By H.U.K.Dilanjani (2020-06-05)

An ancient irrigation tanks have substituted for the former wetland type. Ancient irrigation tanks include the Parakrama Samudraya and the Minneriya tank can be identified as the man made wetlands in Sri Lanka. Most of the man-made wetlands are being challenged to remain in its original glory due to degradation of its catchment. Therefore there is a need to devise a mechanism to conserve these tanks, which gives enormous benefits to people and wildlife. Most of the tanks and its catchment area, fish and wild-life populations are today under pressure from various activities. Such as, un-managed grazing livestock, soil erosion in the catchment area, un-managed pesticide use in the catchment area ,lack of fisheries management within the tank area and un-managed discharge waste water to the tanks. Decreased provision of ecosystem services as a result of biodiversity loss and decreased the receiving of eco system services by the people. People that rely most directly on ecosystem services, such as subsistence farmers and fishers, the rural poor, and traditional societies, face the most serious and immediate risks. This is because they are the ones who rely the most on the “safety netâ€Â provided by the biodiversity of natural ecosystems in terms of food security and sustained access to medicinal products, fuel, construction materials, and protection from natural hazards such as floods. Man-made wetlands and its catchment should be managed for the ecosystem