English - Convention on Biological Diversity

.2.1 National Wildlife PolicyThe National Wildlife Policy of 1990 was prepared in response to the National Conservation Strategy of 1988. Theoverall translation of the previous Wildlife Policy into action was weak. The current National Policy on WildlifeConservation (of 2000) has been expanded to include policy needs that respond to the evolving needs of SriLankan society and the mandate conferred as obligations under the <strong>Convention</strong> on Biological Diversity. TheNational Wildlife Policy of 2000 recognized the need for appropriate and effective management of PAs, takinginto consideration the needs of local communities and for providing support to wildlife resource managers byway of reorientation, strengthening and decentralization of their institutions. This policy renews statecommitment to conserve wildlife resources for the benefit of present and future generations. It also recognisesthe need to link activities, interests and perspectives of the people who use and benefit from wildlife resourceswith those of professional wildlife managers and scientists. The policy concurs with the targets of the PoWPA byits decree to:• identify, classify manage and monitor all protected areas based on appropriate scientific studies and agreedcriteria;• zone and manage all protected areas according to approved management plans, taking into account thecontext of their surrounding landscapes, and the ecological, social and economics links between natural andhuman systems;• adopt ecosystem-based management, including the eradication of alien and invasive species where possibleafter consideration of the environmental impacts of these interventions; and to encourage sustainabledevelopment of communities living around protected areas, by consulting them in decision making, enablingtheir active participate in PA management and providing direct benefits from the management of protectedareas; and• facilitate eco-tourism in protected areas, to the extent that it provides benefits to local people and doesnot damage the ecosystem concerned.The section on Protected Area management of this policy specifically recognises the importance of protectingrepresentative samples of all terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems and sites of special scientific interestsuch as Wet Zone forests, and obtaining the support of local people in protected area management. The policyalso articulates the need for a decentralised administration that enhances the flow of benefits from protectedareas to those living in their vicinity..2.1 The National Forestry Sector Master PlanThe Forestry Sector Master Plan (FSMP) of 1995 was prepared to take forward the National Forest Policy of 1995during the period 1995 to 2020. This plan was developed with special emphasis on the conservation ofbiodiversity in the forest and wildlife sub-sectors, and has direct relevance for implementation of the PoWPA.While the management of PAs under the Department of Wildlife Conservation has not followed the FSMP, theForest Department follows the strategy outlined in the FSMP for management of its reserves. Accordingly,forests under the jurisdiction of the Forest Department will be reclassified, rehabilitated and placed under fourmanagement systems for: (a) strict conservation; (b) non-extractive use such as research and tourism withcontrolled collection of non-wood resources; (c) management of multiple use forests for sustainable productionof wood, and (d) management of forests with community participation to meet the needs of local people (MALF,1995). A significant feature of the FSMP is that it advocates a re-orientation of the traditional approach of bothForest and Wildlife Conservation Departments promoting the involvement of local communities in ProtectedArea Management..2.1 The National Environmental Action Plan 0f 2003The current NEAP is termed “Caring for The Environment: National Agenda for SustainableDevelopment 2003 - 2007” (CFE). This contains the National Environmental Policy of 2003, development linkedenvironmental strategies for implementing the policy, and a comprehensive set of actions for managing theenvironment so as to make the development process sustainable. Development is perceived with the activeinvolvement of NGOs and business sector to work with the government sector at both national and provinciallevels. The CFE takes into consideration that individual ministries have their own development strategies andaction plans, although they have various environmental dimensions according to their mandates.Fourth National Report to the CBD: Sri Lanka Appendix IIIxii