English - Convention on Biological Diversity

the need for a mechanism to implement the BCAP.The most effective coordination process to date has been the wide stakeholder discussions prior to preparation ofpolicies, strategies, management plans or action plans within the environmental as well as other related sectors suchas agriculture, fisheries, urban development and coast conservation, for which representatives of the MoENR, ForestDepartment, Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Central Environmental Authority and key environmentalNGOs are invited. However, the present inter-institutional coordination by the BDS and other conservation orientedstate agencies (FD, DWLC, CCD, CEA, etc.) is not sufficiently effective to obtain commitment from other agenciesrequired for policy/plan/programme implementation. Steering Committees set up for major projects involveparticipation of conservation agencies resulting in biodiversity concerns being addressed in the policies, plans andprogrammes of these sectors at promote addressing biodiversity considerations. On the other hand such consultationsare rare with the development agencies or the private sector in general.Proposal for a national biodiversity (or environmental) communication initiativeBuilding capacity in the BDS/MoENR is required to conduct a well planned communication initiative, based on a well planned CEPAstrategy that targets the critically important institutions and stakeholder groups having significant impacts on biodiversity (includingpolicy makers and planners at the highest level, development sector agencies and the business sector ), to obtain their support forimplementing the BCAP and its Addendum. The initiative should:(a) target high level policy makers, planners and administrators (at central and regional levels) in selected important developmentsector agencies that impact on or rely on heavy use of components of biodiversity; and the business sector through customisedactivities, and(b) Build skills for CEPA in state agencies responsible for biodiversity conservation (FD, DWLC, DOA, CCD, DFAR, NZG and NBG)and selected environmental NGOs for effective biodiversity communication through training of trainers initiatives and productdevelopment (corporate presentations, CDs, etc.).(c) Instilling skills in agencies responsible for in-situ and ex-situ conservation to better market their activities to financial anddevelopment sector organisations and funding agencies (including building skills for project proposal writing and budget preparation(i.e. to access both national and donor funding).Source: the NCSA Thematic Report on Biodiversity, 2007.3.5 Integration with other conventionsSri Lanka’s overall political commitment to biodiversity and environmental conservation in Sri Lanka are reflected inthe ratification of 36 Multi-lateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), many of which influence biodiversityconservation. The main conventions in this regard are given in Table 3.8 below. Among these are four otherbiodiversity-related conventions (i.e. CITES, <strong>Convention</strong> on Migratory Species, Ramsar and the World Heritage<strong>Convention</strong>), the two other Rio conventions (UNFCCC, UNCCD). A number of activities and programmes have beentaken place to facilitate obligations under these conventions.Within the MoENR, the Biodiversity Division deals specifically with all aspects of policy and plans related to nationalbiodiversity conservation, and national responses to obligations under the <strong>Convention</strong> on Biological Diversity and theCartagena Protocol. This division services the United Nations Framework <strong>Convention</strong> on Climate Change and itsrelated protocols; The Pollution Management and Control Division services the Stockholm <strong>Convention</strong> on PersistentOrganic Pollutants (POPs) and the Basel <strong>Convention</strong> on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastesand Their Disposal (1989), and deals with policies and strategies to eliminate POPs impacts in the country.Fourth National Report to the CBD: Sri Lanka 73