Implementation of the Colombo wetland management strategy: current status, stakeholder perceptions and recommendations

The Colombo Wetland Complex provides vital ecosystem services ranging from flood regulation, thermal cooling to recreational support, that enhance urban well-being and climate resilience. Despite recent conservation efforts, including the 2016 Metro Colombo Wetland Management Strategy, the wetlands face ongoing degradation. This study evaluated the strategy’s progress through stakeholder consultations and an online perception survey. Since 2016, key achievements include improved wetland zoning, Ramsar Wetland City accreditation, new protected areas, recreational parks, a ban on wetland filling, and awareness campaigns. Nevertheless, perception surveys indicated that 59% of respondents perceived a reduction in wetland extent, while 43% reported a deterioration in wetland health since 2016. While progress has been made under the strategy’s five goals, further action is needed. A major gap is the lack of an agreed management approach among institutions and a dedicated sub-committee to guide implementation that was called for within the 2016 strategy. To address this, the operationalization of the co-developed Colombo Wetland Management Framework is proposed to ensure better coordination and sustainable outcomes.