The document describes the Wetland Project conducted by the Faculty of Science at the University of Colombo. The project involved developing the Kolonnawa marsh area into a wetland park. It was divided into 4 phases: Phase 1 involved discussions on the project outline and identifying 3 potential entrance points. Phase 2 involved analyzing the entrances and selecting the optimal location. Phase 3 involved designing facilities like boardwalks, bridges and information boards. Phase 4 involved implementing the designs while minimizing environmental impact. Challenges included unclear scope, safety issues, labour problems and floods delaying work. Overall the project achieved restoring the wetland and developing key facilities, laying the groundwork for future research and establishing Sri Lanka's first wet

1. WETLAND PROJECT
Service Learning of Faculty of Science
University of Colombo
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3. What is a Wetland ??
➢ A Wetland is a land area that is
saturated with water , either
permanently or seasonally , such
that it takes on the characteristics of
a distinct ecosystem
➢ Depth is generally not more than
six meters
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4. Why Are Wetlands Important ?
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5. Nature Park Vs Urban Park
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6. • Secure the wetland and improve it for its expected benefits.
• Secure the life and ecosystem of the wetland.
• Create an educational environment in the wetland.
• Success as a nature trail. (wetland park)
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7. • Build the proposed bridges as an entrance to the wetland.
• Clean and develop the dam
• Complete the nature trail at least up to the watch tower.
• Build the watch tower
• Implement benches and other resting places.
• Implement information boards.
• Arrange activities for children and adults.
• Clean the canal and other water resources.
• Replace plants to improve the value of the wetland.
• Educate the near residencies about the value of the wetland.
• Ensure the safety of the implemented facilities.
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9. Methodology
Phase 1
● Discussions about the project
outline and project activities.
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10. Methodology
Identified Threats:
● Attitude of the residents.
● Invasive fauna and flora.
o Pond Apple.
o Thilapia.
o Knife fish.
● Unauthorized constructions on the
wetland premises.
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11. ● Initial cost for the project was
calculated.
● Required labour and equipment:
● Pontoon / Boat
● 4 to 5 labourers to clear the path
and operate the Pontoon/across
the canal.
● Two Knives and two sickles
● Boots 8 pairs
Methodology
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12. Geographical Map of the Kolonnawa Marsh
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13. ● Identification of the wetland entrance.
○ Three possible entrance were identified.
○ At each entrance following key factors were collected and analyzed.
■ Ease of access.
■ Lower disturbance.
■ Car park facilities.
■ Wetland environment of the selected area.
Phase 2
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14. Entry point –Option 01
Phase 2
● First option: from the border of the
Madinnagoda temple.
● The biodiversity of the associated
area was observed and noted
down.
● Temple
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15. Entry point –Option 02
Phase 2
● Second option: was to use the
area near new Madinnagoda
road (near the Harward dam
area)
● Due to illegal residents and
with the constraint of our
limited 6 months time frame
and political background.
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16. Phase 2
Entry point –Option 03
● Third option was to use
Gamage watte (near the new
gothatuwa road) area.
● It is a highly populated area
and relatively less polluted
than the option 01 and 02.
● Then the environmental
factors of the area were
analyzed.
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17. Phase 3
● Drawing up the design specifications.
● Time frame: 6 months
Activities :
● Board walk
● Watch tower
● Tarzan rope / High ropes
● Step path
● Information boards
● Design benches
● Design study area
● Design bridge
● Design an Entrance
● Finally the project proposal was presented.
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18. Phase 4
Coordinate and Manage wetland study park
Creation.
● Pre-treat the dry and wet weather stormwater
flows.
● Remove unwanted pond apple trees and replace
other wetland plants.
● Restoration of the canal.
● Do all the development WITHOUT any harm to
the ecosystem.
● SLLR&DC provided 6 labourers to carry out the
work.
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19. Results
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20. Entrance
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21. Entrance :
Options
Madinnagoda
Temple
Madinnagoda
Road
Gamage Watta
Easy
Access
Disturbance
Car Parking
Wetland
Diversity
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22. Bridges
Problem:
● Continue the paths across the canals
● An eco-friendly solution needed.
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23. The Solution
● A bridge made up
with logs.
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24. Access path
● Need a path to the wetland study area
Options
● Step path
● Boardwalk
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25. Access path
● Step path using logs
● Minimum disturbance
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26. Research area
● A Place to facilitate
Researches
● Also act as resting
places
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27. ● Need a way to observe
Different Diverse areas
● With minimum disturbance
to the wetland
Walk path
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28. Sketches
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29. Reduce Soil Erosion
Cover the wetland from outside
Planting Bamboo and
Kaduru Trees
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30. Before
After
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31. Information Boards
● Functions of the Wetland
● Importance in preserving Wetlands
● Biodiversity within the Wetland
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32. Horizontal Board
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33. Sinhala
English
Images
Clear
Background
&
Interesting
Design
Vertical Board
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34. ● Optimal height for birdwatching
● Can observe the wetland
Watchtower
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35. Research on Pond Apple
● Find out where the pond apple trees
have invaded
● What would be the replaceable trees
● How it could be done
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36. ● Map the entire area and identify the
important locations
● Identify most suitable locations for future
developments
● Submit a report to the authorities on future
phases of the project
Overall Research on
Wetland
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37. Labour Handling &
Budget Control
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38. ● Most difficult part of the project
● A Supervisor, an Architect and an
Assistant Engineer to Supervise
appointed for the site
● 8 labors worked
● 6 days per week
Labour Handling
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Description Unit Qty Rate Amount
1 Cleaning the canal bank and surroundings Days 37 1190 44,030.00
2 Planting small plants at canal bank (Kumbuk,
Bamboo, Ariconut)
Days 30 1190 35700.00
3 Supply and transporting Plants Nos 20 1000 20000.00
4 Cleaning the walking path Days 32 1190 38,080.00
5 Rubble packing in marshy areas of the foot path m3 5 2000 10000.00
6 Supply and fixing of vertical timber posts for waiting
areas I,II,III
Nos 35 3150 110250.00
7 Labour for fixing the timber posts Days 21 1190 24990.00
8 Constructing timber bridge m 6 2250 13500.00
9 Watering the plants Days 21 1190 24,990.00
10 Transporting labours and materials from tractor Days 104 900 93,600.00
Total 415,140.00

40. Budget of the Project
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41. Problems Faced
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42. Problems Faced
❖ No clear specification about the project at
the beginning.
❖ Requirements changed rapidly throughout
the time.
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43. Problems Faced
❖ Couldn’t mark the key project areas in the
initial visits due to GPS problems.
❖ Lack of information about the wetland
➢ No proper research done previously.
➢ SLLRDC only had maps taken from google.
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44. Problems Faced
❖ Agreed project scope turned out to be
infeasible.
➢ No soil research done previously.
➢ Limited time.
❖ Identification of the actual project area was
too time consuming.
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45. Problems Faced
❖ Difficulties faced when exploring the project
area.
High plant density
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46. Problems Faced
❖ Difficulties faced when exploring the project
area.
Small canals Muddy surface
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47. Problems Faced
❖ Safety issues.
➢ Crocodile and snakes
➢ Sinking in mud
➢ Unsafe pontoon
and boat rides
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48. Problems Faced
❖ Labour issues.
➢ Idling due to lack of
supervision provided
➢ Low productivity
➢ Being absent
➢ No motivation due
to heavy work load
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49. Problems Faced
❖ Delay of material consignments and labour.
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50. Problems Faced
❖ Implementing
structures
with minimum
damage to the
wetland
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51. Problems Faced
❖ Falling behind the schedule due to flood
issues.
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52. CONCLUSION
Our Project
● Kolonnawa Wetland Park project : DEVELOPMENT, DESIGN and
IMPLEMENTATION of the first ever wetland park in Sri Lanka
Main Aspects Of The Project
● Restoration of the kolonnawa marsh to a tidal wetland,
● Enhance the Economic value of Kolonnawa Area
● Provide a facility to the environmentalists and students to
conduct their researches etc...
Mainly We Needed To
“restore the Kolonnawa Mash so it becomes
a destination for people to enjoy. ”
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53. THE JOURNEY
To Start Off with “The Idea Was To Build A BUTTERFLY
GARDEN”
But At The End Idea Of “ WETLAND PARK “ Won the most
Votes
The Whole Project Was Divided Into 2 Phases.
Phase 1 : Develop the necessary facilities to conduct the
RESEARCH
Phase 2 : Research , Design Specifications And the
Implementation.
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54. PHASE 1 (OUR ACHIEVEMENTS)
Targets And Objectives Of Phase 1
1) Bridge on the canal bank:
2) Access path to the inner wetland:
3) Inner wetland research area and study area:
4) Wetland Walk:
5) Planting Bamboo and Kaduru Trees:
6) Information Boards:
7) Phase 2:
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55. WHAT WE GAINED IN THIS
JOURNEY
SKILL WE GAINED
1) We Improved Our Leadership Skills.
● We had take lead on the field so the employees also get
motivated.
● We made them feel important,
● we gain their willingness to work for us.
● We asked for their advice.
● We collected facts and data before planning
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56. 2) We Improved Our Communicational Skills.
● Communication was Important to us
● We always asked questions.
● That way the employees are focused on the objective.
● We listened to others point of view and understood them.
● We communicated with different levels people in different ways
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57. 3) We Improved Our Listening Skills.
● we always listened to what others had to stay.
● We always gave them the chance and even if we did not agree
● By listening we always managed to see many other different views
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58. 4) We Improved Our Teamwork.
● Teamwork is what kept us going
● We got to know each other.
● We created bonds and backed each other up
● We worked together to get through problems.
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59. Our Presentation Skills
● We created advertising boards
● we improved our graphics skills
● we improved our graphical presentational skills
● and we improved our english presentational skills
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