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by Florence Wickramage

A serious problem is posed to Annaiwilundawa due to heavy sand-mining in the Deduru Oya which is connected to the wetland along a 20 km canal. The sand-mining has now created a gap of 3 metres between the Wetland and the Deduru Oya and heavy salination is the result. Due to unregulated and over-exploitation of sandmining the wetland is starved of water and has to depend on rains. An irrigation intervention is considered an urgent necessity to protect the wetland. Prior to being declared as a sanctuary, Annaiwilundawa had been a hunter's paradise.

In Sri Lanka the basic concept of bio-diversity and its conservation is as old as the recorded history of the country, dating back to over 2000 years ago. During monarchial rule the concept that we now recognise as bio-diversity conservation were ingrained in the cultural and religious beliefs of the people of Sri Lanka. According to the Mahavamsa, the great chronicle of Sri Lankan history, the protection of forests and animals was esteemed highly by both rulers and subjects.

Wetlands

Blessed with abundant beauty and natural resources, Sri Lanka can be termed as one whole wetland. The international Ramsar convention has defined wetlands as "areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters".

A Central Environmental Authority Report says "on the basis of internationally determined criteria (Ramsar Convention), an Asian Wetland Inventory project was carried out in the 1980s. The result was the publication of the Directory of Asian Wetlands (Scott 1989). For Sri Lanka the Directory indicates 41 sites, while a list of an additional 35 wetlands, considered to be of national importance was prepared locally (Anon.,1989).

Sri Lanka's Bundala National Park received Ramsar status over a decade ago. On August 02nd 2001, the Annaiwilundawa Sanctuary was declared as the second Ramsar Wetland, qualifying with meeting the criteria for international recognition.

Former Director of DWLC A.P.A.Gunasekera said that their efforts had been directed for Sri Lanka to possess 5 Ramsar sites with the inclusion of Annaiwilundawa. Annaiwilundawa is rich in bio-diversity and traditionally, culturally and socio-economically important.

Annaiwilundawa

Annaiwilundawa is a man-made wetland constructed in the 12th century BC. Located on the Western migratory route of birds, between Puttalam and Chilaw, this area has been a paradise for migratory and local waterfowl.

The wetland was declared as a Sanctuary in 1997. It consists mainly of ancient tank (wewa) cascades on descending order. The tank system receives water from the Deduru Oya and the Rathambala Oya.

On a request from the Ramsar Office for an inventory of Sri Lanka's Wetlands, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) facilitated the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWLC) in conducting research.

Dr. Channa Bambaradeniya of the IUCN helped in the preliminary research and have documented data regarding Annaiwilundawa, following an earlier research done by the Central Environment Authority (CEA).

The entire area covers 200 ha. and consists of tanks from 12 - 50 ha. (connected to each other) in extent which sustained about 412 ha. of traditional paddy fields. The wetland has a biodiversity from fish to mammals and birds.

There had been about 20,000 inland birds depending on this wetland for survival. According to preliminary research the wetland harbours 100 species of birds and common were aquatic birds such as Whistling Teal, Egrets, Herons, Jacanas, Purple Coots, Little Grebes, and migratory species such as Sand-pipers, Terns, Plovers etc.

There are also many species of fish including brackish water forms and traditional fishery has been associated with the wetland. Rich in terms of amphibians and reptiles, 10 species of amphibians and 30 species of reptiles have been documented.

Among common varieties are the Skipper Frog, the Paddy field frog and the six-toed frog.

Common reptiles found here are recorded as Water monitors, hard-shelled and soft-shelled Terrapins and several species of serpents such as Cobra, Water snake, Vipers etc. Mammals recorded include the Fishing Cat, Mouse-deer, Mongoose, Jackal, Wildboar, Porcupine etc. 25 colourful species of butterflies have been documented along with a similar number of dragon-flies.

Threats

A serious problem is posed to Annaiwilundawa due to heavy sand-mining in the Deduru Oya which is connected to the wetland along a 20 km canal.

The sand-mining has now created a gap of 3 metres between the Wetland and the Deduru Oya and heavy salination is the result. Due to unregulated and over-exploitation of sandmining the wetland is starved of water and has to depend on rains. An irrigation intervention is considered an urgent necessity to protect the wetland.

Prior to being declared as a sanctuary, Annaiwilundawa had been a hunter's paradise. Dr. Channa Bambaradeniya said instances had been reported of people collecting terrapin in gunny bags to be sold to nearby hotels.

Poaching has once again commenced and hoteliers are said to show re-kindled interest in the wetland. Local communities are reported saying that threats to the Wetland is from outsiders.

Invasive plants such as Water Hyacinth, Water Lettuce and Salvinia have destroyed native vegetation and prawn culture being carried on extensively have threatened mangroves.

Administration

It is obligatory on the part of signatories to the Ramsar Convention to abide by its terms and conditions and as such Sri Lanka Government is committed to protect and conserve the Annaiwilundawa wetland.

The CEA had drawn up management plans which to this day had not been implemented. The DWLC which has direct control of the wetland administers it from a small office sited at Karuwalagaswewa in Puttalam. Shortcomings in the administrative infrastructure has resulted in exposing the wetland to stepped-up threats including poaching and increased prawn culture.

DWLC Director Dayananda Kariyawasam said that the department is making every effort to harness technical inputs to conservation programmes already mapped out to conserve the wetland and protect the status of Annaiwilundawa as a Ramsar site. Annaiwilundawa has begun to attract visitors and tourists due to its uniqueness.

To ensure its protection, the IUCN has advised the WDLC to request the Ramsar Convention to implement Ramsar authority related to Wetlands. In addition related local bodies and the irrigation department (in the case of Deduru Oya) should support conservation and protection efforts.

The ensure the conservation and protection of this important wetland promotion of nature tourism is considered ideal which would involve the participation of local communities, who will protect the wetland while at the same time benefitting from its resources.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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