By Shanthy Selladurai From Batticaloa

The Batticaloa lagoon with an important eco-system provides protection for birds and flora and fauna unique to the area.

The Tamil Tiger rebels took refuge in mangrove forests and in exchange of fire between the security forces and the rebels, a large amount of mangroves were destroyed.

Replanting

The Department of Fisheries has now begun a replanting programme to restore the declining mangrove forests.

Assistant Director of Fisheries in the Batticaloa District, S.T.George said that mangrove cultivations were partially destroyed due to war.

Also people cut them for firewood. At the same time it has became a livelihood for some", he said.

Fisheries Industry

The destruction caused to mangroves has also affected nearly fourteen thousand fishing families living around the lagoon.

"Out of one hundred and twelve fish varieties, eighty two species reach the lagoon from time to time to hatch eggs. And of the eighty two, twenty eight fish species are no more", Asst Director Fisheries, S.T.George said.

He said that the environment and the protection for fish species to breed is naturally created by mangrove forests, and as a result of large scale destruction of mangroves fish varieties have faced a threat of extinction.

Protection of Birds

Environmentalist and Lecturer of Botany at the Eastern University, Dr.T.Jayasingham says mangrove swamps provide protection for birds and their existence.

“In Sathurukondan area fifty six species of birds can be seen hiding safely in mangroves. In other lagoons you will not find them all", he said.

According to research conducted by the Eastern University and North East Coastal Community Development Project (NECCDEP), mangroves in about 800 hectares of land were destroyed during the past thirty to forty years, he said.

He says the existence of mangrove forests has been threatened by infrastructure development along with natural causes including monsoons.

Emphasising the importance of mangroves Dr.T.Jayasingham said even the damage caused by the Tsunami was minimised by mangrove forests which stood as a buffer.