Sarath P. Ekanayake

Assessment of the ecological damage resulted due to an unauthorized forest clearance by a contractor in Nawaneliya - Beligoda Reserve Forest in Sri Lanka. The Project Management Unit of the Mahaweli Water Security Investment Project engaged IUCN Sri Lanka to undertake the assessment. Due to time and data limitations, this assessment was performed u...

This manual is an output of the project activity “Compile traditional knowledge and practices on practices relevant to maintenance of agrobiodiversity and adaptation to climate change situations and disseminate information through relevant channels to target groups” and it provides wealth of information for the development of agriculture and agrobi...

This manual is an output of the project activity “Compile traditional knowledge and practices on practices relevant to maintenance of agrobiodiversity and adaptation to climate change situations and disseminate information through relevant channels to target groups” and it provides wealth of information for the development of agriculture and agrobi...

A rapid field assessment to document general ecological aspects of Kapurella thermal spring (7 0 38.02' N 81 0 25 .08' E) in Mahaoya was conducted in April 2015. Visual Encounter Survey (VES) method was used to document macro fauna and flora in different habitat types. Results show that the thermal marsh is characterized and dominated by soft-stemm...

The project is carrying out the scientific restoration of the Kapiriggama cascading tank system and will develop a sustainable management mechanism, with the full participation of local communities and regulatory bodies at the cascade level. It will also restore the selected degraded watershed in the system, in order to contribute to enhanced susta...

New record to Sri lankan flora.

Aeginetia indica L. (Orobanchaceae) is an herbaceous annual plant that lacks leaves and is parasitic on roots of monocots, especially grasses (Philcox, 1997). The species is rare and declining throughout its range. In Sri Lanka it has a Redlist status of CR (PE) or Critically Endangered Possibly Extinct (MOE, 2012) status. A small population of Aeg...

Delft Island is covered by a mosaic of diverse vegetation types, ranging from natural and semi-natural habitats, to highly anthropogenic habitats. A total of 209 species of flowering plant species representing diverse life forms including epiphytes (one species), shrubs (29 species), climbers (42 species), trees (67 species) and herbs (70 species)...

A study was conducted in Periya-kalapuva, Palakuda, Potuvil lagoon wetland system and immediate surrounding area in the coastal zone of Ampara disttrict in order to document the biodiversity profile (basic structure, composition and functions) of the area for facilitating resuorce management. The results showed the presence of biologically diverse...

Forest health of Tropical Upper Montane Rain forests of Sri Lanka which are considered as “Biodiversity Hotspots” merits global attention. They are now rapidly diminishing due to a hitherto little understood phenomenon called forest dieback. This study examines the contribution of possible soil nutrient and toxic element factors to the health of Ha...

Rapid dying back of Tropical Upper Montane Rain forests of Sri Lanka which are considered as "Biodiversity Hotspots" is a nationally as well as globally important environmental issue. Although various hypotheses were tested during recent past, nothing could be proved except the possible involvement of soil toxicity due to excess levels of certain e...

The initiative by Hydramani industries can serve as an excellent case study for environmentally sustainable development. Therefore, the baseline conditions that existed before the project as well as the overall impact of the environmental friendly initiatives implemented by the project have to be documented. This study undertaken by IUCN Sri Lanka...

Biodiversity of the Wilpattu national park

Moragahakanda area and Amban Ganga basins are part of our ancient irrigation civilization being the arena of historical river diversion endeavours pertaining to Amban Ganga. The Elahera anicut and the Yoda Ela were first built by King Mahasena (275-301 AD) and later renovated in the early 1940’s. The project site is located near Elahera in the Mata...

The Wilpattu National Park (WNP) is the oldest and largest national park in the country. It was declared as a sanctuary in 1905 and thereafter upgraded to a national park on February 25, 1938. However, as a result of the civil conflict, the WNP was closed from December 1988 until March 2003. WNP is not only siginificant from an ecological standpoin...

Tsunami-related environmental impacts on the coastal ecosystems from Medilla to Godawaya (27 km) in south-eastern coastline of Sri Lanka, was documented through a rapid assessment methodology, with the objective of gathering scientific evidence on whether coastal natural ecosystems have contributed to reduce the damage on more interior landscapes....

A study was carried out in Sri Lankan south western lowland tropical rain forests to obtain background information support decision making in sustainable extraction of NTFP. The research sites were located in Dipterocarp dominant forests within Kanneliya (6010' N- 6018 N’ and 80019' E - 80026' E) and Sinharaja (6021'N-6026'N and 80021' E - 80034’ E...

A survey was carried out in the Kandakuliya-Kalpitiya SAM area to document the biodiversity associated with this coastal landscape, and identify ecologically sensitive sites. Detailed observations on habitats and species were made over a period of a week, in July 2005. Based on vegetation types, physical conditions and edaphic factors, a total of 1...

The Rekawa, Ussangoda and Kalametiya (RUK) area constitute a section of the south-eastern coastline of Sri Lanka, located in the Hambanthota District. The area contains an array of coastal terrestrial and wetland habitats, including managed landscapes. IUCN Sri Lanka was involved in conducting an assessment and monitoring of inland and sub tidal bi...

The biodiversity in Anawilundawa wetland sanctuary was assessed during the period September 2003 to January 2004. 43 line-transects and 13 point counts, located in 7 representative sampling sites, were sampled thrice during the survey period, which covered both the dry and northeast monsoon seasons, and also the migratory season for birds. A night...

Ninety solvent extracts (n-hexane, dichloromethane and methanol) obtained from the leaves, bark and stem of 13 Sri Lankan Rubiaceae and two Sri Lankan Meliaceae plants have been screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities. Morinda tinctoria, Mussaenda frondosa, Psychotria gardneri and Psychotria stenophylla displayed the widest spectrum of...

The Maduganga estuary and mangrove islets is a complex coastal wetland ecosystem situated within the two Divisional Secretariats of Balapaitiya and Karandeniya in the Galle District of Southern Sri Lanka. The total area of the estuary is 915 ha, of which 770 ha consist of open water, while islands account for 145 ha. With the view of safeguarding t...