Although much of the interaction between the Union and the private sector has been at the global level, inspired by the global processes and alongside them, there have been increased efforts of collaboration in the field. 

In Sri Lanka the process was triggered by the active participation of the private sector in the IUCN Asia Regional Conservation Forum held in December 2003. The contacts so established provided a platform and incentive for a continued dialogue with the private sector resulting in more substantive collaboration. One of the major outcomes is that IUCN has forged a partnership with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, placing IUCN in a position of policy influence with the corporate sector.

The purpose of the IUCN Sri Lanka Business and Biodiversity Programme is to assess the current levels of corporate environmental responsibility within Sri Lanka’s business sector, with an aim towards enhancing sustainable development efforts within the country. With this, the Union provides value-added information in keeping with its role as a knowledge-based organization defines the parameters for future need-based interaction with the business sector and better assesses the resource generating and partnership potential.

A base-line survey conducted by IUCN has identified to what degree CSR is relevant in meeting sustainable development strategies and in understanding the capacity issues that prevent organizations in accomplishing CSR objectives. The outcome has helped identify gaps for defining parameters for future need-based interactions with the business sector.

Several successful examples of sustainable natural resource-based initiatives with the active involvement of the private sector are now being show cased. The broad aim of showcasing these is to highlight examples of community businesses that are promoting sustainable development and making a tangible positive contribution.

An Environmental Business Leaders’ Forum acts as a network of business leaders, chambers of commerce and industry, industrial associations, Government representatives, NGOs and civil society for sharing information on replicable models demonstrating CSR, National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS), environmental audits, trade and sustainable development issues and capacity building initiatives.

IUCN in partnership with Dilmah Tea is implementing numerous projects in all parts of the country with a view of enhancing the ecologically sound socio economic development initiatives for the deprived communities. The objective of these initiatives is to enhance the livelihoods of these communities through knowledge sharing, empowerment of women, livelihood development, ecosystem management and sustainable utilization of natural resources.

Elephant foster parent scheme - 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 recognized 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.
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.

The first tomato society. 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 th e innocent farmers paying them the equivalent of $ 0.02 per kilo gram of tomatoes.
After consulting the community, IUCN and the Dilmah tea company, through its Charitable Foundation, formed a village level Farmers Association. Loans on an interest free basis were extended to its members. The Farmers Association provided a gateway to the farmers in the regional wholesale market. Farmers were also taught the art of negotiating the best price for their produce. In October 2006, the first lorry load of tomatoes was taken to the trading centre in Dambulla. That very night the first income was handed over to the treasurer and by the next morning, farmers were paid for their produce. The competition put the traders into a difficult situation and compelled them to buy at prices closer to that offered by the Association. The benefits of the association spread well beyond the village boundaries.

Forging a connection between Ecosystems and Livelihoods with Coastal Communities in Pallansena, Negombo in partnership with MJF Group (Dilmah Teas)
As part of its CSR initiatives, partnering with the MJF Charitable Foundation and the Pallansena Fishery Co-operative Society, the project improves the livelihoods of fishing communities of the Pallansena fishing village north of Colombo. The objective of this innovative initiative is enhancing the livelihoods of the fishing communities through ecosystem management and sustainable utilization of natural resources in this predominantly coastal village.

Post Development Evaluation of the Environmental and Socio-economic Performance of the Victoria Golf Club in partnership with Rajawella Holdings (Pvt) ltd
The study demonstrates that there is a strong business case for integrating biodiversity into core management systems, to manage risks, capitalize on opportunities and to meet corporate social responsibilities. The Victoria Golf Club (VCG) in Rajawella, managed by Rajawella Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, provides an excellent opportunity to assess how environmental and social concerns have been incorporated into internal management systems and to identify issues and gaps in current practices in order to recommend ways to further upgrade these efforts.

Raising Environmental Consciousness in Society (RECS)

The overall objective of the RECS project funded by the Royal Netherlands Embassy is to ensure that key stakeholders in resources management (the private sector, local communities and civil society members) demonstrate capacity to achieving national sustainable development and conservation objectives. The overall objectives will be met through strengthening a proactive advocacy and capacity building process, reaching the basic building blocks of the future for Sri Lanka: government policies, public education and economic influences from the business world.

FSC Certification
In collaboration with the Export development Board of Sri Lanka and other partners, the programme has begun to facilitate the process of FSC certification in Sri Lanka in order that exporters obtain the necessary competencies to compete effectively in international marketing of timber and timber-based products.

IUCN Sri Lanka Holcim partnership

Within the purview of the overall agreement signed by IUCN Head Quarters and Holcim Group, IUCN Sri Lanka (IUCNSL) Country Office and Holcim Lanka entered into a five-year agreement on March 6, 2007. The overall purpose of the agreement is to enable the Parties to establish a long-lasting relationship to develop ecosystem conservation standards for Holcim Lanka, contributing to sector-wide improvements in the cement and related sector. The strategic objectives of the partnership are in line with the strategic objectives of the Global Agreement.

In all, initially five pilot level sub-projects have been prioritized for implementation and currently work is underway