Insights from grey literature that could facilitate research and sustainable development of the Bolgoda ecosystem

Abstract

Bolgoda ecosystem has the largest natural lake and freshwater body in Sri Lanka located on the southwest boundary of Colombo District and covering two-thirds of Kalutara District. It is also listed as “one of the 1001 natural wonders of the world one must see before you die [1].” According to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) [2], an ecosystem such as Bolgoda should be providing; Provisioning services (food and water etc.), Regulating services (climate and disease control etc.), Supporting services (nutrient cycling and crop pollination etc.) and Cultural services (recreational, and spiritual benefits etc.). Furthermore, the socio-economic and environmental benefits from Bolgoda could be crucial to achieve the SDG-11, which is to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable [3]. Additionally, higher educational institutions and schools, nestled with this ecosystem or in the neighborhood gets an opportunity to embrace and explore its dynamics such as habitat change, responses to invasive alien species, over-exploitation and pollution, that could provide valuable and insightful information for conservation and sustainable development.