Wild places that cover just 2.3% of the Earth's surface. Home to 75% of the planet's most threatened mammals, birds and amphibians. And Sri Lanka is one of them. Home to 6 RAMSAR Wetlands and hundreds of threatened species. An island so wild, free and inspiring.
The 6 Ramsar Wetlands of International
Importance in Sri Lanka
- Annaiwilundawa Tanks Sanctuary
- Bundala Flora & Fauna Sanctuary
- Kumana National Park Wetland Cluster
- Maduganga Mangrove Lagoon
- Vankalai Sanctuary
- Wilpattu National Park Wetland Cluster
The signature 'Birding Safari' by Ayu in the Wild visits four of the six Sites*.
The Convention on Wetlands came into force for Sri Lanka
on 15 October 1990. Sri Lanka presently has 6 sites designated as
Wetlands of International Importance, with a surface area of 198,172 hectares. (All information: www.ramsar.org) (Images: www.ayuinthewild.com) For details of each RAMSAR Site..
*Annaiwilundawa Tanks Sanctuary
Designated on 03/08/01; Northwestern
Province; 1,397ha
Sanctuary. An ancient system of human-made
cascading tanks or reservoirs, ranging between 12 and 50 hectares each and
totaling some 200 ha, dating back to the 12th century, which
help to sustain traditional paddy fields in the area as well as islets of
natural vegetation. In addition to being unique to the biogeographical region,
the site harbors quite a few species of threatened fish, amphibians, birds,
mammals, and especially reptiles and supports up to 40% of the vertebrate
species found in Sri Lanka. The system serves as an important refuge for
migratory birds and also supports about 50% of the country’s freshwater fish
species, including at least three endemic species. Only 3-4 meters deep, it is
a highly productive wetland with an array of zooplankton and phytoplankton,
which also makes it extremely important for migratory fish. The tanks store
water, in this dry region, for irrigation purposes, and also play a major role
in flood control, aquifer recharge, retention of pollutants and sediments, and
nutrient export. Local communities have practiced sustainable traditional
farming and fishing since ancient times. Ramsar Site No 1078.
*Bundala
Designated on 15/06/90; Southern
Province; 6,210 ha
Flora and Fauna Sanctuary. Shallow & brackish lagoons and salt-pans interconnected by channels with associated
marshes, dunes and scrub. It is the most important wintering site in southern
Sri Lanka for migratory shorebirds, regularly holding over 15,000 individuals
of various species, and provides habitat for rare and threatened waterbird
species. Human activities include commercial salt extraction, subsistence
fishing, wildlife tourism, livestock grazing, and firewood collection. Ramsar
site no. 487.
Kumana Wetland Cluster
Designated on 29/10/10. Ampara District; 19,011
ha
National Park. The site consists of a diversity of coastal
wetland habitats, including lagoons, estuaries, irrigation reservoirs,
mangroves, salt marshes, interspersed with sand dune, scrubland and forest vegetation.
The site provides excellent feeding and resting habitats for a large number of
threatened wetland species, including three turtle species such as the Green
Turtle (Chelonia mydas),Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta), and
the Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivaceae). Other threatened
species include the globally vulnerable Mugger Crocodile (Crocodylus
palustris), bird species like the vulnerable Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilus
javanicus), and mammals such as the endangered Fishing Cat (Prionailurus
viverrinus). The productive coastal wetlands support a thriving
near-shore fishery that includes commercially important crustaceans such as Penaeus
spp., and Macrobrachium spp., and also offer refuge for their
juvenile stages. Locals engage in lagoon fishing and rice cultivation, and also
depend on seasonal non-timber forest products such as Woodapple fruits. The
site is famous for its historical values. Around 200 B.C, the area belonged to
an ancient irrigation civilization. Caves were occupied by Buddhist monks as
far back as the 1st century BC with a few caves being famous for their ancient
rock inscriptions and paintings. Threats to the site include disturbance by
increasing visitor numbers, increased siltation around lagoons due to cattle
grazing while surrounding areas face the problem of illegal logging, poaching
and excessive use of chemicals for agriculture. The Department of Wildlife
Conservation, under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance of Sri Lanka, is
directly responsible for managing this diverse and culturally rich wetland.
Ramsar Site no. 1931.
Maduganga
Designated on 11/12/03; Southern Province;
915 ha
A mangrove lagoon joined to the sea by a narrow canal
and containing 15 islands of varying size, some of which are inhabited. It is
formed of two shallow waterbodies, Maduganga and smaller Randombe Lake,
connected by two narrow channels. On the islands and shores relatively
undisturbed mangrove vegetation contains a rich biodiversity qualifying the wetland
for 7 Criteria of International Importance. Many globally/nationally
endangered, endemic and rare species - e.g. Shorea affinis, an
endemic and endangered plant, Mugger (Crocodylus palustris) vulnerable
(IUCN Red Book) and CITES-listed Purple-faced Leaf Monkey (Trachypithecus
vetulus), endangered, Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus),
Flapshell Turtle (Lissemys punctata), Indian Python (Python molurus)
find shelter here. The lagoon provides the breeding, spawning and fattening
ground for many fish species and supports 1.2 % of the Little Green Heron
biogeographical population. The cultural heritage is very prominent, with
numerous ancient temples in the area and on the islands. Maduganga helps in
flood control by storing water during monsoon rains and retains nutrient
run-off from nearby cinnamon plantations. The major occupation of the local
people is fishing and agriculture (cinnamon and coconut). Ramsar site no. 1372.
Designated on 12/07/10; Mannar
District; 4,839 ha
The site consists of several ecosystems
which range from arid-zone thorn scrubland, arid-zone pastures and maritime
grasslands, sand dunes, mangroves, salt marshes, lagoons, tidal flats,
sea-grass beds and shallow marine areas. Due to the integrated nature of
shallow wetland and terrestrial coastal habitats, this sanctuary is highly
productive, supporting high ecosystem and species diversity.The site provides
excellent feeding and living habitats for a large number of waterbird species,
including annual migrants, which also use this area on arrival and during their
exit from Sri Lanka. It harbours more than 20,000 waterbird during the migratory
season, including the Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus
roseus) and the Eurasian Wigeon (Anas Penelope), of which Vankalai
Sanctuary supports 1% of the population of the latter two species. The site's
coastal and marine ecosystems are important for over 60 species of fish, marine
turtles, and 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 (Lutjanus spp.),
and also host a number of threatened species, such as the Green Turtle (Chelonia
mydas), Dugongs, and Saltwater Crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus).
Vankalai Sanctuary sustains diverse food chains, while also sustaining the
livelihoods of fisheries-dependent communities in the area. Part of the Vankalai
Sanctuary is an archaeological site since it is partly located in the major
port of ancient Sri Lanka, dated from 6th century BC to 13th century AD. The
Department of Conservation is directly responsible for managing this diverse
and culturally rich wetland. Ramsar site no. 1910.
*Wilpattu Wetland Cluster
Designated on 02/02/2013; North
Western, North Central provinces; 165,800 ha
National Park. The site encompasses all of Wilpattu National Park (Willu-pattu meaning
'Land of Lakes'), declared in 1938. Some 205 water bodies, both natural and
manmade, were identified within the boundary of the park. A unique feature is
the numerous 'villus' which are natural, sand-rimmed water basins ranging
between 10 to 160 hectares that are filled with rainwater. The varying salt
content of the villus offer an ideal habitat for a wide range of resident and
migrant wildlife species, including the endangered Asia Elephant Elephas
maximus, the vulnerable Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus) and
the vulnerable freshwater crocodile Crocodylus palustris. Seagrass
beds, mangroves, salt marshes, swamps and floodplain forests are also found and
contribute to the area's rich biodiversity. Twenty-one endemic species of
vertebrates have been recorded at the site, including the endangered Sri Lankan
Leopard (Panthera pardus ssp. Kotiya) and the Ceylon Swallow (Hirundo
hyperythra). The site once supported a thriving agricultural civilization,
demonstrated by its 68 archaeologically important sites. Currently, communities
in the southeastern and western areas rely on commercial and subsistence
fisheries, while those in other areas depend upon agriculture. Invasive aquatic
species, logging, slash and burn agriculture threaten the site. Ramsar Site no.
2095.
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