Value of ecosystems’ services provided by the Jaffna lagoon and contribution of the lagoon to the livelihoods of peripheral villagers

 
Jaffna Lagoon

Jaffna Lagoon, Jaffna © Kumudini Ekaratne, IUCN, 2014

A resource or ecosystem management plan for the Jaffna lagoon is said to be necessary to ensure the sustainability of the lagoon ecosystem services. Success of such a plan depends on the data and information of use of resources, threats and distructions made by existing resource use, values of resources etc. But, the dearth of these data is a major problem. Therefore, the study focuses on preparing a set of baseline data on values of ecosystem services of the Jaffna lagoon and socioeconomic profiles of the dependent communities. Two results - a set of data on quantities and values of ecosystem services and a set of data on livelihood assets, livelihood activities and livelihood outcomes of the lagoon users – are expected from this research project. With regard to the first result, five main activities – 1) Literature review on ecosystem goods and services provided by the Jaffna lagoon, 2) Key informant (stakeholders) interview, 3) Identification of techniques and designing methods to value goods and services provided by the  ecosystems of the Jaffna lagoon, 4) Data collection and 5) Data entry, data analysis and report writing – are to be implemented while for the second result, four main activities – 1) Conducting a reconnaissance study (community group discussions, key informant interviews, direct observation), 2) Preparation of sample frame of lagoon users and preparation of questionnaire, 3) Household survey and 4) Data entry, data analysis and report writing are to be implemented. Outcomes of this study are expected to contribute for maintaining the sustainability of the Jaffna lagoon ecosystems.      

Objectives

Ecosystem value of the lagoon and the socioeconomic profile of the dependent communities are developed and documented.

Background

 A resource or ecosystem management plan for the Jaffna lagoon is said to be necessary to ensure the sustainability of the lagoon ecosystem services. Success of such a plan depends on the data and information of use of resources, threats and destructions made by existing resource use, values of resources etc. But, the dearth of these data is a major problem. Therefore, the study focuses on preparing a set of baseline data on values of ecosystem services of the Jaffna lagoon and socioeconomic profiles of the dependent communities.

Two results - a set of data on quantities and values of ecosystem services and a set of data on livelihood assets, livelihood activities and livelihood outcomes of the lagoon users – are expected from this research project.

With regard to the first result, five main activities – 1) Literature review on ecosystem goods and services provided by the Jaffna lagoon, 2) Key informant (stakeholders) interview, 3) Identification of techniques and designing methods to value goods and services provided by the  ecosystems of the Jaffna lagoon, 4) Data collection and 5) Data entry, data analysis and report writing – are to be implemented.

For the second result, four main activities – 1) Conducting a reconnaissance study (community group discussions, key informant interviews, direct observation), 2) Preparation of sample frame of lagoon users and preparation of questionnaire, 3) Household survey and 4) Data entry, data analysis and report writing are to be implemented.

Outcomes of this study are expected to contribute for maintaining the sustainability of the Jaffna lagoon ecosystems.         

 

Target beneficiaries

The people who enjoy the ecosystem services of the Jaffna lagoon.

Outputs

1. Literature review on ecosystem goods and service provided by the Jaffna lagoon

2. Report on valuation of ecosystem services

3. Report on household survey 

Accomplishments and challenges

Research Report based on the findings will be published as a book with funds from HARTI. 

Contributions to cross-cutting themes

The project will generate a data base and emphasize importance of the conservation of ecosystems of the Jaffna lagoon. Data base to be developed by this study would support to craft a management plan of the lagoon ecosystems.

Consequences of the climate change are severe drought conditions or storm conditions both affect livelihoods of the people. Then, the sustainably managed lagoon ecosystems can ensure a sustainable livelihood system of dependent communities increasing the resilience of their household economies. When the storm conditions prevail, fishers cannot fish in coastal waters or deep waters. In such a time, they can fish in the lagoon to maintain their livelihood situation. Further, the well managed mangrove ecosystems of the lagoon, acting as a barrier, protect peripheral villages from threat of storms.  

Most of the people depending on the lagoon are poor and sustainable lagoon ecosystems can provide females of these households income generating opportunities such as fishing in shallow water, collecting fruits and vegetables from mangrove ecosystems, collecting grass for their livestock, collecting fuel woods etc. Therefore, women in these households can significantly benefit from the lagoon to uplift  the household economy, in addition to housewife’s affairs. This would empower the women in terms of contributing to household economy without depending  on their husband.   

 

Lessons Learned

  • Data collection needs more time than previously plan
  • data collectors should be carefully selected 

 

Project Facts

Country

Location

Jaffna Lagoon

Topic

Duration

1st Jun 2014 to 30th Apr 2015

MFF Grant Amount

LKR 1,638,450

Co-financing Partner

HARTI:  LKR 440,250 (USD 3,387)

Dept of Geography, University of Jaffna LKR 39,000 (USD 300)

Implementing Partner

Dr  W.A.R. Wickramasinghe
Senior Research Officer,
Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute (HARTI)
114, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7.
Tel.: +94 11 2696981
Fax: +94 11 2689553
E-mail : wickramasingherawi@yahoo.com

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