Vankalai wetland

VankalaiWetlandGroup4WRMGT-2nd year

Group4

1. M Edison AG/GT/2012/3494

2. K Jamunakavi AG/GT/2012/3496

3. MT Dilshan AG/GT/2012/3497

4. YKS Sandaruwan AG/GT/2012/3498

5. UWU Lakmali AG/GT/2012/3499

6. AGDS Sirisena AG/GT/2012/3500

7. HMCN Herath AG/GT/2012/3501

8. AWI Chathurangi AG/GT/2012/3502

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CONTENT

1. Introduction

2. Reasons to name as Ramsar wetland

3. Flora & Fauna

4. Threats

5. Preservation

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1. INTRODUCTION

Location

A Coastal wetland of Semi-Natural origin located in the Dry Zone of the North-Western province in Mannar district

Comprising with

Puliyanthivu island

Tiruketiswaran

Pallimunai

Vankalai

Strips of land on either sides of the causeway connecting the island of Mannarto mainland

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1. INTRODUCTION cont..

Extent

4839 hectares

Consists of;

Arid zone thorn scrublands and pasture

Waterholes & Tanks

Sand dunes

Mangroves

Salt marshes

Lagoons

Sea grass beds

Maritime grasslands

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1. INTRODUCTION cont..

The Vankalai sanctuary is an integrated nature of;

1. Shallow wetlands

2. Terrestrial coastal habitats

Due to that, the sanctuary is;

– Highly productive

– Supporting for higher eco system diversity

– Supporting for higher species diversity

– Provides excellent feeding for large number of water birds

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• In 2008, The Department of Wildlife Conservation declared Vankalai triangle as a sanctuary as for the request of Ceylon Bird Club(CBD)– to protect large number of migrant water birds

a first in the area since the armed conflict erupted in the north several decades ago.

• On the July 12th of 2010, it was declared as the 4th RAMSAR wetland in SL

because of…

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• The rich bio-diversity

• The historical importance of the area

• Home to more than 20,000 water birds during the migratory season of which the sanctuary holds more than 1% of its population

• Since the Vankalai sanctuary is located in one of the major ports of ancient Sri Lanka known as Manthai which dates from the 6th Century BC to 13th Century AD, it is also considered a rich archaeological site

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3. FLORA AND FAUNAFlora

The vegetation in thorn scrub consists of two distinct strata;

1. A tree layer dominated by

• Acacia planifrons

• Salvadora persica

• Tamarindus indicus

2. A shrub layer with species such as

• Azima tetracantha

• Cassia auriculata

• Dichrostachys cinerea

• Flueggea leucopyros

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Acacia planifrons

Cassia auriculata

3. FLORA AND FAUNA Cont..The shallow seasonal water holes contain

• algal species

• submerged vegetation such as Najas marina

The single perennial tank in the area is home to floating plants such as

• Nymphaea stellate

• Nelumbo nucifera

The patches of degraded fringing mangrove in this area are dominated by species adapted to high-saline conditions

• Avicennia marina

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Najas marina

Avicennia marina

3. FLORA AND FAUNA Cont..The shallow margins of lagoons and seasonal water bodies are covered with patches of salt-marsh vegetation consisting of

• Halosarcia indica

• Salicornia brachiate

• Suaeda spp

The sand dunes and sandy sea-shore adjoining the lagoon support

• Spinifex littoreus

• Hydrophylax maritime

dominated vegetation

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Suaeda spp

Spinifexlittoreus

3. FLORA AND FAUNA Cont..

Fauna

• In 2003 120134 species

• Provides living habitats for

– Waterbirds

– Migrants(20,000 individuals annually)

– 60 species of fish

– Marine turtles

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WaterBirds

• The Ceylon Bird Club has recorded 149 species of birds at Vankalai

• Vankalai has an abundant bird life because many people cannot venture there


Very rare migrants

• The Indian Spot-billed Duck

• The Comb Duck

• The Gadwall

• Long-toed Stint

• Eastern’ Black-tailed Godwit

The uncommon migrants

• The Peregrine Falcon

• The Common-ringed Plover

• Temminck’s Stint

• The Red-necked Phalarope

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Temminck’s Stint

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The Common-ringed Plover

The gadwall


Marine animals

• The site’s coastal and marine ecosystems are important for– over 60 species of fish

– marine turtles

– rare species such as Dugongs (Dugong dugon)

• These ecosystems provide important spawning and feeding grounds for– juvenile fish species such as Trevally (Caranx spp.)

– Snappers

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Threatened species

• The Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)

• Dugongs (Dugong dugon)

• Saltwater Crocodiles

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3. FLORA AND FAUNA

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Threats

4. THREATS

Deforestation

• Road construction

- Newly constructed 5Km length causeway is a threat to the wetland sanctuary

- 10Km of A14 road construction, 20Km length of railway rack(madawachiya –mannar ) also being as threats.

• Wood consumption

-People in this area are consuming wood from the wetland for their fuel wood need

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4. THREATS Cont..

Security forces

• Military

- Constructed high security zone in that area (thallady)

- 15Ac of land directly restricted to migration birds

• Air forces

- Newly constructed 1.5Km length runway

- Noise from aircraft

Dumping waste

• Disposal of municipal waste from mannar town, vankalai, thiruketheswaram ect.

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4. THREATS Cont..

Hunting

• Small mammals, turtles , some reptiles being hunted

• This hunting for food need and to protect agricultural lands

Climate change (natural threats)

• wetland T0 ↑ organic matter decomposition rate ↓

• Due to climate change, more freshwater evaporates so that some existing indigenous species die or leave their habitat.

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5. PRESERVATION

These wetlands play an important role in nutrient cycling within the southern Palk Bay area and are connected to the extensive coastal and marine ecosystem complex of the Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar

Reforestation

• New mangrove plants are planted both site of the causeway by forest department of Sri Lanka.

• Some other dry zone plants also planted along A14 road

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5. PRESERVATION Cont..

Waste management

• Northern province council proposed a solid waste management plant near to thirukketheswaram to process the waste from the wetland area.

Awareness

• Instruction to area people the wetland value and it’s terrestrial ecosystem

• protect wetland organism

• We are getting many services and products from wetland, so as people we should protect our wetland

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REFERENCE

• http://www.island.lk/2009/01/21/L1.pdf

• http://documents.gov.lk/Extgzt/2008/pdf/Sep/1566_3/1566_3E.pdf

• http://www.ceylonheritage-tours.com/index.php/attractions/the-call-of-the-wild/item/53-vankalai

• http://hotelsigiriya.com/index.php?&act=dstmst225&meta=Vankalai-Triangle-,-Mannar-Sri-Lanka

http://www.island.lk/2009/01/21/L1.pdf

http://documents.gov.lk/Extgzt/2008/pdf/Sep/1566_3/1566_3E.pdf

http://www.ceylonheritage-tours.com/index.php/attractions/the-call-of-the-wild/item/53-vankalai

http://hotelsigiriya.com/index.php?&act=dstmst225&meta=Vankalai-Triangle-,-Mannar-Sri-Lanka

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Environment

Vankalai wetland