During the project period, an educational garden and a demonstration nursery with an outdoor classroom will be established at the Madampe Wetlands in Sri Lanka. Over 10,000 new seedlings will also be planted in an area of 6 acres around the wetlands, where the mangrove forests have been destroyed. Workshops will be held to increase understanding of the importance and necessity of preservation and restoration of rare and endangered mangrove plants. All project activities will be implemented in the Madampe Lake Wildlife Sanctuary.
Background
Mangrove forests are unique habitats, adapted to the living conditions of brackish estuaries and coastal areas. Their habitats are shared by a vast number of salt and freshwater creatures. Their extensive root systems also protect the habitat against tidal waves and erosion.
The area of the Madampe Lake Wildlife Sanctuary consists of ten major wetland vegetation types and 303 species of plants. The area is facing several threats due to land reclamation, dumping of household and industrial waste as well as the logging of mangrove trees for timber and firewood.
The project partner Nagenahiru Foundation is particularly concerned with the conservation and protection of wetland resources through programmes of educational, awareness and action. This project was nominated by Messe Friedrichshafen and was presented during the "OutDoor", the Leading Trade Fair in Friedrichshafen, Germany in July 2010. The project is supported by the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) and Dicota.