Bio-diversity

The Mimosa Pigra, also know as the Giant Mimosa, is one of the most aggressive invasive species in Sri Lanka, causing damages to vast stretches of land in several areas of the country. It can spread throughout ecosystems, converting arable land into unproductive wasteland with low biodiversity. One of the worst affected areas in Sri Lanka, the Bowathanna reservoir, is the focus of this project. The plant itself is a prickly shrub, which makes it hard to both clear the affected land and also to walk through it. In fact, the Mimosa Pigra had made is impossible for the villagers to get to the nearby reservoir, hampering fishing and bathing. Therefore, through the support of the Arunalu Community Development Centre (ACDC), actions have been made to eradicate the Mimosa Pigra from the area. To this end, the grantee organization, through community participation, will clear over 20 hectares land. In order to forestall the regrowth of the Mimosa Pigra, 17,000 trees will be planted which will provide canopy cover, preventing the invasive plant`s growth, as it cannot grow without sunlight. It is expected that once the areas have been cleared of this invasive species, the local biodiversity will increase and people will be able to access the reservoir more easily. Another benefit is that the wood has been used as firewood by the village.

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