A Nature Lover’s...

whilst paddy fields are classified as manmade wetlands. The Thalangama wetland is a unique cosy stem, as well as a natural landscape. It is rich in bio-diversity, ecological and economical importance and it also has a rich tapestry of history. A tank was constructed at the wetland location during the reign of King Parakramabahu VI for the purpose of providing irrigation for the surrounding farmlands consisting mainly of paddy fields. Even to this day, the natural wetland and the constructed tank function to store and release water to the farmlands. This is a wonderful example of human advancement complementing nature as opposed to destroying nature, which unfortunately, is pre-dominant in the world today.

Sadly every beauty has its beast, and the wetland ecosystems are no exception. Globally wetlands are viewed as wastelands, with no obvious use and often appearing as just bare land. Wetlands which are unfortunate to be present in the path of development are usually filled up and used as the need maybe, whether it is to construct houses or for city expansion. Wetlands are of prime importance especially in urban areas, most obviously since they provide an open space in an otherwise congested setting; but most importantly they are also vital in the control of floods. The Thalangama wetlands itself is a part of the greater Colombo flood management plan. Wetlands are nature’s sponge, in terms of water storage. They are capable of storing large amounts of water and then releasing it slowly to the surroundings at a later time. During the drought many people lament saying ‘if only if we can store the extra rain water and use it now’, well nature already thought of that and that is why we have wetlands. These ecosystems are also able to feed the ground-water systems through this storage and release method. The roots of plants commonly found at the wetlands also play a vital role, they are able to degrade any pollutants and some are even capable of absorbing heavy metals from the water, thus reinforcing its role in water purification. The wetland habitat also supports a significant population of dragon flies. Dragon flies are of great importance as they are known to feed on mosquito larvae, yet another natural mechanism to keep control of the number of mosquitoes and hence greatly reduce the incidences of mosquito-borne diseases.

Pollution is the main threat facing the Thalangama wetlands today. Most of the land in the vicinity is privately owned for residential purposes, this means that the daily actions of the community have a direct impact on the wetland and the flora and fauna it holds. Thus raising awareness amongst the community is the need of the hour. Awareness programmes have been organised to educate the community and highlight these important facts. It is anticipated that the community will observe a new sense of appreciation for this silent body of natural resources and will endeavour to better protect and conserve this beautiful work of nature. One such event is the Walk for Wetlands 2012, organised by the Green Army of Spectrum Institute of Science and Technology, which is to be held on Sunday the 12th of February at 9 am commencing from the Overseas School of Colombo in Pelawatta, Battaramulla. Through this walk residents and the greater community will be educated on the importance of this rich ecosystem. They would also be motivated to conserve such sensitive nature spots by being more responsible about their actions which can cause damage to the environment. The Thalangama Wetlands in particular has been declared as an ‘environmentally sensitive’ site by the Central Environment Authority. This further intensifies the need for an event such as this walk. World Wetlands Day was celebrated worldwide on the 2nd of February, and the theme this year focuses on conservation of wetlands by promoting responsible tourism. This really is the need for the hour, the more educated the public is on the importance of nature the more proactive they will be in protecting nature for the future generations. The event is a part of the British Council International Climate Champions, and is supported by the Central Environment Authority, Sri-lanka National Commision for UNESCO, Ritzbury chocolates, American Premium Water, and the Education Times is the print media sponsor for the event.

The writer is a passionate environmentalist and is a British Council International Climate Champion and Active Citizen. She is an undergraduate student of bio-chemistry at the outreach campus of the University of Mysore (Spectrum Institute of Science and Technology).she is also the president of the Green Army of Spectrum Institute of Science and Technology, a group of students whose mission is to carry forth the message of conservation as an agent to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change.