The effects of urban development activities on coastal ecosystem: a study based on Galle Kadawath Sathara area

Abstract

Coastal areas are now considered as a biological and environmental sensitive areas that maintains a clear process of demographic concentration due to the economic activities such as tourism and fisheryoriented employment etc. This situation leads to the great importance in Galle Kadawath Sathara coastal area where the urban development activities are in the rapid process. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore the impact of urban development activities in the Kadawath Sathara and to suggest remedial measures for management process for better urban development activities. For this study, both primary and secondary data were used. Field observation and structured interviews were used to collect the primary data and statistics from DS division. Urban development authority, published and unpublished research articles, newspaper articles were utilized as secondary data. This study found that the mangrove destruction, degradation of biodiversity, waste accumulation in the coastal areas and unauthorized encroachment in the coastal areas were rife in the coastal areas of the Kadawath Sathara. To get over the problems, replanting the mangroves in the coastal areas, prior planning measures and proper environmental impact assessment have been suggested for the sustainable urban development activities in the coastal areas of Kadawath Sathara.