Abstract:
Bundala National Park (BNP) is the only Ramsar wetland in Sri Lank4 which is reputed for its
rich biological diversity of avifauna. The objective of this study was to investigate the socioecological
influence of people living in and near the Park. Questionnaires were prepared for the
general community and fishing community separatcly. On education level, living condition,
personal inforrntion, occupational information and usage of park r€sources- According to the
findingB inhabitants were using the park resources to a considerable extent. Our results revealed
this might be due to settlement of people close to the national park boundary. Over 90o/o of
people knew that the BNP is a National Park but only a few knew that it is a Ramsar wetland.
Similarly bird migration is a known factor (80% of people) but not the importance of the habitat
for such birds. lncome level of people was poor and over 90oZ percent of the people did not
have a permanent income. In the fishing community 50% families had 4-6 family members than
the other families (3-4 members per family). Fuel wood collection, killing wild life for
economic purposes, over-fishing with disturbing aquatic environments, usage of water bodies as
a dumping ground, unsuitable land use practices and agricultural practices were i{entified
harmful to the park ecosystem balance. Data indicates land ownership is high and practices are
independent. Most families engaged in paddy cultivation (70%) and a few families engaged in
chena eultivation (30%). Over 30% famities used forests for fuel wood collection and hunting
wild life. The study revealed that poor living conditions and some occupational practices might
have profound effects on the Park environment and water bodies. Proper managem€nt plans are
required to secure the funre of BNP ecosystem to provide the people better livelihoods.
Comrnunity participation in management and conservation practices could be proposed as a tool
in BNP.
