Rare mangrove species found in Benthara Ganga

By Ifham Nizam

Critically endangered mangrove species, Rathamilla, has been found in the Benthara Ganga, says scientist Dr. Manoj Prassana.

Prasanna told The Island that there were some 54 species of mangroves in the world and of them 21 species were found in Sri Lanka.

He added that while most of these species were well distributed in many sites all along the coastal line, a few species were restricted to the dry zone.

Among the mangrove species recorded in the country, Rathamilla (Lumnitzera littorea) and Rathu Punkanda (Ceriops decandra) have been identified as critically endangered species. Ratamilla is of a very small population size and limited distribution.

This species belongs to the family Combretaceae and is a mangrove species that does not produce propagules. It is found in Asian countries as well as northern Australia but, at present, it is threatened due to various human activities.Until recently, the plant had been thought to be restricted to the Madu Ganga, and a team of mangrove researchers has now been able to record this species in the Benthara Ganga mangrove ecosystem.

The team includes Shashi Madushanka, a student at the Institute of Postgraduate Studies, University of Peradeniya, Dr. Manoj Prasanna of the Ministry of Environment and Professor K.B. Ranawana from the Department of Zoology, University of Peradeniya.

To date, only a few 100-year-old trees have been recorded at Madu Ganga Sri Lanka, but the researchers have been able to record a population of about 50 plants that are between two and 20 years of age. Some trees have already been cut down at this place and the rest of the plants in this site face several threats.

According to the researchers, the Department of Forest Conservation and the Ministry of Environment have already initiated discussions to implement a special conservation program for the conservation of these plants.