Nagenahiru Environmental Education Centre

Expertise

The Nagenahiru Centre for Environmental Education is located on the Eastern Border of the Madampa Lake Wild Life Santuary at the south-western coast of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean. This region is one of the most beautiful and picturesque landscapes in Sri Lanka with a unique biodiversity including different vegetation types such as the predominating mangroves and marshlands.

The Madampa wetland consists of 10 major vegetation types. These vegetation types comprise a total of 303 species of plants belonging to 95 families. The total plant species included 19 endemic and nationally threatened species and 9 invasive alien species. Examples of endangered plants are a dominant canopy plant Shorea affinis.

Due to the broad variety of plants, a large number of invertebrates, reptiles, including snakes, birds, amphibians, and mammals can be found around Lake Madampa Ganga. Whereas the Mugger (Crocodylus palustris) is considered to be vulnerable and the purple-faced Leaf Monkey (Trachypithecus vetulus) endangered other reptiles such as the estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), Flapshell Turtle (Lissemys punctata), Indian Python (Python molurus) are not considered in the red list yet.

Large number of fauna species are available at this newly declared Wild Life Sanctuary Madampa Lake. (Monkeys, Bat Hooting sites, Civet & Mongoose, River otters, Iguanas, Lizards, Crabs, Crocodiles, Snakes, many types of Birds, Butterflies & much more.) The mangroves are a very amazing area to explore with their incredible root systems that grow above the water and spread out, and act as a filter for water as well as home to many types of animals and insects.

Nagenahiru Centre for Environment advances Environmental Awareness, Knowledge & Appreciation through hands-on experience in a Natural Outdoor classroom. Surrounded by thousands of acres of constructed wetlands with high bio diversity, it provides Educational opportunities about this unique habitat. The wetland features elevated boardwalks through Mangroves, featuring interpretive signs about the habitat, a perfect place for learning, exploring, getting away and connecting.

The newly built Nature Center includes a Lecture hall with facilities for 40, Gift shop, Brackish water Aquarium, 65ft height observation Tower Models of severely threatened wetland animals, and an extensive exhibition room that highlights wetland attributes.

Activities include: canoeing in the lake; learning to paddle; fishing with fishermen; eco-camping in a Mangrove forest; up-stream the lake by traditional catamaran/boat through mangrove tunnels; enhancing awareness on Wetland Flora & Fauna; planting few mangrove plants in a restoration project.