Reflections on the 6th IORA Blue Carbon Hub think tank in Sri Lanka

By Mat Vanderklift

As I return home from the 6^th IORA Blue Carbon Hub think tank in Sri Lanka, I am reflecting on the many conversations I had. This year, we convened for the first time in cooperation with the Blue Carbon Initiative and the International Blue Carbon Scientific Working Group, enabling many more conversations across themes and interests. We welcomed over 50 delegates from 16 IORA Member States, as well as Dialogue Partners and experts from the Indian Ocean and beyond. We shared stories about successes and received some updates about how policy is being implemented and where we can improve. We also heard about best practices in restoration of mangroves, seagrasses and tidal marshes – and we talked about how we can make best practice even better.

Perhaps the most profound lessons for me were about local communities. We heard about ways that communities are being empowered in Madagascar and Kenya, as well as Cambodia and the Philippines. We visited the Ramsar-listed wetlands of Anawilundawa (where restoration activities led to recognition as a UN World Restoration Flagship) where the local community welcomed us warmly with food and song. Together, these remind us that although we often focus on the global services that blue carbon ecosystems provide — like climate change mitigation — local communities view these ecosystems through a different lens. This was echoed in conversations about how blue food and blue carbon are linked — food is central to livelihoods, and livelihoods matter. We were treated to demonstrations of new foods and product development from young Sri Lankan entrepreneurs, a session which many delegates will remember for a long time.

Finally, my memories of the young Sri Lankan researchers and practitioners will be enduring. From their confident presence on the podium (where they taught us much about their country and their ecosystems) to the knowledgeable guidance during the tours of Anawilundawa, these emerging leaders are a source of inspiration, and of hope that we can turn the tide towards a sustainable blue forest future.

The job is not done. The final session involved breakout discussions to make recommendations about the next steps we can take, and actions for IORA and its Member States to implement. These will be synthesised and incorporated into a report that we will make available online.

Events like this do not just happen. Much work was done in advance by Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by the IORA Secretariat, by Blue Logistical Solutions, by the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society and Sri Lanka’s Department of Wildlife Conservation, and by many, many Sri Lankan volunteers ably led by the amazing Professor Sevvandi Jayakody.
This event was an important reminder that regional cooperation is vital, but the stories we shared were not just about policy and science, they were about people—their livelihoods, their food, and their future. Our challenge is to move towards tangible actions with the next generation of leaders and local communities at the heart.