IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature

Three elephants are killed every week as a result of the Human-Elephant conflict in Sri Lanka. The clearing of jungles for development activities has destroyed the natural habitat of these elephants; hence, they are then forced to forage for food and water in the nearby villages where they are met by armed and angry villagers. These dead elephants leave behind defenseless orphans, who are unable to care for themselves. Inadvertently, the young elephants are separated from their herd and end up starving for days or are seriously injured from gunfire. In answer to this growing problem, the Department of Wild Life Conservation initiated a novel concept in Sri Lanka, whereby helpless young elephants are sheltered in a transit home until they have regained their health and reached an age appropriate to be released into the wild. To fund the cost of keeping these baby elephants, the Department of Wild Life Conservation has launched a foster parent scheme, whereby wildlife enthusiasts may participate by sponsoring a young elephant, until it is ready to be set free. IUCN, together with Dilmah, has recognised the benefits of this scheme and has stepped in to act as a foster parent for six young elephants for the next five years. The collaboration between the two parties also involves the construction of a visitors centre to facilitate educational efforts on elephant conservation.

Contact: aab@iucnsl.org     

Koulara is a small village that is in close proximity to the Udawalawe National Park. Around 20 years ago, this village community depended on brick making using local clay. That changed when a large sugar plantation and factory was established in the area. The villagers of Koulara, faced with competition from cheaper producers and hindered by their own isolation, abandoned their traditional industry and started working as laborers, harvesting sugar cane at the plantation. Their incomes fell and they suffered for more than a decade because of inadequate wages, strikes and other problems.

            IUCN, with the financial  assistance of MJF Charitable Foundation, has stepped into the lives of this impoverished community with an empowerment programme which aims to help them gain a foothold in the rapidly globalising world.

            Animal Tracks is a project that has two objectives. First, to build upon the energy, creativity and commitment of the community by giving them the tools to take charge of their own economic destiny. And second, to inculcate greater environmental sensitivity by demonstrating the interdependence of human, animal and plant life. In the initial stage of Animal Tracks, 25 people from the Koulara community were provided training in pottery, the craft their forefathers pursued. Men and women were given practical guidance, equipment and materials, as well as a dedicated resource person, one of Sri Lanka’s finest pottery craftsmen. Their capacity for the aesthetic and cultural significance of clay making was also enhanced. At each stage, the community actively participated in the construction of their pottery factory and visitors centre. For its construction, the community used traditional construction methods and their own efforts on a voluntary basis. The villagers draw inspiration from their environment and the nearby Udawalawe National Park to produce artistic terra cotta plates, trays and display items. These feature the foot prints of elephants, leopards and other animals in the national park. Being naturally of interest to visitors to the park, the MJFCF and IUCN have facilitated a retail space for the Koulara project at the entrance to the National Park, so that the villagers can sell their eco friendly, educational Animal Tracks products.

            Animal Tracks is a very different project that combines an understanding of a community with very specific needs and cultural specificities, environment and an eco marketing concept which is empowering Koulara. Within days of the projects commencement, the community members who were in despair due to lack of money resulting from a month long strike at the sugar cane plantation, abandoned their menial labor jobs and embraced the revival of their ancient tradition. The MJF Foundation will utilise the marketing capability of the Dilmah tea company to assist the Koulara villagers in marketing their products directly to consumers at the Udawalawe National Park, Colombo Air Port and eventually in international markets. Animal Tracks will be replicated in villages all across Sri Lanka in an effort to help these marginalised and impoverished villagers regain their relevance and prosperity in a dignified and traditional manner.  


Contact: aab@iucnsl.org      

 The knuckles forest range derives its name from a group of peaks that resemble the knuckles of a clenched fist. Quaintly thatched farm houses with traditional home gardens, multi storied vegetation and rice terraces form the landscape. The simple villagers till their rice fields, using the ancient form of slash and burn cultivation or Chenna during the off seasons. However, with the prohibition of Chenna cultivation in the recently declared Conservation Zone, the farmers had to support their income by growing vegetables. Out of sheer necessity, they sold the products of their hard labor to local mudalalis (traders) who hoodwinked farmers. These unscrupulous middle men exploited the innocent farmers paying them the equivalent of $ 0.02 per kilo gram of tomatoes.
 

Contact: aab@iucnsl.org                                                                         

SEP has been internationally recognised as one of the most effective Self-Help schemes. The programme extends beyond the boundaries of the tsunami devastation to marginalised rural villages, such as those in Monaragala which has been trapped in poverty and Batticaloa, an area besieged by a 20 year long war. IUCN, together with Dilmah is empowering underprivileged families, socially and economically, by understanding their capabilities and providing them the means to build their lives.

            Small Entrepreneurs are provided encouragement to develop micro scale environmentally and socially sustainable businesses which will generate employment and engender hope in their communities.

            1500 people in just under 300 families benefit from the Small Entrepreneur Programme each year.

Contact: aab@iucnsl.org           

Small entreprneur programme in the east

IUCN together with Dilmah established the SEP in the east which is suffering from a 20 year long war in order to generate employment and empower underprivileged families. This has given them great strength to enhance their livelihoods. 1500 people in just under 300 families benefit from the programme each year. 
                          

Thiraimadu community ventures

People in the already war-ravaged east coast of Sri Lanka suffered terribly as a result of the tsunami. The devastating effects of the disaster only added to the problems caused by the decades long conflict in the area. In co-operation with the Sri Lankan government and UN Habitat, IUCN, with Dilmah’s financial assistance, has funded the construction of a road network to provide access to land earmarked for the largest post tsunami relocation project in Sri Lanka. Several hundred homes are also being constructed for the victims.
           
The project is an Owner Driven Housing Project, where the beneficiaries themselves construct their homes. Recently, the Thiraimadu Community saw the construction of a Community Centre which is aimed at providing welfare activities.

Contact: aab@iucnsl.org       

Arboretum

The Monaragala district is the second largest in Sri Lanka. This area has not received adequate attention within the governments development programmes and remains amongst the poorest in the country. Monaragala, an agricultural district, has no industrial base and does not attract sufficient capital investments to generate jobs and income. Monaragala has tremendous potential as far as the environment is concerned; its forest cover is under threat from human encroachment and ill-planned development activities. IUCN and Dilmah will launch a unique, multisectoral development initiative covering a land estate of 200 hectares, which is unique in that it incorporates both development and conservation needs. An arboretum will be developed to showcase the ecological riches of the area, with the value added function of serving as a biodiversity and ecological research station, open to both local and international researchers.  Accommodation and laboratory facilities will be provided to researchers. The ecological museum will offer guided tours to both school children and high end eco tourists. An eco lodge will be a part of the project. This area will be planted with high value timber species such as teak and mahogany. Farm lots with seasonal crops divided among 50 farmers will be subdivided into small plots of 1 hectare and will be given to 50 selected farmers who will grow cash crops. The farmers will be trained to practice environmentally friendly farming and will be assured of an end market for their produce and training in post harvest production. The project will also generate 100 farming employment opportunities and indirect employment for about 500 other laborers, traders and other service providers.

Making a visible difference in pallansena

IIUCN, together with Dilmah, is implementing ecologically sound socio economic development initiatives for the fishing communities in Pallansena, Kochchikade. The objective of this initiative is to enhance the livelihoods of the fishing communities through education, empowerment of women, livelihood development, ecosystem management and sustainable utilisation of natural resources.

            Children in the community benefit from a programme of non formal education and skills development, whilst women are being trained in developing traditional skills. The Womens Society is the focal point for adding value to their products through design and marketing, in order to enhance their quality of life. The community is engaged in mangrove rehabilitation along the Maha Oya banks to encourage eco-tourism ventures, boating and a mangrove park. Solid waste management was encouraged among the communities to facilitate composting and home gardening.

            Skill enhancement programmes offer fishermen training in boat building and engine repair.

            A state of the art flake ice plant was gifted to the community to improve the quality and marketing of fish together with an insulated vehicle for fish transportation. A fishery-marketing plan is being developed and destructive fishing gear phased out to market sustainably harvested fish.


Contact: aab@iucnsl.org                     

For further information on Dilmah Conservation visit:   

www.dilmahconservation.org