Priority Ecosystems and

Protected Areas in Sri Lanka

79°0'0"E 80°0'0"E 81°0'0"E
10° 0'0"N

10° 0'0"N
Total Area km² Potential Area Impacted km²
Coral Reefs
Coral Reefs 671 671
Mangroves
Mangroves 87 87
Protected Areas 12,545 1,887 Seagrasses
Protected Areas

Protected Area (boundary unknown)

9°0'0"N

9°0'0"N
8°0'0"N

8°0'0"N
7°0'0"N

7°0'0"N
6°0'0"N

6°0'0"N

Population De ns ity people /k m2

5 25 50 100 500 2500 5000 0 25 50 75 100 125

km
79°0'0"E 80°0'0"E 81°0'0"E

website: www. unep-wcmc. org email: ctf@ unep-wcmc. org

All dat a on Protected Areas, Coral Reefs, Seagrasses and Mangroves
tel: +44 (0) 1223 277314
is available from UNEP-WCMC databases.
please contact Kaveh Zahedi or fax: +44 (0) 1223 277136
Data on population density kindly provided by CI ESIN.
Phillip Fox for furt her det ails © UNEP-WCMC, 2005
Notes and Information on the priority ecosystem and protected
area maps and data
Datasets
Coral Reefs
The Coral Reefs dataset is maintained by UNEP-WCMC. This dataset has been created from multiple
sources and was used in the creation of the World Atlas of Coral Reefs (1997). The dataset used in this
analysis is an updated version of this data. Coral Reefs areas have been generated using a 1km grid
consistent with the methodology used for calculating areas in the World Atlas of Coral Reefs (2001).
Mangroves
The Mangroves dataset is maintained by UNEP-WCMC. This dataset is currently undergoing review for the
next version of the World Atlas of Mangroves. The current data holding has been used in this analysis.
However UNEP-WCMC is aware that the Maldives and Nicobar Islands are in particular need of update. Any
assistance in updating this information would be greatly appreciated.
Seagrasses
The Seagrasses dataset is maintained by UNEP-WCMC. This dataset has been created from multiple
sources and was used in the World Atlas of Seagrasses (2003). The information available on Seagrasses is
often restricted to point data and calculations of total area and potential area impacted have therefore not
been made. Seagrass data has been included on the maps to indicate potential locations.
Protected Areas
The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is maintained by UNEP-WCMC. Both point and polygon
information was used in this analysis. The potential area of protected areas impacted was taken as the entire
area of all protected areas that intersect with impacted area. This combined with the fact that certain areas of
land being designated at multiple levels of protection means that the areas quoted are an overestimation.
Information on the size of Protected areas in the Maldives is unavailable at present.
CIESIN Population Density Data
The population data was provided by CIESIN (http://www.ciesin.org) and represents the estimated
population density in 2000.
Contextual Data
Country Boundaries
The Digital Chart of the World and ESRI 2002 Country Boundaries datasets was used for display on
the maps. This does not imply the expressions of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP-WCMC
concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or concerning the delimitation of its
frontiers or boundaries.
Topography
GTOPO30 data was used for presentation of relief on the maps and for analysis of those areas below
30m above sea level.
Bathymetry
The Bathymetry data used for display on the maps was provided by ESRI and represents a color
hillshaded Digital Elevation Model (DEM) based image of all continents and ocean beds of the world.
Potentially Impacted Zone
This is a derived dataset from data and information obtained from UNOSAT and the World Food Programme
as well as local reports and combined to give a broad overview of the countries and regions affected. Below
is a list of each country and the areas identified as having been impacted. For the analysis of terrestrial
ecosystems and protected areas coastal areas were defined as being those within 5km of the coastline and
less than 30m above sea level.
Bangladesh
All marine and coastal areas.
India
All marine and coastal areas from the northern tip of Kerala province on the west coast to the northern
tip of Andhra Pradesh on the east coast. All marine and coastal areas of the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands which were assessed seperately.
Indonesia (Sumatra)
All marine and coastal areas from the southern most tip of Sumatra on the west coast around to the
southern most tip of Sumatera Utara province on the east coast including all the offshore islands on
the west coast.
Kenya
All marine and coastal areas.
 Malaysia
All marine and coastal areas of Peninsular Malaysia from the northwest border with Thailand down to
the southern border of Perak Province.
Maldives
All marine and coastal areas.
Myanmar
All marine and coastal areas.
Seychelles
All marine and coastal areas.
Somalia
All marine and coastal areas south of Raas Caseyr in Somalia.
Sri Lanka
All marine and coastal areas.
Tanzania
All marine and coastal areas.
Thailand
All marine and coastal areas of Thailand in the Andaman Sea from the border with Myanmar to the
border with Malaysia.

Summary Analyses
Total amounts of Coral Reefs, Mangroves and Protected Areas were calculated from the latest information
contained within the coral reefs and mangroves datasets and the WDPA . For Malaysia and Indonesia only
Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra were assessed. Potential areas impacted were calculated by overlaying
the potentially impacted zone with the WDPA, Coral Reefs and Mangroves datasets.

Projection Information
Lambert Azimuthal projection with a central meridian of 75° east was used for the analysis of potentially
impacted areas. The maps are presented in Geographic projection.

Errors and Omissions

The data presented on the maps and in the table is provided in good faith and is accurate to the best of our
knowledge. If you have any improvements and corrections that can be made to the data please email
ctf@unep-wcmc.org .

References
Green, E.P. and Short, F.T., (2003). World Atlas of Seagrasses. Prepared by the UNEP World Conservation
Monitoring Centre. University of California Press, Berkeley, USA.
Spalding, M.D., Blasco, F. and Field, C.D. (Eds). (1997). World Mangrove Atlas. The International Society of
Mangrove Ecosystems, Okinawa, Japan.
Spalding, M.D., Ravilious, C. and Green, E.P. (2001). World Atlas of Coral Reefs. Prepared by the UNEP
World Conservation Monitoring Centre. University of California Press, Berkeley, USA.
Taylor, M., Ravilious, C. and Green, E.P., (2003). Mangroves of East Africa. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge, UK.
Chape, S., Blyth, S., Fish, L., Fox, P. and Spalding, M., (Compilers), (2003). 2003 United Nations List of
Protected Areas. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK and UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge, UK.