Bird haven Bundala under threat

With the world focussing on sustainability and conservation, it’s appropriate to focus on the case of the Bundala National Park. An environmentalist’s dream with its teeming bio diversity and natural beauty, the National Park is now under threat by steadily encroaching development activities. As The Bottom Line takes a closer look at this once thriving National Park, the focus is on the need for conservation of one of the very few natural wetlands remaining in the world.

By Nisla Naizer
Situated in the South Eastern semi arid zone of Sri Lanka Bundala has a plethora of geographical landscapes. From mangroves to sand dunes, grasslands to forests, Bundala’s borders reach the sea leading to many wild and teeming eco systems. Bundala, which is the ‘end location’ for over 60 migratory birds who flock to the land also contain over 380 species of fish, reptiles, birds, mammals, amphibians and butterflies and over 380 species of flora and fauna. The importance of this wetland is evident in it having been the first ‘Ramsar Wetland’ to be declared in Sri Lanka as far back as 1990.

The ‘Ramsar Convention’ held in Ramsar, Iran in 1987 brought the world’s attention to the importance of ‘wetlands’ to the conservation of bio diversity and currently Bundala shares the honour of being one out of three Ramsar wetlands in Sri Lanka along with Anavilundawa Sanctuary and Maadu River Sanctuary. These wetlands are ideal for the bird population which flock to this area and which has drawn thousands of tourists with its scenic natural beauty and bird life to the country.

From Sanctuary to National Park
However, Bundala is the only Ramsar Wetland in the country subject to such rapid development. Since 2004 the Bundala National Park has seen the loss of 2517.89 hectares of land, which is 41% of the entire land area including prime wetland areas teeming with birds, mammals, reptiles and plant life. This is a loss of no mean scale, says Sri Lanka Nature Forum Project Director, Sajeewa Chamikara, whose work towards the conservation of Bundala has brought many issues to light.

Sanctuary
The present Bundala National Park was declared a sanctuary on December 5, 1969 by Gazette No 14887. As Chamikara explains, public and private land could be declared as a nature Sanctuary. The Bundala Sanctuary then contained 6216 hectares of land and was under the control of the Wildlife Protection Department. However the issues with this wetland begin in 1993, when on January 4 Bundala was declared a ‘National Park’ under the Flora and Fauna Protection Act. “The officials at the time saw the value of declaring Bundala as a National Park with the intention of drawing in more eco-tourism to the country,” Chamikara said, “But only public lands can be declared as a National Park. When it was converted into a National Park, all the private land within the sanctuary which was still important habitats for these creatures had to be released from conservation.”

However, on the ruse of letting go private land that had been imbedded within the National Park borders without approval, on July 28, 2004, the Government released over 2500 hectares of land. “This was a gross mistake by the Wildlife Conservation Department,” Chamikara stated. “With over 41% of the land gone, the wildlife in Bundala was facing severe threats.” Although to negate the impact the Wildlife Conservation Department declared a Bundala-Wilmanna Sanctuary adjoining the Eastern borders of the Bundala National Park, Chamikara explains that more needs to be done to protect the susceptible eco-system.

Threats from Development
Chamikara stated that Bundala requires state protection but its bountiful animal and flora and fauna are under the constant threat of development. Chamikara explained that many of the vital wetland areas have been grounded and construction undertaken. Due to the rapid development of the Hambantota District, the areas adjoining the Bundala National Park have already been urbanised despite the appeals made by the Sri Lanka Nature Forum. “When we make an appeal, the construction stops temporarily on land that was formerly wetlands, but there is too much external pressure and after a few weeks the work recommences,” Chamikara stated.

The Bundala National Park has four lagoons namely, Koholankala, Malala, Ambilikala and Bundala. Chamikara informed that the development work conducted adjoining the Lunugamvehera Reservoir has led to fresh water leaking into the lagoons, especially the Ambilikala Lagoon. “When the fresh water seeps in, the loss of salination in the water leads to the destruction of plankton which is the primary source of food for many of the lagoons fish and crustaceans, which then affects the arrival of migratory birds which feed on them.”

Also, surrounding farmers and inhabitants in the adjoining urbanised land, lead their cattle and buffalo into Bundala’s wetlands with alarming frequency leading to disastrous consequences. “They disrupt the eco-system, as they are not endemic to the land. And Bundala’s flora and fauna also face the threat of invading plants like cactus which is spreading at an alarming rate.

Declare a buffer zone
Chamikara claimed that the appeal from the conservationists of the country is to declare a buffer zone adjoining the borders of the Bundala National Park.

“There are wetlands that need to be protected in this area. We want the Wildlife Department to recognise the importance of protecting the National Park as it is, and declare the surrounding areas as wetland Sanctuaries. It will prevent unauthorised and harmful construction from diminishing the bio-diversity of the national park.”

Sri Lanka is blessed with a rich and thriving bio diversity hotspot with the Bundala wetlands. It will be in the interest of the future generations of our country to protect this beautiful and bountiful land from the threat of construction and development before the birds stop coming, the plants stop flowering and the mammals start dying.