1.Appoint Steering Committee, Project Coordinator, Sign LOA, Establish project office and Start by September 2012

2.Conduct an inception Workshop & establish working mechanism among partners

3.Conduct Biodiversity surveys at three selected cites

4.Conduct baseline study of nutritional status of farm families in pilot sites

Challenges and Opportunities Challenges and Opportunities

Opportunities

•Government home garden promotion program•Health concerns of urban population•Popularity of traditional food related Self employment •Increasing Tourist attraction

Challenges

•Changing attitudes towards food & nutrition•Medical sector collaboration with Agriculture & Environment•Analysis of nutritional composition of food•Public awareness

Opportunities

•Government home garden promotion program•Health concerns of urban population•Popularity of traditional food related Self employment •Increasing Tourist attraction

Challenges

•Changing attitudes towards food & nutrition•Medical sector collaboration with Agriculture & Environment•Analysis of nutritional composition of food•Public awareness

Thanks for your attentionThanks for your attention