C. Semasinghe, N. Jayathilake, H.Manthrithilake, K. Jinapala, R. Ariyaratne

1. QUANTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL
IMPACTS OF URBAN AND PERI URBAN
AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY, SRI LANKA
ON CLIMATE CHANGE
C. Semasinghe, N. Jayathilake,
H.Manthrithilake, K. Jinapala, R. Ariyaratne

2. Climate Change
 Climate change is caused due to absorption of infrared
radiation by green house gases (GHGs) which slows its
escape from the atmosphere
 Main consequences of Climate change are global
warming, change in cloud cover & precipitation,
melting ice caps & glaciers, reducing snow cover etc
 It has serious impacts on economy, health & safety,
food production and food security

3. Climate Change in Global Picture

4. How it affects Sri Lanka
 Sri Lanka is an agricultural economic based
developing country
 CC causes change in temp, extreme weather events
such as high intensity rainfall followed by flash floods
& landslides and extended dry periods causing water
scarcity which directly influences crop & livestock
production, hydrologic balances, input supplies etc

5. Why urban Agriculture & Forestry
(UPAF)
 Urban areas are more vulnerable to CC due to high
population, deforestation and urban heat island effect
 Urban agriculture is a viable solution as a mitigation
measure to CC as well as it contributes to the
economical development of the country

6. How UPAF contribute to adapt CC
 Reduce food miles
 Reduce fertilizer miles
Other advantages ;
 Green environment
 Micro climate environment
 Clean air
 Aesthetic value
 Reduce soil erosion
 Solid waste management

8. How to Monitor
 Good monitoring mechanism has to be introduced to
demonstrate the results of the project
 has to be done in two folds
 To monitor the success of the project
 To monitor its impacts on climate change
 Record maintaining for the Lessons learnt in order to
replicate the project elsewhere

9. Monitoring Mechanism
1. Impacts on Climate Change
 Collect and plot data for at least 10 years of time period
 Monitoring indicators are daily temperature, daily
precipitation, frequency of flooding an frequency of
drought
2. Progress of the project
 Food ( Qty, Price)
 Fertilizer ( cost of fertilizing)
 Energy ( bio gas production)
 Water resources ( rainwater harvesting,reusing wastewater)
 Aesthetic value ( increase in land value & bio diversity)

10. Monitoring Mechanism ctd…
3. Other indicators
 Solid waste management ( reusing disposable
materials such as plastic bottles, vessels etc)
 Institutional changes ( in terms of capacity &
commitment for planning, implementing and
sustaining the project)

11. Quantification of potential impacts of UPAF on
Climate Change
Development Contribution of UPAF to Contribution of UPAF to Indicator to Measure
interventions CC Mitigation and Reduce Food/ Fertilizer/Fuel
Adaptation miles
Food
Development of Home Temperature, GHG Increase of UPAF food Household income and
Gardens emissions, Urban heat production and income savings
island effect, Heat waves, Monthly expenditure on food
Rainfall, C sequestration,
Vertical gardens minimize storm water Transporting, storing,
runoff refrigerating(cost/ volumes)
Introduction of new Food prices
Cropping patterns
Increase agro forestry cover Food waste
Reuse non-biodegradable Collection/transport of SW Number/extent of dumpsites/
solid waste as cultivate vessels cost of collection and disposal
(bottles, plastic bags, etc.) of SW
Sun light intensity meter
Fresh water fish production Increase in UPAF fish Monthly expenditure on fish
(Inland ponds) Transporting, storing,
refrigerating fish(cost/
volumes)

12. Development interventions Contribution of UPAF to Contribution of UPAF to Indicator to Measure
CC Mitigation and Reduce Food/ Fertilizer/Fuel
Adaptation miles
Fertilizer
Composting GHG emissions, Reuse of Fertilizer replaced by compost Fertilizer( Quantity, cost)
waste
Transport of fertilizer Cost incurred for fertilizer
transporting
Collection of SW Labour and other related costs to
collect SW
Transport of solid waste Fuel needs for transporting SW
soil quality C-N ratio, soil water retention
capacity
Cost of rehabilitating dump sites Number/ extent of dump sites/
Area freed for UPAF
Erosion control & soil Minimize degradation of soil, Soil quality C-N ratio, soil water retention
improvement measures minimize storm water run off capacity
Energy
Bio Gas production GHG emissions, Reuse of Reduction of domestic fuel needs(LP Household energy cost/
waste gas/wood) Dependability on CEB electricity
supply
Promotion of use of fire wood
Use of energy saving Stoves(saw Collection/transport of SW Cost of collection and disposal of
dust and other waste as fuel) SW

13. Development Contribution of UPAF to Contribution of UPAF to Indicator to Measure
interventions CC Mitigation and Reduce Food/ Fertilizer/Fuel
Adaptation miles
Water Resources
Wastewater/Grey water Mitigate floods, water More water resilient cities Area of water retention
irrigation scarcity, Droughts, Erosion
Ground water development Monthly water bill
Rainwater harvesting Water treatment cost
Labour days
Management of storm water Storm water O&M cost
drainage reduction
Disaster relief cost
Aesthetic Value
Eco forestry Temperature, GHG Reduction of energy to cool( Land use maps( forestry)
emmissions,Urban heat A/C,Fans)
Wind/ shelter belts island effect, Heat waves, Attraction of tourists/ new
wind erosion citizens
Institutional Changes
Institutional audit and capacity Empowering institutes to Institutional changes to reduce
building adapt and mitigate CC food/fertilizer/fuel miles
impacts
Gender
Greater involvement of women Empower women to adapt Self-reliance on local food Involvement of women in
in UPAF(individuals, groups to CC UPAF( number of individuals,
etc.) groups etc.)

14. Thank you