Challenges in Biodiversity Conservation in a Highly Modified Tropical River Basin in Sri Lanka
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Threats for the Kelani River
2.1. Loss of Riparian Vegetation and Land-Cover Modifications in the River Basin
2.1.1. Urbanization
2.1.2. Agriculture
2.1.3. Wetland Loss
2.2. Water Pollution
2.2.1. Point-Source Pollution
2.2.2. Non-Point Source Pollution
2.3. Hydrological Changes and Overexploitation
2.4. Policy Issues
3. Freshwater Biodiversity in Kelani River Basin
Freshwater Fish Diversity in Kelani River Basin and Threats Encountered by Fish Communities
4. Future Directions for Conservation and Management of Kelani River Basin
4.1. Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation
4.2. Future Research
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Pollutant | Source of the Pollutant |
---|---|
Sewage and other organic compounds | Municipalities, slums, hotels, hospitals, restaurants, water and sewage treatment plants, breweries, leather tanneries, plywood factories, rubber and latex factories, beverage and food processing plants |
Heavy metals and other inorganic compounds | Tanneries, petroleum refineries, metal processing and manufacturing plants, battery manufacturing |
Detergents | Hotels, households, breweries |
Fabric dye | Export processing zones, textile and garment factories |
Synthetic organic compounds | Brewery, wood processing plants, beverage factories, rubber and plastic factories, wood processing industries |
Petroleum wastes and oil | Petroleum and oil refineries, transportation businesses, motor vehicle service stations |
Synthetic inorganic compounds | Fertilizer manufactures, beverage factories, lather tanning, rubber and plastic factories, tire manufactures |
Medical and pharmaceutical waste | Open waste disposal sites, hospitals and medical centers |
Solid waste | Households, businesses and commercial enterprises, construction sites, garbage disposal sites |
Statute Name | Issues Addressed Related to Inland Aquatic Resources | Enforcing Agency | Enactment Year (Last Amendment) |
---|---|---|---|
Overarching Environmental Statues | |||
National environmental Act | Provisions on environmental management, protection, and monitoring. Approval of projects via overseeing environmental impact assessment methods. | Central Environmental Authority | 1980 (2000) |
National Environmental Policy and Strategies | Provides directions to conserve and manage environment in all aspects, including forestry and wildlife conservation, fisheries and other aquatic resources, particularly with respect to agricultural sustainability. | Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment | 2003 |
Cleaner Product Policy | Improve efficiency of water and energy consumption by minimizing wastage and over exploitation. | Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment | 2005 |
National Forest Policy Forest Conservation Ordinance Amendment Act | Conserve forests for their biodiversity, soils, water and historical, cultural, religious, and aesthetic values. Increase the tree cover and forest productivity. Enhance contribution of sustainable forestry to rural development and national economy. | Forest Conservation Department | 1995 1907 (2009) |
National Wildlife Policy Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance Amendment Act | Conserve aquatic biodiversity and habitats to prevent misuses. Maintain ecological processes and genetic diversity. Delineate conservation lands, inclusive of embed aquatic systems. Engage local communities in protected-area management. | Department of Wildlife Conservation | 2000 1937 (2009) |
Watershed or Basin-Scale Statues | |||
National Watershed Management Policy | Conserve, restore, and manage watersheds while managing their critical environmental dynamics. | Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment | 2004 |
National Land-use Policy National Policy on Protection and Conservation of Water Sources, their Catchments and Reservations in Sri Lanka | Design land-use policies at watershed scale. Conserve and restore all water sources, including watersheds as a reservation. Promote sustainable water consumption through participatory management of responsible governmental institutions and communities. Identify needs for regulation reforms. Remedy shortcoming of existing policies and promote watershed-wide management of inland aquatic resources. | Ministry of Land and Land Development | 2007 2014 |
Inland Aquatic Resources Conservation and Management Statues | |||
National Policy on Wetlands | Conserve wetland ecosystems, to prevent illegal utilization. Restore and maintain the biological diversity and productivity. Enhance wetland ecosystem services. Assure sustainable use of wetlands by local communities. Achieve national commitments to the Ramsar Convention. | Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment | 2005 |
Irrigation ordinance | Construct, maintain, and protect irrigation works, water conservation | Department of Irrigation | 1856 |
National Drinking Water Policy | Provide a framework for sustainable and efficient supply of safe water in adequate quantity at an affordable cost. | Ministry of Water Supply and Drainage | 2002 |
National Water Supply and Drainage Board Act | Provide safe drinking water and facilitate sanitation. | National Water Supply and Drainage Board | 1974 (1992) |
Water Resource Board Act | Conserve and sustainably utilize aquatic resources by harnessing new technologies and management tools to meet the growing demands. | Water Resource Board | 1984 (1999) |
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act | Manage, regulate, conserve, and develop the fisheries and aquatic resources, including any native aquatic organisms in any stage of their life cycle and non-living substances found in aquatic media | Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources | 1996 (2016) |
Land and Infrastructure Development Statues | |||
Land Reclamation and Development Cooperation Act | Mitigate flood damage by restoring and maintaining pollution-free inland water bodies. Design basin-scale land development plans. Establish wetland reclamation standards and provisions against wetland filling. | Land | Land Reclamation and Development Cooperation Act |
Urban Development Act | Promote integrated planning and implementation for environmental, economic, social, and physical development of urban areas | Urban Development Authority | 1978 |
Flood Protection Ordinance | Protection, land-use regulation, and management of flood-prone areas, such as floodplains | Department of Irrigation | 1924 (1955) |
Soil Conservation Act | Introduce provisions to conserve soil resources, prevent or mitigate soil erosion, and protect land against flood and drought related damage. Identify and regulate erodible areas. | Soil Conservation Board | 1951 (1996) |
Land Development Ordinance Crown Lands Ordinance State Lands (recovery of possession) Act | Establish provisions for riparian forest encroachment by stipulating minimum buffer-width reservations. Regulation of aquatic resources in lakes and streams. | Ministry of Lands and Land Development | 1935 1947 1979 |
Family | Species | Common Name | National Conservation Status | Information Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cyprinidae | Amblypharyngodon grandisquamis(SLE) | Silver Carplet | LC | FOA/MUR |
Cyprinidae | Dawkinsia singhala(SLE) | Sri Lankan Filamented Barb | LC | FOA/MUR |
Cyprinidae | Devario malabaricus(NTV) | Giant Danio | LC | FOA/MUR |
Cyprinidae | Devario micronema(SLE) | - | FOA/MUR | |
Cyprinidae | Esomus thermoicos(NTV) | Sri Lankan Flying Barb | LC | FOA/MUR |
Cyprinidae | Garra ceylonensis(SLE) | Sri Lankan Stone Sucker | VU | FOA/MUR |
Cyprinidae | Horadandia atukorali(SLE) | Horadandia | VU | FOA |
Cyprinidae | Labeo heladiva(SLE) | Common Labeo | LC | FOA |
Cyprinidae | Laubuka varuna(SLE) | Varuna Laubuka | CR | FOA/MUR |
Cyprinidae | Pethia bandula(SLE) | Bandula Barb | CR | FOA/MUR |
Cyprinidae | Pethia nigrofasciata(SLE) | Black Ruby Barb | EN | FOA/MUR |
Cyprinidae | Pethia reval(SLE) | Red-finned Barb | EN | FOA/MUR |
Cyprinidae | Puntius bimaculatus(NTV) | Red Side Barb | LC | FOA/MUR |
Cyprinidae | Puntius dorsalis(NTV) | Long Snouted Barb | LC | FOA/MUR |
Cyprinidae | Puntius kamalika(SLE) | Kamalika’s Barb | EN | FOA/MUR |
Cyprinidae | Puntius kelumi(SLE) | Kelum’s Barb | EN | FOA/MUR |
Cyprinidae | Puntius chola(NTV) | Swamp Barb | LC | FOA/MUR |
Cyprinidae | Puntius titteya(SLE) | Cherry Barb | EN | FOA/MUR |
Cyprinidae | Puntius vittatus(NTV) | Silver Barb | LC | FOA/MUR |
Cyprinidae | Rasbora dandia(NTV) | Broad-lined Striped Rasbora | LC | FOA/MUR |
Rasbora microcephalus(NTV) | Narrow-lined Striped Rasbora | LC | FOA/MUR | |
Cyprinidae | Rasboroides vaterifloris(SLE) | Fire Rasbora | - | FOA |
Cyprinidae | Systomus pleurotaenia(SLE) | Black Lined Barb | EN | FOA/MUR |
Cyprinidae | Systomus asoka(SLE) | Asoka Barb | CR | FOA/MUR |
Cyprinidae | Systomus sarana(NTV) | Olive Barb | LC | FOA/MUR |
Cyprinidae | Tor khudree(NTV) | Mahseer | NT | FOA/MUR |
Cobitidae | Lepidocephalichthys thermalis(NTV) | Common Spiny Loach | LC | FOA/MUR |
Nemacheilidae | Paracanthocobitis urophthalma(SLE) | Tiger Loach | EN | FOA/MUR |
Nemacheilidae | Schistura notostigma(SLE) | Banded Mountain Loach | NT | FOA/MUR |
Bagridae | Mystus gulio(NTV) | Long Whiskered Catfish | LC | FOA |
Bagridae | Mystus nanus(SLE) | Sri Lankan Dwarfed Striped Catfish | LC | FOA/MUR [77] |
Bagridae | Mystus ankutta(SLE) | Sri Lankan Dwarf Catfish | EN | FOA/MUR |
Bagridae | Mystus zeylanicus(SLE) | Sri Lankan Yellow Catfish | LC | FOA/MUR |
Siluridae | Ompok argestes(SLE) | Sri Lankan Mottled Butter Catfish | DD | FOA/MUR [78] |
Siluridae | Wallago attu(NTV) | Silver Shark | EN | FOA |
Clariidae | Clarias brachysoma(SLE) | Walking Catfish | NT | FOA/MUR |
Heteropneustidae | Heteropneustes fossilis(NTV) | Stinging Catfish | LC | FOA |
Aplocheilidae | Aplocheilus dayi(SLE) | Day’s Killifish | EN | FOA/MUR |
Aplocheilidae | Aplocheilus parvus(NTV) | Dwarf Killifish | LC | FOA |
Cichlidae | Etroplus suratensis(NTV) | Green Chromide | LC | FOA |
Cichlidae | Pseudetroplus maculatus(NTV) | Yellow Chromide | LC | FOA |
Gobiidae | Awaous melanocephalus(NTV) | Scribbled Goby | LC | FOA |
Gobiidae | Glossogobius giuris(NTV) | Bar Eyed Goby | LC | FOA |
Gobiidae | Schismatogobius deraniyagalai(NTV) | Red Neck Goby | EN | FOA |
Gobiidae | Sicyopterus griseus(NTV) | Stone Goby | CR | FOA/MUR |
Gobiidae | Sicyopus jonklaasi(SLE) | Lipstick Goby | EN | FOA |
Anguillidae | Anguilla bicolor(NTV) | Level Finned Eel | LC | FOA |
Anguillidae | Anguilla nebulosa(NTV) | Long Finned Eel | LC | FOA |
Anabantidae | Anabas testudineus(NTV) | Climbing Perch | LC | FOA |
Synbranchidae | Monopterus desilvai(SLE) | Sri Lankan Lesser Swamp Eel | CR | FOA |
Synbranchidae | Ophisternon bengalense(NTV) | Asian Swamp Eel | CR | MUR |
Osphronemidae | Belontia signata(SLE) | Combtail | NT | FOA/MUR |
Osphronemidae | Pseudosphromenus cupanus(NTV) | Spike Tailed Paradisfish | LC | FOA/MUR |
Channidae | Channa ara(SLE) | Sri Lankan Giant Snakehead | EN | FOA |
Channidae | Channa gachua(SLE) | Brown Snakehead | LC | FOA |
Channidae | Channa orientalis(SLE) | Smooth Breasted Snakehead | VU | FOA |
Channidae | Channa punctata(NTV) | Spotted Snakehead | LC | FOA |
Channidae | Channa striata(NTV) | Murrel | LC | FOA |
Mastacembelidae | Mastacembelus armatus(NTV) | Marbled Spiny Eel | LC | FOA/MUR |
Belonidae | Xenentodon cancila(NTV) | Freshwater Garfish | NT | FOA |
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Surasinghe, T.; Kariyawasam, R.; Sudasinghe, H.; Karunarathna, S. Challenges in Biodiversity Conservation in a Highly Modified Tropical River Basin in Sri Lanka. Water 2020, 12, 26. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12010026
Surasinghe T, Kariyawasam R, Sudasinghe H, Karunarathna S. Challenges in Biodiversity Conservation in a Highly Modified Tropical River Basin in Sri Lanka. Water. 2020; 12(1):26. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12010026
Chicago/Turabian StyleSurasinghe, Thilina, Ravindra Kariyawasam, Hiranya Sudasinghe, and Suranjan Karunarathna. 2020. "Challenges in Biodiversity Conservation in a Highly Modified Tropical River Basin in Sri Lanka" Water 12, no. 1: 26. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12010026