Sri Lanka’s current economic climate poses multiple threats to the existence of Protected Areas (PAs). Fiscal austerity and debt restructuring has placed significant pressure on public finance. Additionally, apart from the threat of climate change, extractive ventures such as aquaculture have taken root in conservation sites, risking long-term ecological benefits in exchange for short-term economic relief. In Sri Lanka, conservation sites are operational. However, in the face of such uncertainty, sites could stand to benefit from unlocking innovative and long-term sources of finance. Unlocking innovative financial solutions is only possible once conservation and financing stakeholders are on the same page regarding the issues, objectives, and outcomes of conservation. While financiers may be aware of the opportunity, the lack of awareness and knowledge on science-based conservation metrics too limits the attention given to this space.

The Centre for a Smart Future partnered with the Blue Resources Trust on a research and advocacy project to advance innovating financing for sustainable marine conservation in Sri Lanka, under a project funded by the Oceans 5 consortium. We are announcing the launch of a set of knowledge materials, findings reports, and easy guides for interested stakeholders, freely available for download on a dedicated page here – www.csf-asia.org/our-initiatives/nature-climate-economy-srilanka/conservation-financing-for-marine-protected-areas-in-sri-lanka/

Image courtesy Nishan Perera, Blue Resources Trust

Conservation Financing for Marine Protected Areas in Sri Lanka