Sri Lanka, Knuckles Conservation Project request for funds
Developing a Tool to Facilitate Priority-Setting for Biodiversity Conservation
Baseline survey on biodiversity and physical parameters within important habitats in the Knuckles Conservation Area and its environment.
Amrik Jayewardene, Gonamada – Illukkumbura
Monday, September 11, 2006
eastpoleinstitute@gmail.com
mailing address: 66 Ward Place,
Colombo 7
Background
Forest degradation and ecosystem loss constitute great threats to life on Earth. Conservationists estimate that an average of 100 species per day will become extinct over the next 40 years should attempts to identify priority areas and effective conservation strategies fail.
The Knuckles range, (Approximately 2000 SQ. KM.) sustains a tremendous wealth of species diversity within its wide array of habitats including virgin forests. It constitutes approximately 0.03% of the island’s total area of 64,740 SQ. KM. It is home to a large proportion of the country’s biodiversity. The high altitude leads to the formation of thick cloud layers (Sinhalese: Dumbara) and plays a crucial role in the development of the Knuckles range as a haven for biodiversity. Research has shown that climatic diversity and varied micro climatic niches have led to correspondingly high species diversity. For example out of the 76 reptile species that inhabit the Knuckles 54% are endemic to it.
Today, Global climate change, photo-chemical smog, agrochemicals, alien invasive species, grassland/forest fires, corruption, a hand’s off management approach, and ignorance, the lack of scientific information to draw proper conservation/management policies and plans threaten its integrity and very survival. It is in dire need of conservation.
In assessing the ecological importance of a bioregion and the threats faced by it, a larger picture of the context in which the sample is situated and contingent factors such as wind, humidity and temperatures need to be known as much as the richness of the species. Additionally, endemism and habitat degradation in and around the Knuckles region needs to be understood. In addition to the biological diversity, bio-indicators need to be established for future monitoring purposes.
The extent of Anthropogenic or man induced impacts on the macro and micro levels need to be given special consideration.
Objectives
This project is to be a first step towards a more integrated spatial data infrastructure for Sri Lanka in community outreach, research and education.
Our first steps would be to obtain:
1. Data on the distribution and quality of remaining habitats. (As current data are insufficient and the quality varies.)
2. Threat information. The focus of our conservation efforts will depend upon the degree of threat a particular biodiversity unit faces.
3. Distribution patterns of Species and Habitats and incorporate it into GIS and visualization systems. Understanding how they vary across time and location will help to develop a full range of conservation strategies.
4. Information to be provided for management, conservation, education and research.
Methodology
• Map the current distribution and integrity of remaining natural habitats of selected key species using standard sampling methods and questionnaire surveys.
• Assess current and projected threats to existing natural habitats due to both local and global changes.
• Evaluate how emerging patterns of species richness, endemism, habitats, and processes vary from one place to another.
• Develop an indicator species based key for assessing the effects of Nitrogen fertilizer, pesticide and insecticide use in the buffer zone of the Knuckles conservation area.
• Introduce certification of traditionally and conscientiously grown wholesome foods assessed by the health and survival of the indicator species.
Information thus gathered will indicate which areas present the most propitious opportunities for long-term conservation efforts. A key factor would be that the selected area would cover an adequate range of biodiversity. With limited time and financial resources, priority-setting is essential for achieving the fundamental goals of biodiversity conservation, identifying key habitats and ecosystems and analyzing data in the most cost-effective manner.
In the many different GIS (Geographic Information Systems) deployed in Sri Lanka there is already a wealth of collected data that is for many reasons generally locked away from the general public. These are mostly regarded as proprietary data gathered at considerable expense or the hardware itself is too expensive or not user friendly enough for conservationists, villages or local decision makers.
GIS data that is currently available has to be collated into a user friendly, locally accessible geospatial certification tool. Unfortunately there are at present many constraints in accessing existing data. No single conservation oriented independent entity owns all data for all regions, so there is a need for a good indigenous classification system to which everyone has access. Information is particularly lacking regarding forested, anthropogenic and marine areas.
In order to understand what GIS and interactive 3D visualization applications for viewing earth data can tell us, we need to;
1. Compile existing data.
2. Have an expert workshop devoted to naming quality locations and ecological levels.
3. Look at how to correlate quality versus degraded sites.
4. Map habitats in relation to rainfall and seasonality.
5. Once patterns of biodiversity and indicator species are identified, predict the dynamics of a threatened zone.
6. Develop low-cost data products that do not require major investments in staff as data gathering could be done by school children.
7. Study patterns of biodiversity and identify indicator species in order to predict future behavior of a region.
One of the goals of Eastpole Institute is to create a culture of service at university and school levels by motivating students to donate their efforts to make a difference in other people’s lives, as well as their own, while building strong ties within the Knuckles Range community. Active community involvement is critical to meaningful student involvement. The exercise can give students greater hands-on experience in a field of their interest, improve interpersonal skills and hone ecological awareness.
Recommended Pilot Project Characteristics using GIS
• Classify and identify areas as intact or disturbed.
• Classify in terms of units of biodiversity represented.
• Assess degree of potential threat
• Show that climatic diversity and varied microclimatic niches are vital for high species diversity.
• Research the differences between pristine and degraded habitats.
• Carry out habitat mapping in relation to rainfall and seasonality.
• Conduct pilot projects in three areas in order to test the limitations of GIS data.
• Once conservationists are familiar with the important indicators for various taxa and ecosystems, compare and analise past data sets with data collected in the field (in situ data)
• Model the potential impact of anthropogenic activities on habitat.
• Use visualization tools to predict where the greatest adverse ecological impacts might be and where the greatest biodiversity concentrations are.
• Use accurate spatial data in temporal sequences to solve some problems in pattern recognition.
• Use imagery and data to support policy-making decisions.
Eastpole Institute proposes to work with the biodiversity conservation community, universities, schools, CBO’s (Community Based Organizations) and the local village communities to see how human activity affects biodiversity.
Expected outputs, impact and sustainability of the project
The expected output would be the ecological mapping of the Knuckles Region in its various areas of biodiversity, enabling a detailed assessment and study of particular plant and animal species for intense conservation.
The impact on the Knuckles community, school children, University students and eventually citizens of Sri Lanka would be to create an awareness that will ultimately motivate them sufficiently to influence the farming community to produce without toxins and preserve the pristine environment and protect our rich biodiversity heritage.
Budget
There are many different Configurations please select how far you want to go and then post comments/commitments-they are valued and appreciated:
Low end: http://www.sgi.com/products/servers/altix/xe/
Mid Range: http://www.sgi.com/products/servers/altix/450/
High End: http://www.sgi.com/products/servers/altix/4000/
The proposed ICTA Nanasala’s in the Knuckles region needs to be conceptually upgraded to make it more user friendly for local farmers, researches and CBO’s: http://www.sgi.com/products/visualization/van/
Ecology and traditional knowledge systems are complex multi dimensional, interrelated systems: http://www.sgi.com/products/visualization/van/education.html
Technology in Information has matured for communication to take place across many disciplines: http://www.sgi.com/products/visualization/realitycenter/
How?: http://www.sgi.com/products/services/professional/solutions/col_vis/
Related references:A Conceptual Framework
Promoting Local Community Participation in Forest Management through the Application of a Geographic Information System: a PPGIS experience from Southern Ghana
By Peter A. Kwaku Kyem,Department of Geography,
Central Connecticut State University
http://www.ncgia.ucsb.edu/varenius/ppgis/papers/kyem/kyem.html
Geographic Information Systems in the Environmental Movement- R. E. Sieber-Department of Geography and Planning-Earth Sciences 218 State University of New York at Albany
http://www.ncgia.ucsb.edu/varenius/ppgis/papers/sieber.pdf
Participatory GIS: opportunity or oxymoron?
Jo Abbot, Robert Chambers, Christine Dunn, Trevor Harris, Emmanuel de Merode, Gina Porter, Janet Townsend and Daniel Weiner
http://www.iied.org/NR/agbioliv/pla_notes/pla_backissues/documents/plan_03305.PDF
The Benefits of Immersive Visualization in the University
By Sandra Helsel, Ph.D.
Tucson, Arizona
http://www.sgi.com/pdfs/2410.pdf
WWF Statement of Principles on Indigenous Peoples and Conservation
http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/policy/people_environment/indigenous_people/statement_principles/index.cfm
GIS through community-based collaborative joint venture:
an evaluation of impacts in rural Australia
Daniel H. Walker1, Andrew K.L. Johnson2, Alison Cottrell3, Anne O�Brien4, Stuart G. Cowell1, David Pullar5
http://www.ncgia.ucsb.edu/varenius/ppgis/papers/walker_d/walker.html
Environmental NGOs: Community Access to Technology as a Force for Change
David Tulloch, Assistant Professor, Department of Landscape Architecture
Grant F. Walton Center for Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis
Cook College -Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
http://www.ncgia.ucsb.edu/varenius/ppgis/papers/tulloch/tulloch.html
IUCN-The World Conservation Union
Illegal logging-A commitment to change through tripartite action
http://www.iucn.org/themes/fcp/publications/files/fleg/iucn-fleg-brochure-may2006.pdf?sub=3&cat=64
There is no compromise for quality and transparency !
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