National Action Plan for Agrobiodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Utilization in Sri Lanka 2008.

This National Action Plan for Agrobiodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Utilization (NAP) presents the holistic approach of directives on conservation and use of agrobiodiversity. Agrobiodiversity primarily refers to the sustainable and productive use of genetic resource for agricultural development. The main objectives of the NAP is to provide a comprehensive long term development framework including necessary guidelines, tasks, strategies and systematic approaches for conservation and utilization of agrobiodiversity in Sri Lanka using an ecosystem approach. It requires participation and collaboration of all relevant stakeholders including public sector agencies, NGOs, private sector and (farming) communities. The principles used in NAP are (i) sustainability; (ii) national commitment; and (iii) integration across sectors and disciplines. During the formulation process of this NAP consideration is given on gaps, issues and recommendations made in Biodiversity Conservation in Sri Lanka: A Framework for Action (BDFA) Addendum identified for integrated solutions in conservation and utilization of agrobiodiversity in Sri Lanka in line with the scope of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Further, National Policy documents such as draft National Agricultural Policy and 10 year Development Plan for Agriculture Sector and Global Policy documents such as 2010 Biodiversity Targets and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were also taken into consideration. The NAP formulation is a broad consultative process, which include stakeholders of government, semi-government, academic, research, private and non governmental sectors and also a joint effort in defining a path to achieve sustainability. The NAP should be a part of the national development plan and compatible with provincial and district development plans and strategies. All stakeholders bear responsibility to implement the measures mutually agreed upon and listed in the NAP by dedicating their efforts and resources according to respective capacities. Agrobiodiversity also provides uncommon opportunities for developing decentralized and location specific community food security systems involving field gene banks, seed banks and grain banks developed and managed by local people. Agrobiodiversity further helps to enlarge the food security by including nutrient rich but underutilized crops and animals.
The actions required are: knowledge gaps on agrobiodiversity resources base in Sri Lanka and assessment and documentation of agrobiodiversity components. Enhance benefits sharing from agrobiodiversity. Strengthen national literacy on agrobiodiversity. Promote agrobiodiversity conservation and utilization. Enhance market availability, etc. In addition, it promotes wider utilization of agrobiodiversity into nutrition instruments and poverty reduction strategies (i.e. national policy and planning, poverty reduction papers, food security projects etc).