Abstract:
Natural resources play an important role in socioeconomic development
of any country. Compared to the other regions of the country, coastal zones which are
rich in natural resources more contribute to sustainable development. For over last
twenty five to thirty years it was severely affected by the natural resources in North and
Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka due to the civil war. This was more significant along the
coastal zone from Mannar to Batticaloa. It was observed that many agricultural and aqua
cultural lands, natural water resources, fisheries harbors, areas with economical mineral
sands, etc are damaged seriously during the war. It has been establishing more
economic development activities in Northern and Eastern provinces after the war.
However, with the increase of development activities in the region, existing natural
resources can be affected. Therefore, a proper method to be applied to identify the
available natural resources in the area and to protect them while implementing new
development activates.
Arial photography, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) data and satellite
images have proven their importance as additional tools in identifying prospective areas
for natural resources and agriculture, also for locating suitable sites for establishing new
development activities. Remote sensing provides synoptic view and better spatial
information to extract natural resources which cannot be observed on the surface by
naked eye due to war activities and other hindrances. GIS techniques such as overlay
analysis, reclassification, buffering, etc can be applied for selecting suitable locations
for development activities without affecting the natural resources. Integrated approach
of remote sensing techniques, Arial photo interpretation and GIS techniques with field
data is cost effective, less time consuming and produces reliable information for
identification of most suitable locations for the development activities in the Northern
and Eastern coastal zones of Sri Lanka.
