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“Prudence must be shown in the management of all living species and natural resources, in accordance with the precepts of sustainable development.” Millennium Declaration
“This earth and its vegetation are yours. But they should be protected not only for your benefit but also for the benefit of future generations. A ruler is only a temporary trustee and not an owner of your children’s heritage.” Mahinda Chintana
Environmental sustainability means managing and protecting our natural resources so that they will still be available for future generations. Most of the world’s rural poor depend on the natural environment for survival and are most affected by its exploitation. |
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In Sri Lanka: |
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Natural forest cover has decreased from 80% in 1881 to 24% in 1990. From 1990 to 2001, land covered by dense forest has further decreased by 6.6%. |
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What are the targets? Goal 7
has the following targets:
Target 9: Integrate the principles
of sustainable development into country policies and programs
and reverse the loss of environmental resources
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Progress
towards this target is measured through the following indicators: |
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| The Key Indicators are: |
| 25. |
Proportion of land area covered by forest (%) |
| 26. |
Ratio of area protected to maintain biological diversity to surface area (%) |
| 27. |
Carbon dioxide emission (per capita) and consumption of ozone depleting CFCs (ODP tons) |
| 28. |
Proportion of population using solid fuels |
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| Current Status |
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Sri Lanka is not on track for achieving Goal 7. Regardless of recent policies aiming at protecting natural resources, such as the National Forest Policy and the National Wildlife Policy, deforestation continues at an alarming rate. Forest cover decreased from 80% in 1881 to 24% in 1990.
Sri Lanka is considered to be one of the biodiversity hotspots in the world. At present, 13% of land is under biodiversity protection, compared to 8% in the 1950s.
Increasing carbon dioxide emissions are of great concern, especially in urban and industrialized areas. The transport sector was responsible for the highest percentage of CO2 emissions, however nowadays it is the power sector.
One indicator used to measure the loss of natural resources is the prevalence of the use of solid fuels. In Sri Lanka, 80.3% of the national population uses solid fuel, mainly in the rural and estate areas. (MDG Country Report 2005 Sri Lanka) |
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Government Strategies and Progress
A National Forest Policy for forest conservation was developed by the Government in 1995. The National Wildlife Policy for endangered fauna protection was formulated in 2000. The Forest Department promoted a partnership with the private sector and local communities for a tree-planting project which included community participation.
Although the consumption of solid fuel is high in Sri Lanka, a decreasing trend has been noted, with a simultaneous increase in the use of gas and kerosene. High petroleum prices have also stimulated the use of renewable energies. The use of wind, solar, hydro-and dendro-power is being encouraged. |
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Support
District budgets linked to MDG targets
NCED
Clusters
District
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Challenges |
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Adoption of policies to protect biodiversity. |
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Adoption of policies that reward environmental stewardship, such as innovative sources of financing for forest-friendly initiatives |
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Target 10: Halve by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.
The following indicators are used to measure progress
towards this target. |
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| The Key Indicators for Sri Lanka are: |
| 30. |
Proportion
of population with sustainable access to an improved water
source, urban and rural. |
| 31. |
Proportion of urban and rural population with access to improved sanitation. |
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| Current Status |
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In Sri Lanka, 21.5% of the population lives in urban areas. While 75% of the urban population receives pipe-borne water, only 14% of the rural population has the same service. However, in rural areas 65% of the population has access to protected well water,
From 1994 to 2001 the proportion of the population served with piped water rose from 72% to 82%. Nonetheless there is a wide dichotomy between rural and urban areas, with 63.8% of the population having access to safe drinking water in the Sabaragamuwa Province, versus 91.5% in the Western Province, with the highest percentage (95%) in the Colombo district (2001 data). |
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| Access to sanitation services increased in Sri Lanka by 4.8% between 1993 and 2000, benefiting in 2000, 93% of the population. However, dichotomies are recorded also in this area, with Batticaloa having only 57% of households with access to safe sanitation. |
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Government Strategies and Progress
The Water Supply and Drainage Board has set its own target to provide safe drinking water to 85% of the whole population by 2010 and to 100% by 2020. |
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Support
District budgets linked to MDG targets
NCED
Clusters
District
Map |
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Challenges
Effective water resource management has been identified as a priority. In poor communities, cost-recovery measures are required to ensure provision of water and sanitation in a sustainable manner.
Target 11: By 2020, to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers
Population in and around Colombo city has increase rapidly, almost doubling in the past decade. Projections indicate that by 2010, 50% of the estimated 21 million of the national population will be concentrated in urban slums. |
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The following indicator measures progress towards Target 11 :
For Sri Lanka the Key Indicator is:
32. Proportion of households with access to secure tenure. |
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| Current Status
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Government Strategies and Progress
Changes in the law on security of tenure were made in 1998. However, implementation of the law has been slow and inadequate to tackle the problem. The government is about to introduce a new urban tenure system as part its pro-poor policies.
The 1.5 Million Housing Project, started in 1984, led to an increase in brick-built houses with permanent roofs from 44.6% in 1990 to 77% in 2000, together with a decrease in wattle-and-daub houses from 31.5% to 17.2% for the corresponding period.
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Support
District budgets linked to MDG targets
NCED
Clusters
District
Map |
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Challenges
The lives of slum dwellers will not be improved by secure tenure alone. Access to shelter, safe dinking water, good sanitation, drainage and proper waste management, must be provided to all city dwellers. |
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