Analysis of Socio-Ecological Factors Affecting Bundala National Park

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.