Wasgamuwa National Park is a lesser-known National Park located in the Matale and Polonnaruwa Districts, spanning ~40,000 hectares and sitting against the backdrop of Sri Lanka’s magnificent mountain ranges, as well as the great sandy river, the Mahaweli Ganga, that winds its way through this Protected Area. Riverine forests, evergreen forests and grasslands consist of habitats which are home to many endemic and non-endemic species. Unfortunately, the aquatic ecosystems within the National Park are threatened by the spread of Invasive Aquatic Alien Plants (IAAS). 

Water Hyacinth and Salvinia are the most abundant IAAS clogging up these aquatic habitats, which play a critical role in ensuring the balance of this ecosystem. “Project Wasgamuwa ''which is being coordinated by the Federation of Environmental Organizations (FEO) will be responsible for the removal of IAAS from the reservoirs within the National Park, thereby improving the overall health of the ecosystem. Additionally, the efforts undertaken employ people from surrounding communities, providing a steady source of income via the manual removal of the IAAS and fostering a deeper sense of environmental stewardship amongst local communities. 

The LEF has committed to funding the habitat restoration of two water bodies (Kok Abe Lake and Wavul Abe Lake) within the Wasgamuwa National Park starting in mid-August 2023 till the 31st of September 2024. The initial clearance of Kok Abe Lake has been completed, and maintenance is set to begin for one year starting from the end of August 2023, while Wavul Abe Lake clearing began at the end of September 2023 with a following one-year of maintenance. Thus far, the results have been extremely positive with Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) staff reporting the return of many species of wildlife at these reservoirs. 

In order to document the successful restoration of these aquatic habitats, the LEF team participated in a two-day survey of Wavul Abe Lake in September 2023, surveying the species that utilized this waterbody prior to its restoration. The survey recorded 36 species using this waterbody, a number we certainly hope will increase after its restoration. A follow-up survey is being planned for February 2024. 

Several other tanks within Wasgamuwa National Park require attention due to the spread of IAAS. If you are interested in supporting “Project Wasgamuwa” and assisting in the restoration of this Protected Area, please get in touch with us or directly contact the FEO.