Let s Protect Sri Lankan Coastal Biodiversity Bio Conservation Society (BCSL) - Sri Lanka 0 Annual Report 2017
We work with both adult and children for the conservation of Sri Lankan Coastal Biodiversity! Bio Conservation Society (BCSL) ffcj ixrëk ix.uh capu; fhg;g rq;fk; No: 19/1/2, Heerassagala Road, Kandy. Tel: 0778000204 Email: bcssl@yahoo.com web: www.bcssl.org 1
Introduction The mission of the Bio Conservation Society (BCSL) is to engage in any relevant activity which positively contribute to the conservation of Natural Environment and improve the livelihood of the people by maintaining the positive mutual and reciprocal relationships between man and the environment. The objective shall be to conduct programs in the areas of environmental conservation, research, education and community development. So the organization is actively working in the field with the community to identify their problems and also destructive thing they doing to the environment. Then we are directing them towards sustainable conservation with discussions, supporting to crate alternative methods etc. without taking them for legal punishments. Project sites With the above mission currently we are mainly working in the coastal zone conducting coastal biodiversity conservation activities. 2017 it was conducted most of the activities in the Kalpitiya Peninsular in Puttalam district. Moreover we have conducted some activities in Kosgoda, western coast and around Kandy in mid-country. The main project location in Kalpitiya peninsular which one side is sea and other side is Puttlam lagoon. This area is rich in lots of biodiversity including sea turtles, dolphins, whales, coral reefs, seagrasses & sea birds. Bar reef home to 156 species of coral and 283 species of fish. Further Kalpitiya is a best site for whales and Dolphin watching including blue whales. Puttalam lagoon has largest mangrove coverage in Sri Lanka which has about 327 km2 water surface and 25 small islands. Fishery industry is major industry in the area having sea and lagoon fishing. Five species of sea turtles (green turtle, loggerhead, hawksbill, olive ridley & leatherback) are feeding and migrating around the Gulf of Mannar near Kalpitiya. Sea turtles are playing very important role to maintaining bio diversity in the near shore area. When green turtles are grazing in seagrass beds it will help to breed fish and other sea creatures. Leatherbacks feed on jellyfish and hence fish population increases. So conservation of sea turtles will leads to conserve species, population, habitat and also the ecosystem. Further conservation of coral reefs, reef fishes & marine mammals will leads to conserve overall coastal biodiversity. Foraging sea turtles are entering to the lagoon and swim long distance inside. They often get entangled in the sea and lagoon causing damage for each entanglement for fishing nets. In response, fishers either beat the turtles heads until they are rendered unconscious, or hack off the turtles body parts to make disentanglement easier. The fishermen are highly contributing to destruct sea turtles and almost all the coastal biodiversity in the area. Most of them use small out motor boats or small traditional crafts for fishing while few people use big multiple day boats. Many people are having low 2
income while few earning more. It is urgent need to minimize these destructive activities while educating and supporting mostly poor fisheries families. We have continued our conservation activities during the year 2017 in the Kalpitiya peninsular in order to reduce the above threats to the coastal and marine biodiversity in the area. Kalpitiya Peninsular Site map 3
Main Objectives of the programmes in 2017 The objective of the BCSL programmes are to increase the education and awareness of the coastal community on coastal & marine biodiversity including sea turtles, dolphins, whales, coral reefs, mangroves, seagarsses and sand dunes. Further educate them about legislation and law enforcement on marine mega fauna and increase the community knowledge on sustainable use of surrounding natural coastal resources. Moreover, reduce the turtle by-catch which is the major threat to sea turtles in the area and minimize the threats to the marine mammals. Receive more active participation of coastal community members on coastal biodiversity conservation was another major objective. So in 2017 we have conducted several community based activities in Kalpitiya peninsula as well as some other parts of the country. Activities Conducted 1. Awareness programmes for the fisheries society members including both male and female 2. Awareness programmes for the school children including Environmental Pioneer Brigade Members 3. Beach cleaning with adult community members and school kids 4. Tree planting and distribution fruit plants to community and kids 6. Re-printing and distribution of awareness posters 7. Distribution of Cotton Cloth Bags to reduce plastic bag usage 8. Training Department Wildlife Conservation Officers 9. Publicity & awareness through media 10. English classes 11. Beach surveys on by-catch turtles 12. Pandunus (beach pine) re-planting for beach protection 4
Awareness Programmes The awareness programmes mainly targeted two groups which school children and adult community members at the fisheries societies including both male and females. Altogether about 55 programmes were conducted. The objective was successfully achieved. Both school children and adult community members very interested about the programmes and the people understood the importance of the protection of their surrounding in sustainable manner. 5
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Cotton bags and plant distribution Cotton cloth bags were distributed among kids and adult to promote Polythene free concept. In 2015 Sri Lanka was the 5th country in the world release plastic debris to the ocean. Fruit plants were distributed among community members. This will help to keep the conservation message in their mind for long time when the tree grows and harvesting fruits. 7
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Fruit plants planting at school gardens 10
Beach cleaning with community and government officials Beach cleaning programmes were organized with community to convince them for the clean beach and plastic free environment. The community members were actively participated for the programmes. Police officers also supporting 11
Navy officers Littering prohibited Notice board after cleaning 12
Environmental Day celebration Lecture Collecting plastic waste at school for recycling with BCSL guidance 13
English classes Supported to rural clinic 14
Training Department of Wildlife Officer Assistant Directors & Rangers On Sea turtle and Coastal Biodiversity Conservation Treating injured turtles with Wildlife Department (by-catch turtle - damaged head, probably fishers beat the turtles head 15
Sea turtle bycatch beach survey with a volunteer A beach survey was conducted at Kalpitiya coastal area to find out the sea turtle bycatch status and count the dead turtle s carcasses, carapaces etc. Volunteer at leisure 16
Beach cleaning & Pandanus (beach pine) re-plantation at Kosgoda A beach cleaning and pandanus re-planting programme conducted at Kosgoda beach with the participation of the community members. Kosgoda is the second largest sea turtle nesting beach in Sri Lanka. End of the programme fruit plants and cotton cloth bags were distributed among the particpants. 17
Year-end activities at Kalpitiya during Christmas 18
Publicity & awareness Attended 37th International Sea Turtle Symposium April 2017, at Las Vegas, USA and presented on previous Rufford funded peogramme. 19
Acknowledgement We would like to acknowledge all our donors for their contribution to conduct above conservation activities. 1. Rufford Foundation UK 2. Prince Bernhard Nature Fund The Netherland 3. Dr. Elizabeth Dowler Ireland 20