In a press conference today (12) in Colombo, U.S.-based NGO Seacology, Sri Lanka-based NGO Sudeesa (formerly known as Small Fishers Federation of Lanka) and Sri Lankan government announced a joint program that will make Sri Lanka the first nation in the world to comprehensively protect all of its mangrove forests.

"It is the responsibility and the necessity of all government institutions, private institutions, non government organizations, researchers, intelligentsia, and civil community to be united to protect the mangrove ecosystem," addressing the press brifing President Maithreepala Sirisena stated,

I highly appreciate and admire the joint effort made by the international non-governmental organizations Seacology and the Small Fishers Federation of Lanka to conserve the mangrove ecosystem of Sri Lanka, he further said.

The project will cost US$ 3.4 million over the next five years. Seacology has already raised approximately half of this amount. This project will protect all 21,782 acres (8,815 ha) of Sri Lanka's existing mangrove forests by providing alternative job training and microloans to 15,000 impoverished women who live in 1,500 small communities adjacent to this nation's mangrove forests. The project will also replant 9,600 acres (3,885 ha) of mangrove forests that have been cut down. In exchange for receiving these microloans to start up small businesses, all 1,500 communities will be responsible for protecting an average of 21 acres of mangrove forest. A first-of-its kind mangrove museum to educate the public about the importance of preserving this resource will also be constructed as part of this project.

While no charitable funds will be given to the government of Sri Lanka, it will play an important role in this effort by demarcating and gazetting mangrove forests, providing legal protection for all of Sri Lanka's mangroves and providing rangers to patrol mangrove forests.

"Seacology has worked for over two years putting this project together," said Duane Silverstein, executive director of Seacology. "We believe that it will serve as a model of protection of mangrove forests and the blue carbon they harbor for other nations to emulate."

Anuradha Wickramasinghe, chairman of Sudeesa, stated, "We are thrilled to play a part in this groundbreaking effort that not only protects Sri Lanka's mangrove forests but also helps some of Sri Lanka's poorest citizens find sustainable livelihoods."

(With inputs from PR News Wire)