ESTIMATION OF DEMAND FOR DIRECT AND INDIRECT USES OF MANGROVE RESOURCES IN MUTHURAJAWELA AND NEGOMBO AREA

Abstract

In Sri Lanka the coastal vegetation and seashore vegetation cover a good part of the coastline.Mangrove community is one of prominent vegetation along the coastline of Sri Lanka.Mangroves represent 1% of the total forest cover of Sri Lanka. About 29 mangrove species havebeen identified in the country. 60% of the mangroves are found in Western to North Westerncoastal belt; Colombo to Puttalam, North Eastern to Southern coastal belt; Trincomallee toKalametiya and Jaffna peninsula. This study was conducted to estimate the demand formangrove resourses and has attempted to correlate it with the population increase inMuthurajawela and Negombo area

3 villages were selected from each of the 3 DS divisions in Muthurajawela and Negombo area:Wattala, Ja-Ela and Negombo. From each village, five houses were selected randomly that arehighly dependent on mangrove resources. The data was collected by questionnaire survey,transect walks through the area, conversations with the community, past and present populationrecords from Divisional Secretaries and Gramaniladhri records.

The culture of the people living in the Muthurajawela and Negombo area links withMuthurajawela marsh and Negombo lagoon. 12 major uses of mangrove resources such as firewood and timber, food, for fishery, mats and baskets from mangroves, tannin, lime, agriculture,aquaculture, animal feeds, corks and floats, medicine and fish food and baits were recorded.Under these major uses number of minor use of mangrove resource are recorded

There are 43 Gramaniladhari Divisions in the Muthurajawela and Negombo area. The totalpopulation of that in 1990 were 208,615. In year 2001 the population is 231, 588. Thepopulation growth is 2.45 per year. But the population growth in the island is 1.6% per year. Sothere is a significant increase of population growth in the study area.

In this study area 90% of the houses are temporary structures 97% with cadjan roofs and plankwalls. Mangroves provided the timber for the roofs. Fuel wood for cooking is sometimespurchased and most are collected from the marsh. Household waste is scattered in the marsh.As the result of the population increase in last 10 years the demand for most of the mangroveresources has increased. There is a significant increase of garbage dumping in Muthurajawelamarsh during this decade.