University of Sri Jayewardenepura: Journals & Proceedings
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The Role of Local Communities in the Nature Conservation: A Case Study of Yambaru Area in the Northern Part of Okinawa Island, Japan
No full textGlobal biodiversity has been in a critical situation, and it is indicated that one million species of plants and animals could become extinct within the next few decades. It also means that humans are losing the ecosystem services that our economic and social activities depend on. Therefore, the world is now seeking for “Nature Positive” society, and to achieve this goal, all the stakeholders need to play important roles and to collaborate with each other. In this study, we particularly focus on local communities aiming to identify their possible contributions towards nature conservation from a case study, so that the findings can give useful insights for other cases. Local communities are regarded as indispensable actors for the conservation and sustainable use of the natural environment all over the world, and we chose an area in Japan with various community-based conservation as a study site, which is Kunigami Village in Yambaru area, the northern region of Okinawa Island. Yambaru consists of evergreen broadleaf forests, one of the largest ones in Japan, with rich biodiversity including various endemic species such as Yambarukuina (Hypotaenidia okinawae), and it is newly registered as the World Natural Heritage site in 2021. The study methods were qualitative including literature review; 7 semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders such as community leaders, a forester, an officer of local tourism association, an ecotourism interpreter, an officer of the village office, a governmental officer; and participant observation in actual conservation activities by local people. Results identifies their proactive activities for conservation, management, and sustainable use of the natural environment before and after registration of the World Heritage site, which has continued from the 1990s to the present in 2023, including a well-organized ecotourism for the purpose of conservation and sustainable use of the natural areas, forest patrolling for combating poaching, and environmental educations in the elementary schools. It is also revealed that the historical and cultural connections to nature of local people in Yambaru are one of the important triggers for biodiversity conservation. In addition, their efforts to make a balance between conservation and tourism in the World Natural Heritage site are significant, by showing tourism management schemes on biodiversity conservation, and these activities have potentials of regional development of the area which has obtained the least economic benefits within Okinawa Island so far. In this case, local communities are playing a critical role for biodiversity conservation and regional development and the results can give useful insights of community-based conservation in other villages with similar situations in the world.
Keywords: Biodiversity, Community-based conservation, Yambaru, the World Natural Heritage, Ecotouris
Formulation of Myristica fragrans Pericarp Incorporated Natural Seasoning Powder
Get PDFThe aim of this study was to formulate Myristica fragrans pericarp incorporating natural seasoning powder because nutmeg pericarp contains valuable compounds and essential oils that can impart many benefits to the consumers. Myristica fragrans is one of the most expensive and versatile spices in the world as it contains many valuable bioactive compounds and micronutrients. Most of the occasions, its pericarp or flesh parts are thrown away without taking a use which causes waste generation and environmental pollution. To formulate the seasoning powder, dried powders of P. ostreatus, Moringa oleifera, Murraya koenijii, Allium sativum L. and nutmeg pericarp which was prepared using infrared dry blanching were mixed according to the Taguchi’s L8 orthogonal array. The best formulation was selected undergoing four sensory evaluation stages with 9-point Hedonic scale using 120 untrained panelists and the data were statistically analyzed using the Friedman test and Wilcoxon sign rank test. Proximate composition (i.e. moisture, protein, fat, carbohydrate, ash and crude fiber %), antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, pH, and mineral profile of the selected formulation were analyzed by following the standard procedures of AOAC. Total plate count, yeast and mold count of the new product packed in triple laminated packaging were evaluated to assess the shelf life and storage stability at the room temperature (27 ⁰C). The proximate composition of the newly developed seasoning powder was recorded 7.7±0.12 moisture%, 16.4±0.18 ash%, 15.3±0.33 crude fiber%, 10.0±0.21 protein%, 48.8±0.14 carbohydrates% and 1.7±0.07 total fat% respectively. The ash content and the total fat content were recorded as lower values. Total phenolic content and the antioxidant capacity were recorded as higher values in the new formulation. Higher amounts of Calcium (340.69±0.01), Sodium (2124.46±0.08), Potassium (850.58±0.01), Magnesium (103.69±0.01), Zinc (2.89±0.01), Iron (5.30±0.07) and Copper (0.61±0.01) in mg/L were recorded as the mineral profile of the new seasoning powder. The pH was a less value which indicates a slight acidity in the new product. The total plate count, yeast and molds count of the product was recorded as zero for two months of period. Overall the study concluded that, the developed product can be contributed to provide micronutrients and bioactive compounds to the consumer, and consequently would be an ideal solution for the waste generation and environmental pollution.
Keywords: Nutmeg pericarp, Waste management, Micronutrients, Bioactive compounds, Seasoning powde
Molecular Phylogenetic and Comparative Morpho-Anatomical Study on Some Selected Madhuca Spp. (Sapotaceae) in Sri Lanka
Get PDFMadhuca (J.F. Gmel.) is an important tree in the angiosperm family Sapotaceae, distributed in the tropics, including Sri Lanka, India, Vietnam, Pakistan, Nepal, and Myanmar. Madhuca has reported a wide array of economic uses such as being a source of food, a pharmaceutical ingredient, a bio-fertilizer, and a biofuel. Seven Madhuca species are reported in Sri Lanka, out of four being endemic to the island. This study aimed to eliminate the requirement for floral characteristics in the process of typification of genus Madhuca in Sri Lanka. According to the literature, the current system mandates the use of flowers for typification, even at the genus level. Collecting intact Madhuca flowers is a difficult task for several reasons as Madhuca is a seasonal flowering plant that blossoms in the evening between March to June and most Madhuca species are canopy trees which makes it difficult to collect and observe the intact floral characteristics. Samples were collected from Kanneliya and Kitulgala Forest Reserves and Royal Botanical Garden, Peradeniya. Morpho-anatomical characters of Madhuca fulva (Thwaites) J.F.Macbr, Madhuca microphylla (Hook.) Alston, Madhuca longifolia (J.Koenig ex L.) J.F.Macbr., Madhuca neriifolia (Moon) H.J.Lam were studied. The xylem arrangement in the midrib of the leaf, vein order, and the seriation types of the ray parenchyma in selected Madhuca species are identified as useful sterile anatomical features to address species delimitation issues in the genus Madhuca in Sri Lanka. The Nuclear Internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) region, a highly polymorphic non-coding region was amplified in above selected Madhuca species including the Madhuca clavata Jayas., an endemic Madhuca species. Two distinct clades were observed within the ingroup of the genus Madhuca in Sri Lanka, one monophyletic group of endemic species and another with the widely distributed Madhuca longifolia. An unexpected sequence similarity, 99.57% in the ITS1 region was observed between Madhuca clavata, a point endemic species to Sri Lanka and Madhuca bourdillonii, a critically endangered species native to India. The ITS1 region of the genus Madhuca contains enough variable sites in the genomic DNA sequence to identify and delimit each Madhuca species in Sri Lanka. More sampling and multi-locus phylogeny will merit resolving the species delimitation issue between Madhuca clavata and Madhuca bourdillonii.
Keywords: Madhuca, Sapotaceae, Sri Lanka, Taxonomy, ITS1 
Ethnobiological Importance of Mangrove Ecosystems in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka: Insights for Conservation Priorities
No full textMangrove ecosystems are vital to the livelihoods of coastal communities, offering a range of ecological, economic, and social benefits. Ethnobiological surveys provide critical on-the-ground insights into how local communities interact with and utilize these ecosystems. In recent decades, the Trincomalee district of Sri Lanka has experienced numerous natural and human-induced disturbances. The recent economic crisis has further accelerated mangrove degradation, as communities have become more reliant on these ecosystems for firewood. The objective of this study, conducted in May 2024 in Trincomalee, Eastern Province, Sri Lanka, was to understand the ethnobiological importance of mangroves and inform conservation priorities. We explored community perceptions of mangrove ecosystems through ethnobiological interviews with 25 participants actively engaged in conservation efforts, comprising 16 males and 09 females from the 18 to 80 age category. Participants reported significant changes in mangrove ecosystems over time, emphasizing their importance for community livelihoods, coastal protection, and medicinal uses. On average, 40-50% of the mangroves have been lost in the area as perceived by the participants. Traditional practices related to the use of mangroves, such as using mangroves as medicinal plants and incorporating mangrove-derived ingredients in traditional food, underscore their importance to local communities. Environmental threats such as destructive fishing practices, motorboat use in lagoons, sand mining, urbanization, and pollution were identified as major challenges affecting both the mangrove ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. Community involvement in decision-making processes regarding mangrove management was found to be minimal, with existing conservation initiatives being perceived as ineffective. Participants stressed the need for capacity building, greater awareness, and sustainable mangrove management. Key recommendations included providing incentives to support community livelihoods, restricting motorboat use, limiting sand mining, and conducting awareness programs for schoolchildren and local communities. Participants also proposed establishing a clear governance structure from the District Secretary to local-level officers and appointing a dedicated mangrove protection officer. This study provides valuable insights into mangrove conservation in Trincomalee, emphasizing the need for community engagement, stakeholder collaboration, and adaptive management to ensure sustainable ecosystem management.
Keywords: Coastal management, Community-based conservation, Ethnobiology, Mangrove conservation, Traditional knowledg
Exposure to Environmentally Relevant Concentrations of Acetaminophen Increases the Physiological Stress Response in Juvenile Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Get PDFNon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, acetaminophen is the most popular over-the-counter medicine. Extensive usage and production have made acetaminophen the most abundant pharmaceutical pollutant in aquatic ecosystems. Studies have acclaimed acetaminophen-mediated negative health impacts on organisms which makes acetaminophen a potential physiological stressor for aquatic organisms. Behavioral assessments such as swimming activity, mirror biting frequency, and ammonia excretion can be used to assess fish's stress response to environmental insults. In this context, this study was conducted to investigate the effects of long-term juvenile exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of acetaminophen on physiological stress response in model organisms, zebrafish. Zebrafish of 25 days post fertilization were maintained under environmentally relevant acetaminophen concentrations (10 μg/L, 75 μg/L ) and in control tanks for 60 days in triplicate, according to OECD guidelines. The mean maximum swimming speed, mirror biting frequency, and ammonia excretion were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. According to the results, 10 μg/L acetaminophen-treated fish showed a significantly higher (0.026 cm/ms, p<0.05) mean maximum swimming speed, compared to the control (0.019 cm/ms, p<0.05). The mean maximum swimming speed of 75 μg/L acetaminophen-treated fish (0.021 cm/ms) was statistically insignificant but higher than the control treatment (p≥0.05). The mirror-biting frequency of 10 μg/L acetaminophen-treated fish was significantly higher (81.167/min) than the 75 μg/L acetaminophen-treated fish (36.084/min) and the control treatment (21.834/min) (p<0.05). These results indicate that acetaminophen has caused physiological stress in zebrafish, and zebrafish are trying to maintain homeostasis by increasing stress responses. Significantly higher excretion of ammonia was observed in 10 μg/L acetaminophen-treated fish (1.0578 ppm, p<0.05) compared to the control treatment (0.6623 ppm). Higher but statistically insignificant ammonia excretion was observed in fish treated with 75 μg/L acetaminophen (0.8523 ppm, p>0.05). The highest ammonia excretion in 10 μg/L acetaminophen-treated fish confirms the increased metabolic activity. In 75 μg/L acetaminophen-treated fish even though a stress response can be observed this is lower than the 10 μg/L acetaminophen-treated fish. This may be due to the toxicity of acetaminophen which has overridden the stress response in zebrafish. The lowered ammonia excretion in 75 μg/L acetaminophen-treated fish further confirms that high toxicity and interrupted metabolism in higher acetaminophen doses have overridden the stress responses. This analysis implies that even environmental concentration of acetaminophen possesses a significant level of stress in aquatic organisms. However, more comprehensive assays are recommended in the analysis of higher dose consequences.
Keywords: Acetaminophen, Ammonia excretion, Environmentally relevant doses, Juvenile zebrafish, Stress respons
Mitigating Environmental Impact: A Novel Grey Water Treatment Approach for Small Hotels in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
No full textAnuradhapura, a historic city in Sri Lanka with over 50 small-scale hotels, faces pressing environmental challenges due to the release of untreated gray water into municipal canals, which ultimately flow into Malwathu Oya. This study introduces a cost-effective greywater treatment system tailored for these establishments, with the goal of improving water quality and enabling reuse for non-potable applications such as toilet flushing. The research methodology included the analysis of key water quality parameters at the discharge points of 15 selected hotels, with samples collected over a three-month period. The assessed parameters included pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biological Oxygen Demand over five days (BOD₅), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), dissolved phosphorus, ammonia nitrogen (as N), and oil and grease levels. A three-stage treatment system was designed, incorporating a debris screener, an oil trap, and a sand-gravel filtration unit. The filtration system was composed of sequential layers, including gravel, coarse sand, fine sand, activated charcoal, and metal. Post-treatment results revealed significant improvements in water quality, with reductions averaging 85% in COD, 78% in BOD₅, 92% in TSS, and 76% in oil and grease. These improvements ensured compliance with wastewater discharge standards established by the Central Environmental Authority. The efficacy of the system was validated through statistical analysis using paired t-tests, which indicated significant differences (p<0.05) between pre- and post-treatment water quality. The treated greywater met regulatory standards for safe discharge and reuse, offering a practical solution to water management challenges. By implementing this system, small-scale hotels in Anuradhapura can mitigate environmental pollution, conserve water resources, and reduce operational costs. This study highlights the potential for broader adoption of the treatment system, contributing to sustainable tourism practices and enhanced environmental stewardship in the region.
Keywords: Gray water treatment, Sustainable tourism, Environmental pollution, Water quality improvement
Identification of Suitable Areas for Pinctada sp. (Pearl Oyster) Culture in the Northwestern and Northern Regions of Sri Lanka, Based on GIS Approaches
No full textPearls are usually referred to as the "queen of jewels" and are highly lucrative products in the global market. Therefore, pearl oyster culture receives greater attention in aquaculture. Site selection is a crucial but time-consuming and expensive process in any aquaculture facility. Even though over 2,000 years, the Gulf of Mannar has sustained pearl fisheries in Sri Lanka, site selection for pearl culture has not yet been studied. Therefore, this study focuses on identifying suitable sites for pearl oyster culture in the Northwestern and North coasts of Sri Lanka using satellite data. For this study, a GIS-based multi-criteria evaluation process was used to identify the most suitable sites for pearl culture, and the suitability analysis was based on physicochemical parameters including bathymetry, chlorophyll concentration, temperature, pH, salinity, Secchi disk depth, current speed, and dissolved oxygen in this study area. Satellite data from 2022 to 2023 were downloaded from the Copernicus Marine Service and Gridded Bathymetry Data. Ultimately reclassifying the data and weighted overlay for multi-criteria analyses were performed by using ArcGIS 10.6 software. In this research, the study area was classified into three classes: 'Highly suitable', 'Moderately suitable', and 'Less suitable' depending on their suitability levels. Suitability analysis revealed that the variations observed in pH and dissolved oxygen concentration fell in the year-round ‘Highly suitable’ range. However, bathymetry, chlorophyll concentrations, Secchi disk depth, current speed, and salinity observed the monsoonal fluctuations of the study area become ‘Moderately suitable’ or ‘less suitable’. The results suggest that except for the 1st inter-monsoon period, the other monsoons show almost similar levels of high suitability throughout the study period. In contrast, the 1st inter-monsoon period exhibits smaller areas with high suitability for pearl culture during the study period. Year-round high suitability was observed in the Gulf of Mannar, above and below the Mannar Island, Achchankulam, and Chilaw regions, highlighting these areas as potentially suitable for pearl culture across the 2022 and 2023 years. Among these highly suitable sites, the Gulf of Mannar showed the largest highly suitable patch, ranging from 88 km² in the 1st inter-monsoon period to 568 km² in the northeast monsoon period.
Keywords: Pinctada sp., Pearl culture, Area suitability, Site selection, Multi-criteria analysis, Physicochemical paramete
Assessing Tree Species Richness and Diversity in the Kankaniyamulla Forest Reserve
Get PDFKankaniyamulla Forest Reserve (331.167 ha) is a secondary moist mixed evergreen forest located in the Northwestern Province (7.4051° N, 80.0283° E) with an average temperature of 24.07°C and an average annual rainfall of 1,689.4 mm. The estimated terrain elevation is 65 m above sea level. It harbours two tanks, and the buffer zone of the forest is subjected to high anthropogenic activities such as collecting plants for betel cultivation, firewood and for medicinal purposes. Hence, this forest is an important component of nearby villagers. However, the floristic composition of the forest is yet to be studied. Hence, this study aimed to identify the floral diversity of woody species in the Kankaniyamulla forest reserve. Data were collected from April to August 2024 on trees having more than 20 cm girth at breast height. GBH and spatial distribution of each tree were recorded along four random transects of 1,106 m, 1,315 m, 503 m, and 2,292 m, respectively with a width of 4 m. Shannon’s diversity index and Simpson’s index were used to determine species diversity. A total of 1,390 trees were recorded during the study and Shannon’s diversity index values of four transects were 2.20, 2.49, 1.96, and 2.05, respectively, indicating moderate diversity with several species. Transect 2 represents the highest diversity of tree species, while the lowest was in transect 3. The most dominant species was Swietenia macrophylla (Meliaceae) followed by Artocarpus nobilis (Moraceae) and Nothopegina beddomei (Anacardiaceae) and the least abundant species was Adenanthera pavonina (Fabaceae). Species richness of four transects were 34, 27, 18 and 18, respectively; thus, transect 1 reflects the highest ecological health and complexity. In this study, 24 families were identified, and the most abundant families were Fabaceae, Moraceae and Anacardiaceae. According to the National Red List (2020), one endangered species; Diospyros quaesita (Ebenaceae) three Vulnerable species; Pericopsis mooniana (Fabaceae), Canarium zeylanicum (Burseraceae) and Gyrinops walla (Thymelaeaceae) and four Near Threatened species, Vitex altissima, Donella lanceolate, Dipterocarpus zeylanicus and Albizia lebbeck were recorded. The forest continues to demonstrate high ecological resilience while human activities have influenced the forest composition. The findings provide baseline information for future conservation and sustainable utilization strategies, emphasizing the need for biodiversity conservation, and focusing on the need for targeted management practices to maintain species diversity and support long-term forest regeneration.
Keywords: Kankaniyamulla forest, Secondary forest, Species richness, Tree species diversity, Forest conservatio
Assessing the Potential of QBR Index in Predicting Instream Habitat Quality; A Comparison with Macrobenthos Diversity Indices in Wathurawa Stream, Deniyaya, Sri Lanka
No full textMost riparian ecosystems have been degraded due to human activities such as removing forests for cultivation in Sri Lanka. Therefore, effective management is urgently needed with reliable and rapid assessment methods. Macrobenthos diversity is a widely used, reliable instream habitat quality assessment tool that is labor and time-consuming. The QBR index is a rapid riparian habitat quality assessment tool but hardly any record in the Sri Lankan context. Hence, the present study aimed to assess the applicability of the QBR index to evaluate the instream habitat quality in the Wathurawa stream, Deniyaya, and macrobenthos diversity as a reference. Five sampling sites were selected starting from the less disturbed forest reserve (S1). The remaining sites (S2-S5) were in the deforested area for tea and paddy cultivation. Macrobenthos were sampled and the QBR score was recorded with key water quality parameters such as Dissolved Oxygen, pH, Electrical conductivity, TDS, and Temperature at each sampling site. The Shannon-Weiner diversity index and EPT index were used as a measure of habitat quality across five sampling sites with different levels of riparian disturbance. pH and Temperature were not significantly different among the sampling sites while Conductivity, TDS, and DO significantly differ between S1 and S5 (p<0.01). The QBR index was strongly correlated to macrobenthos diversity (r = 0.91, p<0.05). More sensitive taxa, such as Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera, and Plecoptera, were abundant in the less-disturbed areas where the QBR index was high (QBR index; 78.9±8.6). The poorest QBR index (20.0±6.5) was observed at highly degraded riparian area (S5) where the macrobenthos diversity and EPT index were the lowest. The results showed that the QBR index is a valuable indicator for rapid habitat assessment. Sites in poorer QBR showed lower species richness and were dominated by pollution-tolerant species, whereas sites with high QBR index showed healthier and more diverse communities. These results suggest that the inclusion of the QBR index as a rapid assessment tool into conservation methodologies could further enhance habitat monitoring and assist in prioritization within riparian ecosystems.
Keywords: Diversity index, Deforestation, QBR index, Habitat quality, Sensitive tax
Gender Incorporation in Rural Drinking Water Sector in Sri Lanka for Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Building
No full textIncorporating gender considerations in rural water management is essential for effective climate change adaptation and resilience building, especially in vulnerable rural communities. In many regions, including Sri Lanka, women are primary managers of household water use and play a central role in ensuring water security. However, traditional gender norms have often excluded them from decision-making processes related to drinking water management. This study focuses on the integration of gender perspectives into community managed rural water supply interventions as a key component of climate adaptation strategies. Drawing on data from rural community water supply schemes and other interventions in Sri Lanka’s dry zone, the study examines how women’s participation in water management of Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and committees of household drinking water systems, as well as their involvement in decision making, implementing and operation & maintenance them, enhances both water access and climate resilience. The research involved surveys, outcome from monitoring committees, Community Action Planning (CAP) sessions and focus group discussions to gather insights into how rural drinking water systems and water management have been improved through a gender-sensitive approach. The findings indicate that when women are actively involved in decision-making, during planning, designing and implementing water supply systems are built with more community contributions, more efficient, and sustainable, and contribute to equitable climate change adaptation. Moreover, targeted capacity-building initiatives have empowered women with the technical and managerial skills necessary to manage and maintain community water supply systems, improving overall community preparedness for climate-related water shortages. These initiatives have also strengthened social cohesion by fostering inclusive participation, ensuring that water management strategies reflect the needs of both women and men. However, challenges such as unequal access to resources, limited leadership opportunities, and persistent gender stereotypes continue to hinder the full potential of women’s contributions. The study concludes that incorporating gender considerations into rural water systems from planning to management is crucial for enhancing climate resilience and ensuring long-term water security. By prioritizing women’s participation and leadership in rural water supply systems, as decision makers, as employees in CBOs and communities can build more adaptive, equitable, and sustainable water management systems that are better equipped to handle the impacts of climate change.
Keywords: Climate change adaptation, Community managed rural water supply systems, Gende