Environmental assessment for wetland management in Sri Lanka

The objectives of the study are to identify an appropriate environmentalassessment framework for the management of wetlands in Sri Lanka and todetermine its practicability under the prevailing conditions of data availabilityand expertise.Eight functions and values are used to characterize wetland environments and thebaseline conditions are evaluated by the capacity to perform each function.Questionnaire checklists were used to screen the potential functions of wetlands.Environmental parameters appropriate to predict the functional status wereidentified and scaled-weighted checklists were adopted to ascertain their relativemagnitude. The relative contribution (weight) of each variable to the functionalcapacity was determined using a pairwise comparison technique. The productsof scale and weight for each predictor variable of a function were added,expressed as a percentage to the maximum possible functional capacity value andthen converted to a 1-10 scale.Social significance of each function was determined using a questionnairechecklist and interpretation keys and expressed in a 1-3 scale. The products ofpercentage functional value and social significance values were aggregated toderive a total wetland value. For comparison with other wetlands, total valuewas expressed as a percentage overall value against a hypothetical 'superwetland'.Baseline data on Tabbowa, a man-made freshwater wetland in north western SriLanka were collected and analyzed to test the applicability of the methodology.It was found that secondary data gathered from various sources and the primarydata generated through field surveys were sufficient to evaluate the majorwetland functions.Impacts of a proposed reclamation project on Muthurajawela/ Negombo Lagoontidal wetland, on the west coast of Sri Lanka, were assessed by determining thechange in wetland value with the project. Impacts were identified using networkanalysis and an alternative reclamation site was evaluated by comparing theaggregate percentage impact on the wetland functional capacity.Improvements to the existing EIA system in Sri Lanka are presented and furtherenhancement in the process through economic evaluation methods is discussed.

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Doctoral (Level 8)

Year dc:date.issued

1994

Author dc:creator

• Amarasinghe, MD

Language dc:language

en

Identifier

oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1338558

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1338558