Green enemies of N’ Eliya’s beauty

Text and pix by Shelton Hettiarachchi

A trouble inherited from the time of the colonial rule, invasive flora, are invading every inch of the water resources around Nuwara Eliya, with the damage visible around the beautiful tourist destination in the hill country.

The environmental hazard caused by plants such as crassipes (water hyacinth), sal- vinia ( water moss), pistia ( water cabbage/ water lettuce) and Ipomoea indica (blue morning glory) is worrying environmentalists such as Chaminda Mahanayake who say they have been gradually multiplying over the past century.

The invaders are spreading quickly in the 14 sq km Nuwara Eliya district. The area known as Barrack Lake and Baker's Lake ( in Mahagastota), are completely under the threat of salvinia. Even the Nuwara Eliya Racecourse is almost under threat. Lake Gregory, which was invaded in 1992 by this pest, has recovered and remains a top tourist destination.

In his book, Invasive Plants of Sri Lanka, Dr. Lalith Gunesekera ascribes the expansion of this plant species to environmental degradation.

Signs of the degradation of the natural environment are seen around Nuwara Eliya with land being dug up in the ever-expanding rush to cultivate potatoes in available ground.

Another calamity is the gradual disappearance of tall trees in the district and the soil erosion this has caused.

There seems to be no replanting programme to replace the lost trees. It is up to nature lovers to protect Nuwara Eliya.

Completely invaded: The area known as Barrack Lake

Invasive species In the Baker's Lake area

An often seen invasive plant that has been around since colonial days

An unidentified invasive speicies spreading in the Race Course

An unidentified species that's spreading in water bodies in Mahagastota