‘Mangrove replantation must not be done blindly’

Disna Mudalige Sri Lanka Daily News 11 May 10;

The replantation of mangroves should be done with broader understanding after careful research, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Country Representative Dr. Ranjith Mahindapala said.

He was explaining the coastal management activities initiated by IUCN in the Puttalam lagoon.

A technical guideline for mangrove replanting has been compiled by IUCN for the use of people interested in this task.

“We have to first conserve the existing mangroves and attain a thorough knowledge of their spread. We must facilitate natural regeneration of mangroves, rather than trying to grow them forcefully. If grown in an unsuitable place, it can be harmful to the whole ecosystem in the area,” he emphasized.

Dr. Mahindapala also pointed out that some people planted mangroves in the Negombo lagoon even to attain the land near the lagoon.

Mangroves help sedimentation and after some years naturally the land is being evolved, he said adding that it is not scientific to grow mangroves everywhere blindly thinking that they are highly recommendable to all places.

IUCN Coastal Livelihood and Policy Unit Head Kapila Gunaratne noted that, “mangroves are not just one species but a community. But what all people plant is the Rhizophora variety which is the easiest to be planted.

People plant it as a trend. But it is not good to plant it even in mud flats. When we make one species dominate the ecosystem in the area may change. First we must research whether the necessary conditions for the variety is there or not.”

He expressed that the success of these projects depend upon the knowledge that the public has. People must be made sensitive, and the required scientific knowledge should reach ordinary people.

“There are enough organizations and laws regarding conservation of nature, but people are not armed with information and awareness,” he added.