WILDLANKA Vol.5, No.3, pp. 142 - 149, 2017. Copyright 2017 Department of Wildlife Conservation, Sri Lanka. SUSTAINABILITY OF MANGROVE RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION IN KALPITIYA M.D.K.L.GUNATHILAKA Department of Geography, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. kalpani.lakmali92@gmail.com ABSTRACT - Mangrove ecosystems are inevitably threatened by the rapid increase of coastal population. Kalpitiya peninsula is located in Puttalam lagoon area where the largest extent of mangrove forest have been recorded. Due to diverse socio-economic and natural consequences mangroves in Kalpitiya have been degraded. The aim of the research is to evaluate the sustainability of mangrove restoration and conservation in Kalpitiya. Non-structured interviews and 5m X 5m quadrant sampling method for vegetation sampling was used collect primary data. Arc GIS 10.1 version and MS excel 2013 version was applied to perform mapping and data analysis. 99 % of Rhizophora species are used for restoration attempts. Due to this the diversity of restored mangroves have been reduced. Mudflat surfaces in Daluwa and Mampuriya areas have been failed to conserve and restore mangroves.90% of restored mangroves in Anaiwasala are survived while recently planted mangroves have been threatened due to socio-economic consequences in the area. More than 60% of Kalpitiya restored mangroves are survived while 80% of restored mangroves are survived in Kurugngnampitiya and Amma Thottam. Rare and very rare species particular to this area have been marginalized in too few locations. 90% of residents in Kalpitiya depend on mangrove ecosystem and have identified the importance of mangroves for fishery activities. Minimum five year period spend for the success of mangrove restoration while the destruction of mangroves is faster than restoration. Considering the vulnerability of mangroves new conservation and restoration measures have to be implemented. KEY WORDS : diversity, Kalpitiya, mangrove, restoration, sustainability INTRODUCTION Mangrove forests or tidal wetlands are unique plant communities spread in inter-tidal zones around the tropical and sub-tropical marine ecosystems in the world. 0.4% of the worlds’ forests are stood for mangrove ecosystems (Spalding et al, 2010) which are being lost at the rate about 1% per year (FAO, 2007). In some areas the rate of loss range from 2% to 8% per year (Miththapala, 2008). Since 1980 20% to 35% of mangrove forests have been destroyed throughout the world (FAO, 2007). The productivity and diversity of such remarkable ecosystem therefore makes them of the greatest interest to biologists, geographers and environmentalists. Also the destruction and degradation via anthropogenic activities makes it more than ever essential to understand the significance of mangroves (Gunathilaka, 2017). Mangrove ecosystems are very dynamic and influenced by various factors; soil salinity, frequency of tidal inundation, sedimentation, soil chemistry, freshwater inputs and groundwater availability resulting in the complex patterns of mangrove community structure and function (Field, 1998). Given this complexity, mangrove restoration is a more complex process than just planting a few trees