An appraisal of challenges in the sustainable management of the micro-tidal barrier-built estuaries and lagoons in Sri Lanka

This study, based on a colloquium, field assessments of development activities and technical analyses pertaining to barrier-built estuaries and lagoons, was inspired by the positive response to a preceding report captioned <a href=”http://www.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/2011-112.pdf”> ‘An Appraisal of Mangrove Management in Micro-tidal Estuaries and Lagoons in Sri Lanka’</a>. The colloquium on mangroves gave IUCN an opportunity to recognize the complexity of outcomes that are associated with planting and/ or restoration of the vegetation in the dynamic setting of micro-tidal estuaries and lagoons. It also exposed the gap in information and knowledge that would result in the event that the even more complex parents ecosystems in which mangroves exist, the barrier-built estuaries and lagoons, are left inadequately understood. This report based on the findings of a colloquium held in February, 2011 with participation of responsible government agencies, community representatives, scientists and conservation organizations contributes toward building the knowledge base for sustainable management.