Jaffna Islands expand as mangrove project thrives

Naval foresight transforms degraded coastlines into thriving ecosystems and empowers local communities

By Admiral Ravindra 
C Wijegunaratne  

My former Personal Security Officer (PSO), Commander Chatura Gamage, RSP and five Bars, injured Officer from elite Sri Lanka Navy Special Boat Squadron, who has MSc in GIS and Remote Sensing from Peradeniya University gave me a call with much delight. “Sir, it’s working ! I can see our Jaffna islands growing in size !. I will get you the google pictures soon.   
I was very happy. A small project we started in 2011 in Northern islands, Karinagar, Eluvativu, Analativu, Nayanativu (Nagadeepa), Punkudativu,Kytes and Mandativu is giving rich dividends after 10 years.  
In 2011, we noticed the mangroves in these islands systematically destroying by few elements of our society, who did not know value of mangroves in our eco- system, for illegal income, which was very lucrative. As there was a shortage of firewood, specially to bakeries in Jaffna main land, the mangroves were cut for firewood. Mangrove wood is ideal for bakeries as this hard-wood, give lot of charcoal. Those days (2011) we observed large loads of dry mangrove wood carried in bicycles moving from Islands to mainland through causeways. With the support of Police, Sri Lanka Navy (who were controlling security of Northern islands) completely stopped this illegal trade. Now the mangroves grow freely and lavishly, increasing the size of the islands and give protection to shell fish breeding grounds. You may be aware that Crabs, shrimps and prawns lay their eggs in mangrove areas, which is protected from big fish and other predators. So, the mangroves are natural protection to crabs, shrimps and prawns until they grow bigger.  
My deputy in Northern Naval Area in 2011, when I was Commander Northern Naval Area, Admiral Piyal De Silva (former Navy Commander and our former Ambassador in Afghanistan), had. original, fresh and unique idea of re- planting mangrove.   
We started the project near Karinagar causeway. Few hundred of mangrove saplings were planted as per instructions given by experts on the subject. In three months, it became a failure. We were wrong in some place when we were re- planting. I told Piyal “ let’s try again”. In three months, failed again. Only six out of hundred saplings survived.  
It was after careful study, Piyal when he was Northern Commander in 2017, found the mistake and solution. His relentless study gave rich dividends. Due to flooding and ebbing water of lagoon every six hours, the roots of newly planted mangrove saplings were disturbed. This will not allow saplings to grow in muddy waters, eventually saplings die.   
The solution to the problem was also found by Piyal. Four-foot stick was submerged in to mud next to each sapling the and the stick was tied to the sapling, so that  the sapling will not move due to tide water. This method worked successfully and now Karinagar lagoon has more than 600 fully grown mangrove plants.   
Mangrove plants  
Happiest of our project was Mrs Chinnama , old lady who harvest Crabs in lagoon and sell it for living. Those days when we were young officers, we used to buy fresh prawns and crabs from her during weekends. These fresh shell fish go down well with Thal palm toddy.  
We gave her hundred rupees and she used to give her whole catch for that amount. But today she do not require to sell them to us. Crab exporter to Singapore from Jaffna buy her catch Rs 120/= per kilogram.   
She is happy !   
 Mrs Chinnama Re-planted mangroves by Piyal growing well and Mrs Chinnama’s catch also improving. She has become the strong protector of mangroves in Karinagar lagoon.    Navy had done something good to humble people of Northern Islands. They now protect their mangroves from illegal felling. As Chatura observed from a satellite, Northern islands are growing in size!   
The writer Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne is WV, RWP and Bar, RSP, VSV, USP, NI (M) (Pakistan), ndc, psn, Bsc, (Hons) (War Studies) (Karachi) MPhil (Madras), Former Navy Commander and Former Chief of Defense Staff, Former Chairman, Trincomalee Petroleum Terminals Ltd, Former Managing Director Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, Former High Commissioner to Pakistan.