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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Volume 3, No 6, 2013

© Copyright by the authors - Licensee IPA- Under Creative Commons license 3.0

Research article ISSN 0976 – 4402

Received on March 2013 Published on August 2013 2261

Growing scarcity of Mangroves: A study of Pottuvil coastal area in Sri

Lanka Kaleel M.I.M.

Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography, South Eastern University, Sri Lanka

[email protected]

doi: 10.6088/ijes.2013030600042

ABSTRACT

Around 49 MLD of combine effluent from more than 800 texile dyeing and printing

industries with domestic sewage is discharge in the Bandi river at Pali. The physico-

chemical parameters Cl-, SO42- , NO3

-, suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand and

biological oxygen demand assessed in the combine effluent were higher than the

recommended standards for discharge of industrial effluent by BIS. The overall pollution

load in Bandi river in terms of chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand,

suspended solids and total alkalinity is 57,520 kg/ day 38,160 kg/ day, 61,950 kg/ day and

74570 kg/ day respectively. Therefore, the pollution load estimated clearly illustrates the

environmental degradation in the study area to a great extent.

Keywords: Dyeing and printing industries, Pali, pollution load, Bandi river.

1. Introduction

Mangrove habitat is one such marshland found in coastal area, with unique characters

differing in structure and function from the fresh water swamps and peat bogs. The mangrove

ecosystem is composed of two main parts, the terrestrial component and aquatic components.

The aquatic part is also composed of marine and freshwater components, which cover along

the bank tropical and subtropical rivers and coastline in the South, South-east and many other

parts of the world. According to the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific,

there is nearly 24 million hectares of mangroves in various parts of the world (Ashraff, 2004).

Mangroves are trees or shrubs that grow in shallow and muddy saltwater or brackish waters.

They are usually found along shorelines and estuaries in the tropical and subtropical areas.

The mangroves provide an excellent habitat for a diverse range of organisms in which they

nest and feed. Being among the relatively few flora species that thrive in such harsh coastal

environment, mangrove forests are to be valued. Hence, the rationale for conserving

mangroves does not lie in their economic value (fuel source and raw material) but its

biodiversity. Mangrove vegetations are diminishing in Sri Lanka due to various reasons such

as war, disasters, pollution, negligence, deforestation, etc. Pottuvil coastal area in Sri Lanka is

selected for the research because it is a biodiversity rich with more human interference area.

In this backdrop, this paper aims to analysis the growing scarcity of mangrove in the Pottuvil

area and it further attempts to provide some suggestions to protect mangrove and its

ecosystem.

2. Objectives

The research has been undertaken to achieve the following major objectives;

1. To assess the present status of mangroves in Pottuvil area

Growing scarcity of Mangroves: A study of Pottuvil coastal area in Sri Lanka

Kaleel M.I.M. International Journal of Environmental Sciences Volume 3 No.6, 2013

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2. To find out the reasons for mangrove destructions in the study area

3. To formulate the conservation measures to protect and refresh the mangroves in

Pottuvil area.

Figure 1: Mangroves in Asia

Figure 2: Mangroves in Sri Lanka

2.1 Profile of study area: Pottuvil

Pottuvil is one of the Divisional Secretary Divisions in the Ampara District. It is 71

kilometers away from Ampara town and 67 kilometers away from Kalmunai town. It is

bordered by Thirukkovil Divisional Secretary Division from the North, the Bay of Bengal on

the East, and Lahugala Divisional Secretary Division on the South and West. The total land

area of the Division is 368 square kilometers with a length of 21 kilometers and a width of 5

– 15 kilometers. Nearly half of the total land (47.03%) remains unexploited. 6.2% of the total

land is utilized for dwelling purposes while 24.46% is under cultivation. Another 18.28% of



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land has been identified as cultivable but is not used for cultivation (Statistical Handbook

2010).

Figure 3: Study area map

Thus area comprises 63 villages which come under the administration of 27 Grama Niladhari

divisions. Before 1960, the division was part of the Batticaloa District. However, after the

formation of Ampara District in 1961, the Division was formed as an AGA Division. The

Pottuvil electorate is included partly into the Digamadulla electorate Division and partly into

the administrative division of Eastern Provincial Council. This area was severely affected by

protracted civil conflict of Sri Lanka.

According to the 2007 census, the total population of the Division is 33901. The main

building blocks of the local economy of Pottuvil Divisional Secretariat Division comprise;

agriculture, livestock rearing, coastal and inland fisheries, micro and small industries, tourism

and trade. This division is endowed with plentiful natural resources including arable land,

forest, picturesque beaches, mountains and inland water bodies and lagoons. However other

crops such as vegetables, coconut and fruits also contribute significantly to local livelihoods.

Livestock rearing and fisheries, both inland and coastal, are the two other important sectors of

the local economy. Tourism is another sector that is important and has development potential

(Statistical Handbook 2010).

Next to agriculture, marine, coastal and lagoon fisheries play a vital role in the local economy

of the Division. Most important are the coastal fisheries, the majority of which were affected

by the Tsunami. There are 5 lagoons, big and small reservoirs, some rivers and clay lands

used for inland fisheries. The low income group fulfils their nutritional needs through this



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source. Inland fisheries also provide a considerable number of employment opportunities

(Statistical Handbook 2010).

Coastal resources such as fisheries, mangroves, coral reefs and sea shells are some of the

other natural resources available in the DS division. Climate conditions determine cultivation

patterns and crops in the Division. It has most of its annual rainfall during the North-East

Monsoon and has small reservoirs and tanks.

3. Research design and methods

This study is to analysis growing scarcity of mangroves. It focuses on Pottuvil divisional

secretariat is as a case. Required data and information related to Mangrove vegetation was

collected from the primary and secondary sources. Sampling method has been used to collect

primary data. A fifty samples have been collected for Questionnaire survey and interview in

following areas; Sarvodaya Grama Niladhari Area, Arugambay, Pasarichennai, Kudakalil,

Navalaru, Oorani, Mothibay area. These 50 samples were distributed to different stakeholders

as follows; 20 government officials, 20 fisher man and 10 farmers. Secondary date has been

collected from previous studies, books, official documents and reports, research articles and

statistics. Further satellite map have also been used to prepare maps. SPSS and GIS software

(ArcGIS 9.3) have been used to analysis and present the data.

4. Results and discussions

4.1 Mangroves in Sri Lanka

The coastal zone of Sri Lanka consists of diversity of shoreline and near shore habitats

occurring as lagoons and estuaries, and small islets in the lagoons and mouths of rivers and

streams. In the most of areas of Lanka the coastal zone occurs only as a narrow belt as there

is a low tidal range, while rarely exceeds 75 cm. Mangroves estimated to cover about 12,000

ha in 1986 were reduced to 8,687 and are predicted to cover only 6000 ha by the year 2000

(Jayatissa, 2002).

The extent of mangroves in Sri Lanka is small compared to those Asian countries. Not only

the area of mangroves in Sri Lanka is small, but also the mangrove extend as a percentage of

available land is lowest in the region. That means there is plenty of non mangrove land

available for agriculture and development projects (Ashraff, 2004).

Twenty three species of mangroves have been recorded for Sri Lanka, both true mangroves,

and mangrove associates. Typical genora are mangroves Rhizophora, Avicennia, Exoecaria,

Lumnitzera and Aegiceras, and mangrove associates Tamarix, Acanthus, Sphaeranthus and

Sonneratia. However, mangroves have been destructing by human activities and natural

disasters. It leads to create natural hazards and makes the human life as complex one. Hence,

the sense has been emphasized that mangroves should be protected and promoted.

4.2 Mangroves in Pottuvil

Mangroves are woody flowing plants that are specially adapted to growing in saline and

anaerobic soils in the intertidal. There distribution is very much constrained by tidal range

which is relatively limited in Sri Lankan waters and by wave exposure on open shorelines.



2265

Mangroves’ ecosystems in the Ampara district are broadly categorized into two groups (see

figure -I). These are fringing mangroves and riverine mangroves. Riverine mangrove are

found in the brackish estuaries and along the river banks of Helawe and Panakal, Pottuvil

Kalappu, while fringing mangroves occupy parts of the intertidal areas along the coast of

Ampara District. Scrub mangroves are found along sheltered estuarine shorelines where the

salinity of the intertidal area is high.

As far as the Pottuvil district is concerned, mangroves are in the western part of Arugambay

which is located in Sarvodhayapura Grama Niladhari division in Pottuvil. Meanwhile, there

are particular amount of mangroves in Pacarichenai Grama Niladhari division, Kuddakali

(see the picture – I) and Navalary. The mangroves grown around the Oorani bay (picture –II)

and mottikkalapu (picture –II). These mangroves have grown in a broader area and these

mangroves have also grown densitively. Fishermen are using these mangroves’ land for their

fishing activities.

Figure 3: Mangrove Patches remaining in the study area (Source: Field Visit, 2006)

According to the people opinion, mangroves have been growing naturally in most of the in

the Pottuvil area and in some places, they are planted by people who lives close to sea and

they mention that amount of mangroves were high in earlier period. They were destructed

due to human activities. A particular amount of mangroves were destructed with considering

security problems which were plagued the country for four decades.

The interview further revealed that the mangroves helped to sea lives such as fish and village

people used the mangroves for their day to day usages, fences and business activities. They

could earn by means of selling mangroves. Moreover, Tsunamis disaster which has severely

affected the coastal belt of this area, has also affected the growing mangroves in the study

area. The climate change has further led to the growing scarcity of the mangroves. During

the period of 1985 – 1990, mangroves were cut and destructed due to security problems. As a

result of above activities, number of mangroves have been decreased in the area.

However, the numbers of measures have been taken to protect mangroves in the area. During

the period of 2006 – 2007, the mangrove plantation program was introduced under the North

East Coastal Community Development Project (NECCDEP) project. In 2005, another

plantation program was implemented with the help of UN financial aid. Apart from these

measures, a non-governmental organization started a program to establish fences around the

mangroves area for their protection. The following pictures illustrate the established fences

around the mangroves.



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Figure 4: Photo showing established fences around the mangroves under NECCDEP Project

The following figure depicts the trend of Mangrove Vegetation in the Study area due to

various reasons.

Source: Field Survey (2006)

Figure 5: Trends of Mangrove vegetation

4.3 Threats to mangroves in Pottuvil area

Although this area has the largest mangrove tracts in the district and this region is seen as a

centre for mangrove diversity, this is also the area in which the rate of loss of mangroves in

recent areas. Less than half of the original extent of mangroves remains in area today. As a

result, mangroves are most threatened ecosystems in the area. The following major issues are

subjected to threads caused to Mangroves in Pottuvil area.

4.3.1 Overexploitation of mangroves

It is estimated that particular amount of mangrove habitats are destroyed and degraded

because of over-exploitation for fuel-wood and timber production. It is also reported that

over-harvesting of wood for tannins, as well as for charcoal production.



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4.3.2 Habitat destruction

Activities of the people of this area are the greatest threat to mangroves, contributing to

mangrove habitat loss. Once mangroves are cleared, the coast is made vulnerable to erosion

and coral reefs and sea-grass beds become vulnerable to sedimentation. Coastal developments,

conversion to agriculture and land reclamation remain major causes of mangrove destruction.

4.3.3 Habitat degradation

Mangroves are affected seriously by inland freshwater diversion schemes and it is estimated

that particular amount of mangrove habitats are degraded by inland water extraction in the

area.

4.3.4 Pollution

Inland farming, housing and rapid development of infrastructure are resulting in chemical and

sewage pollution, which can over-fertilize coastal waters, causing the growth of ‘tides’ of

algae (Eutrophication) which rapidly reduce productivity by blocking sunlight from reaching

below water surfaces. These algal tides can also turn toxic.

4.3.5 Climate Change

Changes in precipitation as a result of climate change will retard growth, productivity and

seedling survival in mangroves. Changing wave climates increase coastal erosion and damage

mangrove habitats. Salt water intrusion will also alter the salinity regime in mangroves,

changing the species composition. Climate change, in short, will have serious impacts on

mangroves, affecting their provisioning, supporting and regulatory services.

4.4 Recommendations

The study has already been identified that mangrove is important for the human eco-system

and the study suggests protecting mangroves for the reason of smooth functioning of eco-

system at this area. It is required to take following measures;

1. Prevention of habitat destruction through legislation

2. Setting aside protected areas

3. Mangrove restoration

4. Creating awareness

5. Mangrove valuation [

5. Conclusion

Mangrove is of particular significance in the context of coastal forests. The commercial

production of mangroves includes building material (poles and timber) and fuel wood and

some non wood products. Mangrove is also significant ecologically. It fixes carbon, produces

leaf litter for decomposing organisms and provides habitat. It hosts significant biological

diversity, provides spawning and nursery grounds for certain species of commercially

valuable fish, acts as a sediment trap, and reduces shoreline erosion by holding together the

soil and by buffering wave action. However, the growing scarcity nature of the mangrove in



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the area has been affecting mangrove eco-system of the area. It may lead to emerge

environmental hazards in the area.

6. References

1. Ashraff, (2004), Mangrove Resource Dependency of the People in Pottuvil and

Thirrkkovil Divisional Secretariat Divisions in the Ampara District in the Eastern

Province of Sri Lanka, unpublished Master Thesis submitted to Department of Forestry

and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka.

2. Baig, S. P., and U. A. Iftikhar, (2005), Are the Mangroves for the Future? Empirical

evidence of the value of Miani Hor Mangrove Ecosystem as the basis for investments”.

IUCN, Pakistan, unpublished report.

3. Bambaradeniya, C.N.B., (2007), A biodiversity status profile of Ittapana mangrove

wetland area of south-western Sri Lanka, (unpublished technical report).

4. Bandaranayake, W. M (1998), Traditional and medicinal uses of mangroves,

Mangroves and Salt Marshes 2(3), pp 133-148.

5. Costal Resource Profile, (2009), Divisional Secretariat, Pottuvil (Prepared by

NECDEP).

6. Dittmar, T., N. Hertkorn, G. Kattner, and R. J. Lara, (2006), Mangroves, a major source

of dissolved organic carbon to the oceans, Global Biogeochemical Cycles, Volume 20,

GB1012, doi: 10.1029/2005GB002570.

7. Mangrove Forests, available at http://www.janegoodall.ca/planet-releaf/

MangroveForests.html, accessed on 20th July 2012.

8. Hutchings, P. and P. Saenger, (1987), Ecology of Mangroves, St. Lucia, Australia:

University of Queensland Press.

9. Jayatissa, et.al, (2002), A review of the flora composition and distribution of mangroves

in Sri Lanka, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society.

10. Samarawickrama, V. A. P. and T. G. M. Priyadharshana, (2002), An Assessment of the

Status of Biodiversity in the Maduganga Mangrove Estuary, Occasional Papers of

IUCN Sri Lanka (No. 1), November 2002.

11. Statistical Handbook, (2010), Divisional Secretariat, Pottuvil.

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