Ministry of Crab restaurant partners with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka through the Global Environment Facility funded Small Grants Programme (SGP) in the Mannar Landscape, in the form of an 18-month project that will empower communities in the area, with a strong focus on mangrove restoration. Working together with GEF-SGP Community Based Organizations and Grantees, the programme participants will lead their communities in mangrove propagation, reforestation, and protection.

To mark the occasion, Chef Dharshan Munidasa, Founder, Ministry of Crab and Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka ceremoniously signed a letter of agreement.

The project will work with two grassroots organizations, the Human Development Organization (HDO) and WeCAN, who will plant 1,000 mangrove plants with community participation, forming youth groups for the maintenance and monitoring of planted mangroves. This will be carried out through creating tree bands on 5 hectares of saline land and supported by constructions of a storage pond by low-lying areas to capture rainwater as well as the establishment of a plant nursery.

Mangrove forests play a critical role in Sri Lanka’s ecological system; however, they are rapidly degrading due to climate change and pollution. Mangrove forests thrive along the border between land and sea and are the first line of defence for coastlines, reducing erosion from storm surges, currents, waves, and tides. They can absorb up to five times more carbon than forest trees and improve water quality by filtering out sediments. As an important source of livelihood and food for thousands of small communities in Sri Lanka, protecting its mangroves will make coastal communities more resilient by promoting improved fishing and agriculture, fostering sustainable livelihoods that can withstand shocks and stresses, and ensuring a healthier environment in which communities can thrive.

Mangroves are a biodiversity hotspot, providing a home to many birds, crustaceans, reptiles, and mammals to thrive at the junction between land and sea, and is home to Sri Lanka’s iconic mud crabs. Chef Dharshan Munidasa, Founder, Ministry of Crab noted, “Mangroves are a vital part of Ministry of Crab’s journey, as well as for everyone in Sri Lanka who takes pride in our crabs and the ecosystems that sustain them. We are one entity, and it will take much more involvement from communities and corporations to help preserve both the mangroves and our heritage”.

Ministry of Crab places high value in sustainably sourcing seafood and has worked with suppliers who have sustainable sourcing practices and supporting the livelihoods of local fishing communities. From its inception, the restaurant has been an advocate for the sustainable harvesting of Mud Crab, by not serving crabs below 500 grams, emphasizing that their commitment and respect for ingredients and sustainability have always been paramount. The recently introduced “Mud Crab Fishery Management Regulations, 2024,” by the Ministry of Fisheries in Sri Lanka that aims to prevent the overharvesting of mud crabs is a testament to this. Starting this year, these regulations apply to the fishing of wild mud crabs in Sri Lanka’s waters and establishes the minimum size for wild crab that can be caught, sold, kept in possession, processed, or exported. As such this partnership is the next step in Ministry of Crab’s sustainability journey.

The project in the Mannar Landscape will also foster community building initiatives such as zero plastic awareness training for community groups, public waste collection with bins, digging trenches for degradable waste, soil and water conservation and strengthening women-led enterprises.

Commenting on the partnership, Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka stated, “The GEF funded Small Grants Programme (SGP) embodies the very essence of ‘thinking globally, acting locally’. Over the past three decades, we have worked closely with Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and saw that community action can maintain the fine balance between human needs and environmental imperatives. We wholeheartedly welcome this new partnership with Ministry of Crab to further augment the impact of community engagement in mangrove restoration under the SGP, and we hope to see more private sector partners joining this journey.”

At Ministry of Crab, our commitment to community building is deeply rooted by initiated projects. Our co-owners are passionate advocates and active agents of supporting local communities, driving meaningful change through their initiatives. In line with this vision, all proceeds from the sale of Ministry of Crab merchandise will be donated to this project, ensuring that every purchase directly benefits those in need.