Urban Mangrove Wetlands, Challenges and its Conservation: Sri Lanka Perspectives
Mathiventhan T1, Jayasingam T1, Umaramani M1
Citation : Mathiventhan T,Jayasingam T,Umaramani M, Urban Mangrove Wetlands, Challenges and its Conservation: Sri Lanka Perspectives International Journal of Research Studies in Biosciences. 2018, 6(3) : 23-26
Urban wetlands make cities livable in many important ways. They reduce flooding, replenish drinking water efficiently and cheaply, filter waste, serve a function by developing greater biodiversity, provide urban green spaces, and are a source of livelihoods. Mangroves are an intertidal ecosystem which are also very delicate and sensitive to changes in environment. Urban mangrove wetlands are rarely found and are reducing in recent past, locally and globally. The primary drivers of degradation and loss of urban mangrove wetlands are population growth and increasing economic development, infrastructure development, land conversion, water withdrawal, eutrophication and pollution, overharvesting and overexploitation, and the introduction of invasive alien species. Conservation of this urban mangrove wetland is a challenge for many reasons especially when focusing on the economic development and relevant activities.