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Exploring Mangroves in Sri Lanka

Sanjeewa Padmal (Seerendipity)

Table of Contents

Exploring Mangroves in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka (about Sri Lanka) beautiful Tropical Island is endowed with many types of natural vegetation. Sri Lanka is abundant with forests, grasslands, wetlands, marine and coastal habitats, and inland and aquatic vegetation are of special significance. Mangroves in Sri Lanka show a wide distribution covering most parts of the island, which is estimated about 0.34% of the total land area or 6000 – 7000 ha is a very important Eco-system which provides a wide array of benefits to humans as well as for the balance of nature. About 29 mangrove species are found in Sri Lanka and they are distributed mainly in Negombo, Kalutara, and Bentota.

Undertaking a Sri Lanka boat tour is the best way of exploring valuable mangrove vegetation on the island. Here are the 2 most popular Sri Lanka boat tours,

The mangrove ecosystem is considered to be very productive, fragile and resourceful. It is also described as an energy-subsidized ecosystem since the tidal currents do much work in distributing the nutrients.

Ecological importance of Mangrove forest

Especially Mangroves of Sri Lanka help to protect the coast from tidal currents and other adverse factors such as tsunamis. Due to the microclimate that the mangrove trees provide and the enhancement of nutrients from the decomposing leaves, the intertidal mangroves are significant as nursery grounds for fish and prawns.

Mangrove Eco-system is also important as a habitat for fauna including birds by providing food and resting and roosting sites to a number of wetland birds including migrant ones. The human population living near the coast also have benefited from the mangroves as it provides many benefits for their livelihoods. With the increase in human population, the demand for these vital Eco-systems has increased to a rather unsustainable level and thus the depletion of the resource in many areas of the country.

The floristic diversity of the mangrove Eco-system in Sri Lanka is rich compared to many countries. This is due to the diversity of climatic, edaphic and hydrological aspects of the coastal region. Mangrove species of 29 different types have been identified in Sri Lanka so far.

In addition, the diversity of mangrove associates is also a unique feature of the mangroves of this country. The rich species diversity has given a more established less fragile character to the mangrove Eco-system. This could be seen in abandoned prawn farms in Puttalam District where pioneer mangroves are growing with other pioneer species. Table 1 illustrates the floristic diversity of true mangroves.

Mangroves are a very valuable contributor to the biodiversity of the island and they are mostly seen in the areas of beaches, lagoons and bays. It is one of the most important forest types for humans as well as many species of aqua floral species and many fauna species.  This forest type is spread over a small area around the country.

The vegetation in mangrove forest is mainly consisting of shrubs and trees. One of the important functions of the mangrove forest is protecting the land against sea erosion due to the high tide and low tide. The trees are highly adapted to the aquatic environment where the water has a high concentration of salt. The trees and shrubs are heavily depending on the roots that appear in the water for air to breathe.

Mangrove forests are distributed around the island covering all parts of the country. But the distribution of mangrove forests is far wider in the district of Puttalam (north of Colombo) than in other parts of the country.  More than 300 hectares are covered with mangrove forests in the district of Puttalam.

Mangrove forests create a rich unique bio-diversity around them, attracting a large number of animal species, aqua bird species, fish species and other animal species. Mangroves enable the formation of sand dunes creating natural protection against sea erosion. Same time it provides the best nesting habitat for many avian fauna species.

In Ayurveda, some of the mangrove plants are used as vegetables and fruits, while others are used to make medicines in Ayurveda. IIt is a plentiful source of food and is home to a wide variety of fish species, including crabs and shrimp.The distribution of mangrove forests in Sri Lanka can be seen throughout the island, covering all parts of the country as shown on the map.

Distribution of mangroves (in hectares) at the district level

  • Colombo 39
  • Gampaha 313
  • Puttalam 3210
  • Mannar 874
  • Kilinochchi 770
  • Jaffna 2276
  • Mulativ 428
  • Trincomalee 2043
  • Batticaloa 1303
  • Ampara 100
  • Hambantota 576
  • Matara 238
  • Galle 200

What are the most important mangrove forests in Sri Lanka?

How to explore mangroves in Sri Lanka

Going on a boat safari is the best way to visit mangrove forests, therefore, Sri Lanka boat tours are very popular with travellers. A large number of travelers book Sri Lankan boat safaris mainly based on the Bnetota River and Madu River on the west coast.

Bentota and Madu River safari

These boat safaris are popular among tourists who book Sri Lanka tour package with beach. Usually, beach holiday lovers choose either the west coast or the south coast as their base and the Madu River and Bentota River are easily accessible from the west coast and south coast beaches.

The travellers are able to touch and feel this valuable ecosystem in some areas of the island. When travelers book a Sri Lanka tour and beach holiday, they have a better chance of coming across places where they can explore mangrove forests. Even the travellers who book Sri Lanka beach holiday packages have the opportunity to see these mangroves. Madu riverboat trip at Balapitiya, boat tour at Muthurajawela, Koggala river safari in Galle, and Negombo lagoon are the most popular places among travellers to explore Sri Lanka mangroves and riverine vegetation.

Madu River is located near the popular Bentota beach resort and easily accessible for travellers who spend a beach holiday in Bentota, Kalutara, Ambalangoda and Hikkaduwa.  Koggala river safari is a popular activity to explore mangroves, avian fauna species and other riverine vegetation among travellers in Galle, Unawatuna, Koggala and other beach resorts in southern Sri Lanka. Negombo Lagoon and Muthurajawela are located near the airport and accessible to travellers in Negombo, Maravilla and Colombo.

The mangrove ecosystem is one of the best places to experience the rich diversity of Sri Lankan fauna. Mangrove forests have a unique blend of flora and fauna that cannot be discovered in other forests on the island. These forests harbour a large number of aquatic avian fauna species, such as kingfishers and herons. Crocodiles, water monitors and monkeys are also common animals that can be observed in mangrove forests.

Tour operators such as seerendipity tours organize Sri Lanka one-day tours to many places including tourist attractions such as mangroves. Even some of the multiday Sri Lanka road trips cover these mangrove bays.