In Jaffna peninsula, Mangrove ecosystems have been damaged due to the various anthropogenic activities.Sarasalai one of the degraded mangrove ecosystem in Jaffna peninsula,Northern Sri Lanka.The ecosystem should be protected and preserved.

1. Harithas Aruchchunan | MEM Batch II |Faculty of Graduate Studies |University of Jaffna

2. Field Visit to Degraded Sarasalai
Mangrove Ecosystem on 12 Jan 2019

4. Among total
mangrove areas
available, more
than 40% is
situated in
Northern
districts
Source:R.M.D.Alawathugoda et al.,2018

5. Source: Edirisinghe et al.,2010

7. Sarasalai Mangrove
Ecosystem

10. Aerial Drone Images(By Group 1)

16. Mangrove
Ecosystem
Services

19. True
Mangrove

20. Rhizophora mucronata

21. Excoecaria agallocha

22. Lumnitzera cermosa

23. Ceriops tagel

24. Acanthus ilicifolius

25. Mangrove
Associates

26. Clerodendron inerme

27. Vitex negundo

28. Phoenix pusilla

29. Calotrophis gigantea

30. Pandanus odoratissimus

31. Thespesia populnea

32. Acrostichum aureum

34. Resident and Migrant
Birds

35. Oriental Magpie

36. Purple Coot/Purple
Swamphen(Porphyrio porphyrio)

37. Green Bee Eater(Merops
orientalis)

38. Marsh Sandpiper

39. Little Ringed Flovers

40. White Heron

41. Gull Billed Tern

42. Greater Flamingo(Phoenicopterus
roseus)

43. Northern pintail(Anas acuta)

44. Whimbrel(Numenius phaepus)

45. Eurasian Curlew(Numenius
arquata)

46. Greater Sand Plover(Charadrius
lescchenaultii)

47. Green Sandpiper(Tringa ochropus)

48. Black headed ibis(Threskiornis
melanocephalus)

49. Eurasian Spoonbill(Platalea
leucorodia)

50. Black winged Stils(Himantopus
himantopus)

51. Spotted Billed
Felican(Pelecanus philippensis)

52. Kingfisher(Halcyon smyrnensis)

53. Myna(Acridothers trisis)

54. Marsh Crocodile

55. Invasive Alien
Plants

56. Lantana camara

57. Prosobis juliflora

58. Parthenium hysterophorus L

59. Threats to
Sarasalai
Mangrove
Ecosystem

60. Barrages

61. 2011
Land Encroachment

62. 2018

64. Road Development

65. Internal Roads in 2011(No Roads)

66. Internal Roads in 2018

67. Water Supply

69. Dumping Waste

75. Invasive Alien Plants

76. Destruction of Mangrove and
Associates

77. Abandoned signboards

79. RECOMMENDATIONS

80. More intensive
surveys are
needed to identify
clearly the range
and number of the
species in the
mangroves if they
are to be
conserved
Eg:Crocodiles

81. Consider that women
are key stakeholders
in initiatives focusing
on mangroves

82. Increase the participation
of various stakeholders

83. Designate
mangroves as
protected areas

84. Ensure that all
development planned
for mangroves are
subject to an
Environmental Impact
Assessment(EIA)

85. Establishment of mangrove
nurseries, management and
research center in Jaffna
Peninsula

86. Plantation of mangroves
with appropriate species
with the support of
academics and
researchers
Plant at least 3’ height
seedlings/saplings to
avoid the flood effects

87. Replanting the mangroves
jointly with visitors and local
communities

88. Revitalize the eco
tourism(bird watching,
observation platforms,
interpretation services by
villagers)

89. Use ecotourism as a
tool for the
conservation of
mangroves and
identify appropriate
tourism facilities and
activities

90. Identify the training
needs to local
communities on
importance of
mangroves, major
threats etc

91. Put more awareness
signboards on
pollution in Sarsalai
mangrove ecosystem,
Major fauna and flora
etc

92. Celebrate the
wetland day and
cleaning with the
support of
students, local
communities,
visitors,academics,
environmentalists,
government
officials etc

93. Assess the level of
community awareness
and form the
community groups to
protect the mangroves

94. Ensure the
participation of
communities-People
movement, Train
youths and form youth
groups,

95. Attract the people
through awareness
signboards in the
entrance of peninsula
on mangrove
ecosystem in Jaffna
peninsula

96. Big Thinking!