? Coast Conservation and Coastal Resources Management Department has included and listed the Passikudah bay where the coral transplantation pilot site is located as a Special Management Area (SMA) into the Coastal Zone and Coastal Resources Management Plan of 2015 to enable to declare the site under the legal provisions of the Coast Conservation Amendment Act No.49 of 2011
? Further, Coral replantation has been incorporated as one of the management interventions to be implemented to conservation of the coral reef habitats in Sri Lanka at national level (Page 70-National Coastal Zone and Coastal Resource Management Plan 2015 (Final Draft approved by the Coast Conservation advisory Council on 19th June 2015)
? Project has already planned to replicated this concept to Trncomalee, Mannar and Ambalangoda with financial and in kind support from Tokyo Cement Company, HSBC Bank and Sri Lanka Navy.
Project sustainability
? The project work very closely with Tokyo Cement Group in Passikudah, HSBC Bank and Hoteliers in the area. Tokyo Cement group and HSBC will continue these activities as their CSR activities and the Hoteliers will continue project initiated activities as they will get more benefits from Coral reef conservation and other related activities
? 3 Research student from Zoology Department of University of Peradeniya are reading for their Ph d studies based on this study/area. These studies will continue even after the GFF-SGP involvement
? Communities will also involved in protection of coral reefs as to maintain their livelihoods
Gender Focus
Both male and female in equally
Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
Conduct lectures for community, local authority, schools, universities, hoteliers, and public sector on project and coastal ecosystems
conducted school programmes for school children on biodiversity conservation and importance of reef as carbon sink to minimize r global environment issues
Linkages gef projects
N/A
Planning non gef grant
N/A
Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples
NA
Notable Community Participation
Reef keeping and monitoring, Corel replanting, Sea cucumber farming, Mangrove restoration and environmental education with community participation
Community is involved in the project activities as volunteers as well as paid labours.youth in the community work as reef watchers Enhanced community participation
through livelihood development programme (sea cucumber culture) and promoting conservation among the local community
Capacity - Building Component
Sea cucumber farming and reef guard eco tourism training programme, capacity building of fishing community,
NGO staff is trained on project management, Baseline data collections, stake holder analysis beneficiary selections etc.
project facilitate research students for their research studies.
One Ph D student is reading for his Ph D based on this project activities.School children make regular visits to the project site
Project has set up a museum and a information centre at a nearby hotel for public to use.
Planning gef grant
Seeking for a grant
Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods
Strengthening livelihood through sea cucumber farming. Providing reef guard eco tourism training.
Enhance sustainable tourism in Passekudah bay.With the involvement of private sector, tourism related livelihoods (glass bottom coats services, tour guides, life savers) created as a result of the reef recovery.
sustainable reef fishery is establishing
Livelihood vulnerabilities among fisher communities will be reduced through sea cucumber culture
Policy Impact
The project addresses the coral reef regeneration through artificial reef structures with Collaborative approach for reef replantation field tested and opportunity opened for integrate as a CRM management tool at national scale.Pasikuda reef and associated area has been included as a Special Area Management under the Coastal Zone and Coastal Resources Management Plan 2015 (Draft) by CC&CRMD.
Inovative Financial Mechanisms
The project has demonstrated effectiveness of private sector involvement in promoting sustainable coastal environment management in the long run through financial contributions.
Project Results
1. The project has surveyed the Pasikudah Bay and assessed the status and biodiversity of the coral reefs ? data base is established
2. Coral replantation using concrete boulders was implemented ? 255 boulders with coral nubbins are been placed in coral damaged areas both in shallow and deep areas of the Pasikudah Bay, coral growths, damages were regularly monitored
3. 25 fishermen from the area who were mainly engaged in destructive fishing methods trained and given snorkeling gear to divert them to lawful and more productive fishing activities.
4. 8 fishermen were trained and provided Dive Coxswain Certificates and engaged them in diving activities
5. Initiatives taken to recognize Pasikuda Bay are as a SMA under CRMP
6. Sea bass culture activities initiated as a livelihood promotion among fishing community in the area
7. ?Plant a Coral?programme has been initiated in collaboration with Malu Malu holiday resort to attract foreign Tourists. They pay and participate in coral re-planting activities. The income goes to hotel workers and community.
8. 18 scientific publications were published in scientific journals, 4 posters were presented at international forums, 4 awareness posters prepared and distributed, more that 19 newspaper articles were published based on the project related activities.
9. A coral museum/learning center is established and functioning
