Sri Lanka has recently completed a protected area gap analysis to address some specific objectives for conservation of biodiversity and to assemble a portfolio of strategic conservation sites that better represent biodiversity, and ecological systems that support it in the country, while enhancing the representation in varied landscapes / seascapes to provide added protection for biodiversity. The identification of the proposed portfolio was guided by several fundamental steps. The ecological stratification of the landscape based on river basins was the foundation to ensure representation of major ecological (e.g. geophysical / climatic) patterns that also effect biodiversity patterns. The integrity of the final portfolio depended on the choice of conservation targets that belong to three categories, viz. ecological system targets (e.g. major climatic zones, soil types and river systems etc.), community targets (e.g. natural vegetation types and floristic regions etc.) and taxonomic overlay targets (e.g. threatened groups of flora and fauna).  Setting of conservation goals for each conservation target was necessary to provide a practical guideline to balance conservation management and development processes such as land allocation.  This was followed by the viability assessment of all natural vegetation sites surveyed to provide conservation managers with a useful tool to base management decisions - for example site rehabilitation. One of the most important determinants of viability was an assessment of threats connected to socio-economic factors. The final step was the portfolio assembly and gap analysis by which high conservation value areas (HCVAs) were progressively assembled with emphasis on creating contiguity between sites or groups of sites by means of genetic corridors.   The assembly process was completed by integrating landscapes with seascapes, wherever important and sufficient information was available.

The Gap process resulted in a conceptual shift from a system of PAs to highlight the need for a network of PAs for the country.  The gaps idenetified included corridors, extensions to existing PAs, buffer zones, integrated landscape seascape areas and special HCVAs.  As corridors represent mosaics of heterogeneous land use systems, they will require a variety of management strategies within appropriate policies and legislation.  The Ecosystem Approach, a globally accepted concept in managing PAs and associated gaps will be expected to add practical guidelines for the implementation of the proposed portfolio.  The stakeholders of the MAB Reserves and other protected areas should note the importance of utilizing the GAP techniques to add a new dimension to the selection and management of their reserves in the future. The GAP process and its components such as classification of vegetation types, assessment of viability and checking its accuracy by ground-truthing, assessment of vegetation health and wilderness index, application of the river basin concept in the distribution of MAB Reserves, and checking the integrity of the biodiversity values within these sites, can provide a strong scientific foundation for the MAB concept in the future.

5th December (11.45) Congress Hall

Special Interactive Session on Meeting the Challenges in the Humid Tropics with Media Involvement; Facilitated and presented by Mr Ronny Herowind  Mustamu -IUCN/CEC

5th December (14.30) Congress Hall

Panel Discussion on Intellectual Property Rights and Bioethics - benefit sharing from bioresearch, research and technology and traditional knowledge. Panelists: Dr Bharath Desai and Ms Ruana Rajapakse; Discussant: Mr Jagath Gunawardena

6th December (15.15) Business Centre

Roundtable on Recommendations to UNESCO on Education and Communication for the Humid Tropics Programme  -     Facilitator - Ms Wendy Goldstein  IUCN/CEC and Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia   (followed by remarks on holding effective roundtables)     
     

7th December (14.30) Congress Hall
Panel Discussion on Biodiversity Conservation and Opportunities for Business Partnerships;                            
Panelists: Dr Andrew Bell and Dr N Ishwaran    

7th December (18.15) Congress Hall                        

Special Panel Discussion on Ecotourism and its Potential for Conservation in the Humid Guest Speaker - Arq. Hector Ceballos-Lascurain