Sri Lanka’s Wildlife Policy & the Legal Framework

1. Sri Lanka’s Wildlife Policy& the Legal Framework Madhawa Tennakoon Senior State Counsel Attorney General’s Department Sri Lanka ADB-CITES Symposium on Combating Wildlife Crime 10-12 March 2013 Queen Sirikit National Convention Center-Bangkok, Thailand

2. Sri Lanka – overview • Island - 65 610 sq km • 20 Million Population • Forest cover 22% • 501 protected areas • Endemism- 16% fauna & 23% flowering plants • Over 30 related legislation • A biodiversity hot spot

3. International Conventions • Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Fauna and flora (CITES) • Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) • Convention  on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) • United Nations Framework convention on Climate Change (UNFCC)  • Convention  on the Conservation of  Migratory Species of Wild animals (CMS)

4. International Conventions….. • Convention  for Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage  • International Plant Protection Convention  (IPPC) • International  Convention  for the Preservation of pollution of the sea by oil • United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa (UNCCD)

5. Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (FFPO) • Introduced in 1937 • “to provide for the protection, conservation and preservation of the fauna and flora and for the prevention of commercial exploitation of such fauna and flora……………………………………………………..” • Amendment 2009 – a wider approach • “to provide for the protection and conservation of the fauna and flora of Sri Lanka and their habitat; for the prevention of commercial and other misuse of such fauna and flora and their habitats, for the conservation of the biodiversity of Sri Lanka…………………………”

6. Key Features of FFPO • Protected Areas • Protected Species • Importation of animals regulated • Exportation of animals/parts regulated • Special provisions related to Elephants • Rights based on customs, usage & Traditional Practices are saved

7. Protected Areas & Species • National Reserves (State Land) • Strict Natural Reserves • National Parks • Nature Reserve • Jungle Corridor • Refuge • Marine National Parks • Buffer Zone 1 • Sanctuaries /Managed Elephant Reserves (State or Private Land) • Eight lists of species & Special Protection for Elephants

8. Recent Developments in the Law • Public Interest Litigation • Certain offences to be non-bailable • Power of entry without a search warrant • Elephant Pregnancies, Births, Miscarriages, Still Births, Deaths to be notified (within 7 days) • Elephants unregistered presumed to be taken/ removed from wild & to be Public Property. • Inclusion of a Negative list of Amphibians • Environmental Impact Assessment necessary before changing protected area boundaries • Introduction of Managed Elephant Reserves and Marine National Parks

9. Challenges • Post War Rehabilitation & Development • Increase in Tourism • Rehabilitation of Infrastructure • Human Elephant Conflict (66:252) • Increased Demand for Elephants for Domestication • Cultural Connotations of Ivory • Increased popularity as a Transit Hub ?

10. Thank You !