Friday Sep 12, 2025
Friday Sep 12, 2025
Friday, 12 September 2025 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Blue Carbon Initiative yesterday began its three-day International Blue Carbon Scientific Working Group meetings in Negombo.
The group regularly convenes in blue carbon hotspot regions, with recent meetings held in Cape Town (South Africa), Singapore, Mérida (Mexico), Edinburgh (Scotland), and Copenhagen (Denmark). Sri Lanka is hosting the 2025 meeting, co-organised by the Marine Committee of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS).
As the climate crisis accelerates, the Blue Carbon Initiative (BCI) stands as a coordinated global program dedicated to conserving and restoring coastal ecosystems, mangroves, tidal marshes, and sea grass meadows, for their importance to climate mitigation, biodiversity and human well-being.
The BCI is coordinated by Conservation International, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO and IUCN.
Established in 2011, the International Blue Carbon Scientific Working Group (IBCSWG) provides the scientific basis for the Blue Carbon Initiative (BCI) to advance current and emerging blue carbon science and, in so doing, facilitate policy and management for coastal ecosystem conservation and management.
For over 131 years, WNPS has been synonymous with wildlife conservation in Sri Lanka, playing a pivotal role in the conservation of both terrestrial and marine ecosystems and their biodiversity.
Being the third oldest conservation organisation in the world and also serving as the science lead for Anawilundawa Mangrove Restoration Project of the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Sri Lanka, WNPS is committed to ensure all timely topics related to blue carbon ecosystems are highlighted during the conference.
Over two days, sessions will focus on the topics of ‘Blue Carbon in Sri Lanka’, ‘Aligning Blue Carbon Biodiversity Methods’, ‘Updates from the Field’, and ‘Addressing Critiques of Blue Carbon from Science to Action’. These discussions will feature internationally renowned experts and provide a platform for emerging Sri Lankan scientists to present their research.
Selected young researchers from Wayamba University of SL will also be presenting their products, inspired and developed from materials found in blue carbon ecosystems.
To conclude the meeting, a carbon-methane flux training will be conducted by the scientists of the Smithsonian Institution and Florida International University utilising instruments brought down from the USA for the training.
A full-day field visit to the Anawilundawa Ramsar Wetland Site, co-hosted by the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Blue Carbon Hub, BCI, the Department of Wildlife Conservation, the Forest Department and WNPS, will highlight the site’s rich biodiversity, the UN flagship award-winning Accelerated Natural Regeneration of Mangroves (ANRM) project, and community-based livelihood initiatives.
Participants of both the sixth IORA Blue Carbon Hub Think Tank Meeting and the International Blue Carbon SWG Meeting will join this visit.
The expected outcome of the meeting is to strengthen global collaboration, share experiences and expertise, and chart a path forward that balances the needs of local communities with ecosystem restoration and socio-economic priorities.
The Sri Lanka meeting will be inaugurated by Deputy Environment Minister Anton Jayakody, and Centre for Oceans, Conservation International Senior Vice President Ashleigh McGovern. The keynote address will be delivered by Prof. Hilary Kennedy, Bangor University. The local co-chair for the event is Wayamba University Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Chair Professor Prof. Sevvandi Jayakody, who is also a member of the General Committee of WNPS.
