Tsunami may have helped spread of alien species in Sri Lanka
Over 500 million kilograms (1,100 million pounds) of rubble were created by the tsunami, posing an enormous challenge to the solid waste management system in Sri Lanka
The Indian Ocean tsunami's devastating waves
brought more than death to this island nation. they upset some of Sri
Lanka's key ecosystems, the U.N. environmental agency warned Friday.
Nearly six months after the disaster that killed more than 31,000 people in
Sri Lanka, studies have found that the tsunami waves have pushed seeds of
so-called alien invasive species from their coasts farther inland on the
tropical island, the United Nations Environment Program said.
"In some areas, including important national parks, the wave has encouraged
the spread of alien invasive species, such as prickly pears and
salt-tolerant mesquite," the agency said in a statement.
|
mesquite is one of the most common, and important plants of the southwestern deserts of the North American continent.
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A mesquite is a spiny leguminous tree or shrub and found chiefly in southern United States. The shrub has sweet pods that are eaten by livestock.
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Prickly pear extract may dampen the body's inflammatory mechanism during a hangover to reduce the severity of symptoms |
Prickly pears, a type of cactus, are most
prevalent in Mexico, where many of the 100 different species are cultivated
as a food source.
Neither species is native to Sri Lanka, but they existed in small numbers in
limited coastal areas, said Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne, the country's
best-known nature expert. He did not say how the species first arrived in
Sri Lanka.
"Now they can pose a threat to our ecosystem," he said. "Our local plants
and animals have not co-evolved with these alien plants so when alien plants
dominate in the ecosystem they will reduce the diversity of the local fauna
and flora."
These are among the findings into the environmental impacts of the tsunami
done by the U.N. agency and Sri Lankan Ministry of Environment and Natural
Resources.
The report confirms that in those areas with healthy coral reefs and
mangroves, the impact of the devastating events the tsunami were
significantly reduced.
The tsunami "taught the world some hard, shocking but important lessons
which we ignore at our peril," said Klaus Toepfer, UNEP's Executive
Director.
Mangrove forests along shorelines in Sri Lanka and other Asian nations hit
by the tsunami are considered critical to halting erosion, but much of
growth has fallen victim in recent years to intense coastal development.
"We learned in graphic and horrific detail that the ecosystems, such as
coral reefs, mangroves and seagrasses which we have so casually destroyed
are not a luxury. They are lifesavers capable of helping to defend our
homes, our loved ones and our livelihoods from some of nature's more
aggressive acts," he added.
"It is therefore vital, that during the reconstruction of shattered
coastlines and settlements, the environment is taken into account along with
the economic and social factors."
The UNEP report said that well over 500 million kilograms (1,100 million
pounds) of rubble were created by the tsunami, posing an enormous challenge
to the solid waste management system in Sri Lanka.
Resettlement and reconstruction are now placing a huge burden on natural
resources, specially through the location of new settlements in or near
ecologically sensitive locations, and increased demand for sand and wood for
reconstruction and firewood for brick-making.
"These activities are thought to have the potential to cause more
irreversible damage to Sri Lanka's environment than did the tsunami itself,"
the report said.
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka | June 18, 2005 1:11:23 AM IST
The U.N. Environment Program says an impact study shows damage caused by the
tsunami to hit Sri Lanka last December included rubble and well
contamination.
Over 1.1 billion pounds of rubble was generated by the devastating waves and
15,000 wells were rendered unusable, said the report released Friday by UNEP
and the Sri Lankan Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, in the Sri
Lankan capital of Colombo. More than 750 sites were inspected for
contamination in addition to the wells.
Coastlines that had healthy coral reefs and mangroves suffered less damage
than other nearby devastated areas, the study showed. Reefs acted as buffers
to the waves and the mangroves absorbed the force of the tsunami.
The report findings were developed to serve as guidelines for environmental
reconstruction in Sri Lanka. (UPI)
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