Sri Lanka is taking decisive action to combat its critically low mangrove cover, which currently stands at just 0.3 percent of the country’s landmass. This lack of coverage exacerbates the risks of climate change and natural disasters such as storm surges and tsunamis. In response, the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) and its partners are advancing innovative restoration efforts aimed at addressing this urgent environmental challenge and enhancing ecosystem resilience, said a release.

It said that WNPS, as the Principal Science Partner to the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) in the Anawilundawa Accelerated Natural Mangrove (ANRM) Project, has teamed up with STAR Garments to facilitate the regeneration of three hectares of mangroves in the Anawilundawa Wetlands. STAR cemented its commitment to biodiversity restoration on World Seagrass Day in 2023 by pledging to rehabilitate these mangroves, located between the major towns of Chilaw and Puttalam, in the Anawilundawa Ramsar Wetland Sanctuary, which had been rendered barren due to shrimp farming.

This five-year project will be implemented according to a detailed blueprint created by Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the DWC and the Ministry of Environment. Mangroves, often referred to as “blue forests,” are vital to Sri Lanka’s ecosystem, contributing approximately 2 percent to the country’s total forest cover. They are exceptional at carbon sequestration, storing up to ten times more carbon dioxide per unit area than tropical rainforests, which makes them a powerful tool in mitigating global warming and climate change.

Beyond their role in carbon storage, mangroves provide essential coastal protection and support sustainable livelihoods for many rural communities. The situation has worsened significantly since the late 1990s, when more than half of Sri Lanka’s mangrove habitat was lost to shrimp aquaculture, severely affecting ecosystems and disrupting livelihoods dependent on mangroves for fishing, firewood, herbal medicine, and tourism.

The Anawilundawa Wetlands, a globally significant RAMSAR site, is one of the most impacted areas, hosting over 150 bird species, 20 mammal species, and more than 70 butterfly species, along with over 50 percent of the country’s freshwater fish species.

The ongoing degradation of mangrove habitats highlights the urgent need for conservation and restoration. Experts and environmentalists are calling for increased protection measures and sustainable practices to restore and preserve Sri Lanka’s crucial blue forests. Without prompt and effective action, the consequences for the country’s environmental health, coastal communities, and resilience to climate change could be severe.