$4.5 Mn UN-Backed Project to Protect Sri Lanka's Coastal Biodiversity

COLOMBO (News 1st); A new initiative aimed at protecting Sri Lanka's rich biodiversity while creating sustainable economic opportunities for coastal communities has officially moved into action with the signing of a key project agreement.

The project, titled "Promoting Sustainable Economic Benefits through the Conservation of Critical Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in the Eastern and Southern Coastal Regions of Sri Lanka," marks a significant step towards balancing environmental protection with community development.

The Project Document was signed by Secretary to the Ministry of Environment K.R. Uduwawala and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Sri Lanka Azusa Kubota.

Implemented by the Ministry of Environment under the National Implementation Modality, the five-year project will be financed through a grant of US$ 4.507 million provided by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The initiative is expected to deliver long-term benefits across the districts of Ampara, Batticaloa and Hambantota, strengthening biodiversity conservation efforts while enhancing ecosystem resilience and supporting sustainable livelihoods.

The programme will focus on strengthening governance mechanisms and institutional capacity for integrated landscape and seascape management, improving financing mechanisms for nature-based solutions, and demonstrating ecosystem-based management approaches in coastal regions.

The project will also support awareness-building initiatives, knowledge-sharing programmes and gender mainstreaming, while strengthening monitoring and evaluation systems to ensure sustainable and measurable outcomes.

Through a community-driven and multi-sectoral approach, the initiative seeks to protect Sri Lanka's terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems, which play a vital role in supporting biodiversity, food security and economic activity.

The project is also expected to strengthen climate resilience among vulnerable coastal communities by promoting environmentally sustainable economic opportunities and reducing pressures on fragile ecosystems.