The abandoned shrimp farms in Sri Lanka tell a story of once-flourishing biodiversity and the loss incurred due to industrial expansion. Sri Lanka is now turning the tide with a national program aimed at replanting and regenerating mangroves, which is restoring the ecological balance and revitalizing coastal villages.

The Cost of Development

The advent of industry and infrastructure has erased swaths of the biodiversity-rich mangrove forests that used to sustain fishing communities and shield them from extreme weather. The disappearance of these vital ecosystems left coastal villages vulnerable, with many communities struggling to cope with the aftermath.

The ambitious initiative has caught international attention, with the United Nations recently naming Sri Lanka’s mangrove regeneration program among its 2024 World Restoration Flagships. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding efforts to rekindle nature and opens avenues for funding and technical support from the UN.

Global Recognition and Support

The recognition comes under the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, a global movement to prevent and reverse the degradation of the natural world. On June 5, Saudi Arabia will host World Environment Day 2024, an annual celebration focusing this year on land degradation, desertification, and drought resilience.

Mangroves are crucial to coastal ecosystems, acting as the first line of defense against storm surges, currents, waves, and tides. These unique trees support more than 1,500 species, with approximately 15 percent of these species endangered, according to a recent UNEP report. Mangroves’ protective function was starkly highlighted by the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, which killed over 30,000 people in Sri Lanka. The devastation was exacerbated by the fact that about one-third of the country’s mangroves had been cleared, primarily to make way for shrimp ponds and salt pans.

The Impact of Shrimp Farming

While shrimp farming is a vital source of employment and export income, unsustainable practices have led to pollution, disease, and abandoned ponds. The aftermath of these practices calls for a sustainable approach to balance economic benefits with environmental conservation.

Following the 2004 tsunami, Sri Lanka embarked on a massive drive to restore mangroves. Initially, the survival rate of replanted mangroves was low, prompting a strategic shift to protecting existing mangroves and allowing natural regeneration. In 2015, Sri Lanka became the first nation to legally protect all its remaining mangrove forests. A national program was launched to restore thousands of lost hectares, supported by an expert committee to ensure effective restoration.

Restoration Efforts and Strategies

Restoration projects are now underway across coastal districts. Researchers are evaluating potential restoration sites based on soil and water quality, aiding conservationists in selecting the best mix of mangrove species for each location. This scientific approach helps remove barriers to mangrove growth, such as plastic pollution, enabling nature to flourish.

Supported by international partners, including the governments of Australia, the USA, and the UK, Sri Lanka has restored 500 hectares of mangrove since 2015. With continued assistance, the nation aims to achieve its 2030 goal of restoring 10,000 hectares of mangroves, over 50 percent of its previous mangrove cover.

Beyond Environmental Protection

Mangrove restoration provides protection against climate change impacts, such as flooding from sea-level rise and more intense cyclones. Mangroves also sequester significant amounts of carbon, helping to mitigate human-caused climate change. Additionally, they are a crucial source of medicine, fish, and other food resources, particularly for poorer communities.