1. General information Location and description of the intervention City or FUA Colombo (FUA) Region Asia Native title of the NBS intervention Gothatuwa Wetland Park Short description of the intervention Sri Lanka, particularly its low-lying coastal areas, faces recurring flooding challenges exacerbated by climate change, coastal erosion, and urbanization (1). Wetlands have emerged as crucial ecosystems in mitigating these risks, acting as natural sponges during heavy rainfall and releasing water gradually as flood levels subside (1). Beyond flood control, wetlands play a vital role in environmental quality. Their biodiversity helps filter pollutants and chemicals from the air and water, creating a healthier environment for both humans and wildlife (1). In 2018, Colombo was designated as a Global Wetland City under the Ramsar Convention, becoming the first and only capital city to receive this recognition (1). Recognizing the significance of wetlands as nature-based solutions, international institutions have prioritized their conservation through financing programs (1), and the city has developed projects to raise awareness and involve its citizens in their protection (1). These efforts have resulted in the creation of four wetland parks in the city, that comparing to a wetland, the wetland parks have more human intervention. Thus, they are focused on different topics and activities (2): Diyasaru Park, Beddagana Wetland Park (managed by the Urban Development Authority), Kotte Rampart Wetland Park (managed by the Urban Development Authority), and the Gothatuwa Wetland Park (managed by the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation) (2). Gothatuwa Park is the newest wetland park and it is located in the flood-prone Gothatuwa neighbourhood (1). Inaugurated in 2024, It has a recreational focus, with trails for cyclists and hikers, and together with the other wetland complex, this park is designed to make the wetlands a cornerstone of local people's lives (1). Currently, environmental education activities are carried out in the park, focusing on managing aquatic invasive plants, tree planting and solid waste collection (3). Website of the intervention https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090312821548 Principal problems Climate-Related Hazards Urban flooding (stormwater) Environmental Degradation Invasive alien species Land use and Socio-economic change Rapid urbanization Health, Well-being and Social cohesion Disconnection from nature Implementation area characterization Climate Tropical (Tropican rainforest, tropical monsoon, tropical savanna) Ecosystem Tropical rainforest Address WWH2+6H6, කොළොන්නාව - අංගොඩ පාර, Kolonnawa, Sri Lanka Colombo Sri Lanka Location The NBS is situated in an area, with clear delineation of boundaries and a specific shape (polygon). The NBS project can also have more than one area location (more than one polygon, situated close by). Area boundary (map-based) NBS area image Source of NBS area image https://www.google.at/maps/place/Gothatuwa+Wetland+Park/@6.9273741,79.8973539,1786m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x3ae2596060ec7b19:0xd54d9b992043144b!8m2!3d6.9283699!4d79.901801!16s%2Fg%2F11v6896c4m?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDUxNS4wIKXMDSoJLDEwMjExNDUzSAFQAw%3D%3D Area description Urban (main city) Type of area before implementation of the NBS Freshwater setting (e.g. river, channel, lake, pond) Public Greenspace Area Timeline of intervention Start date of the intervention (planning process) unknown Start date of intervention (implementation process) 2023 End date of the intervention 2024 Present stage of the intervention Completed 2. Objectives of the intervention Objectives of the intervention Goals of the intervention To provide leisure, education, and relaxation spaces for the citizens in Colombo (1, 2) To turn wetlands into a cornerstone of locals' lives (1) To provide facilities for visitors, such as parking, walkways, rest areas, and observation points to see wildlife more clearly and increase the number of sightings (2) To engage the community in urban wetland management and contribute to a healthier environment for everyone (3) To preserve the natural beauty of the wetland (3) To serve as an urban oasis and reduces the gap between city life and the natural world (3) To provide practical learning experiences on wetland ecosystems (3) To promote a healthy lifestyle while preserving the ecological balance of the wetland (3) Key Priorities Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration) Social Justice and community Sustainability challenge(s) addressed Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13) Climate change adaptation Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15) Green space creation and/or management Habitat and biodiversity conservation Health and well-being (SDG 3) Creation of opportunities for recreation Enabling opportunities for physical activity Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10) Environmental education Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets? Restore mangroves, marshes, reefs and wetlands to dissipate the effects of storms and floodwaters Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention? Ecosystem-focused Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets? Protect and enhance urban habitats Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem Protect species Undertake specific measures to protect species Undertake specific measures to protect native species Means for conservation governance Raise public awareness Public engagement Capacity building Implementation activities and NBS focus Implementation activities Activities to raise awareness and education programs have been carried out. The staff of the park and students of diverse institutions have participated in guided nature walks through the wetland and learned about the important functions that urban wetlands provide for the well-being of citizens while enjoying the beauty of Gothatuwa wetland (3) Wetland clean-up sessions and removal and control of invasive aquatic plants in the park's canals have been organised (3) Educational sessions have been held to promote awareness of the importance of solid waste disposal and invasive species to protect this ecosystem (3). In addition, tree planting (3) and information dissemination (3) have been carried out through CSR strategies. These have sought to provide visitors with knowledge about the importance of wetlands for biodiversity and environmental equity. There are also interpretation trails, guided tours and educational programmes highlighting the need for wetland features and conservation (3). To support the park's objectives, running and cycling paths have been built, as well as a butterfly park (1, 2, 3) Type of NBS project Maintenance and management of urban nature Maintenance or upgrade of exisiting green spaces (e.g. parks) Updated management structure of existing green spaces (e.g. parks) Ecological restoration of ecosystems Restoration of wetlands (other types than peatlands and mangroves, e.g. seagrass) Protection of natural ecosystems Protecton and enhancement of wetlands (other types than peatlands and mangroves, e.g. seagrass) Habitat restoration Habitat conservation 3. NBS domains, ES and scale NBS domain and interventions Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented Blue infrastructure In-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors Parks and urban forests Large urban parks or forests Amenities offered by the NBS Sports areas and equipment Educational or biodiversity trails Cultural (museum, concert areas) Educational and research amenities (nature protection centre, monitoring stations) Complementing infrastructure (bathrooms, café) Viewing and outlook points Design elements for well-being Visual elements (e.g., expansive views, scenic views, natural light, diverse vegetation) Services Expected ecosystem services delivered Regulating services Carbon storage/sequestration Flood regulation Water purification / filtration Habitat and supporting services Habitats for species Cultural services Tourism Aesthetic appreciation Recreation Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational) Physical and experiential interactions with plants and animals Scale Spatial scale Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level Beneficiaries Demographics in implementation area The park is located in the Kolonnawa district, with a total of 12,343 households, it is the second largest in Colombo (5). This district has a population of 55,429, of which 27,218 are males and 28,212 are females. Of the total population, 20,207 are employed, 1,138 are unemployed, and 20,371 are not economically active (5). Socio-economic profile of the area Mixed income Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts Yes Specification of climate or environmentally vulnerable communities Riverfront communities Primary Beneficiaries Private sector/Corporate/Company Researchers/University Citizens or community groups Specify primary beneficiaries Residents and frequent visitors to the wetland parks have benefitted from years of interactions with ecologists and conservationists singing the wetlands' praises (1). The residents have benefited from the opening of the park by having the opportunity for recreation and sport in the park (3, 4). Groups of students have also benefited from educational activities (3, 4). In addition, private companies have had the opportunity to participate in activities in the park as part of their CSR strategy (3) Marginalized groups Unknown Other beneficiaries Local wildlife (e.g., birds, pollinators) Native plant vegetation Natural habitats (e.g. wetland, forests, coastal areas) 4. Governance and financing Governance Governance arrangements Government-led Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation: a semi-governmental body that handles and develops the nation's low-lying marshlands. Initiator and management agent of the park (1, 2) Institutions that have participated in activities in the Park: Ocean Network Express Lanka Pvt. Ltd, Colombo Lotus Tower Management Company, Rotary Club – Colombo Metropolitan, through their CSR strategies and school children and researchers have participated in training and educational spaces (3) Key actors - initiating organization Public sector institution Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors) Citizens or community group Researchers/university Private sector/corporate actor/company Stages of citizen and community engagement On-the-ground implementation Level of citizen and community engagement Limited Community empowerment or capacity-building initiatives Implementation of educational programs, workshops or trainings Establishment of mentorship programs or partnerships with local institutions (e.g. schools, kinder gardens, hospitals, nursing homes) Participatory methods/forms of stakeholder involvement (all stakeholders) Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting) Uncommon actors ("Missing actors") Private Sector Local businesses (e.g. stores, restaurants) Other Please specify other missing actor Other entities with special purposes: Club (Rotary Club) (3) Land owners Public space owned by the city Policy drivers NBS intervention implemented in response to a Regional Directive/Strategy Unknown NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan Unknown NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan Yes Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan" The city of Colombo was declared the first capital city to be accredited as an International Wetland City by Ramsar, which involves a treaty promoting the conservation of wetlands (1) A main goal of the Urban Development Authority’s (UDA) ‘Colombo Commercial City Development Plan – 2019-2030,’ (CCCDP – 2019-2030) is to create a citywide network of green spaces linked by wetlands and waterways (4) Relevant strategy or plan City specific green space strategy or plan Municipal / city level environmental plan or programme Mandatory or voluntary intervention Mandatory (based on policy) Intervention is mandatory Environmental regulation Enablers & Barriers Type of enablers Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city) Please provide details (e.g, name of the plan or strategy) for the selected policies or initiatives. The city manages the wetland complex through its Colombo Wetland Management Strategy, adopted in 2016. The guiding principle of this strategy is the wise use of the ecosystem services of Colombo's wetlands for the well-being of citizens with five strategic objectives; recognise, prevent, restore, engage and govern (1, 4) Governace and decison-making instruments Strategic instruments (e.g. GI strategies, green space strategy or plans) Standards, certifications or guidelines (e.g. standards for accessible green space; biodiversity standards) Public - private business agreement (e.g. public private collaborations, public-private-partnerships (PPP)) Educational and knowledge sharing instruments (e.g. science/ living labs, awareness raising campaigns, specific educational programs, green hubs) Arrangements for governance cooperation Capacity-building initiatives for governance actors (e.g. training workshops for local government officials/ community leaders) Barriers The households encircling Gothatuwa Park's 90 acres were not initially supportive of the project and admitted grievances could emerge again (1) Financing Total cost Unknown Please specify total cost (EUR) Unknown What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements? n/a Source(s) of funding Public local authority budget Other Please specify other source of funding It is mentioned that if developers can secure more private investment, they want to build amenities such as a cafe, a river-side campsite and even a co-working space (1) Type of fund(s) used Earmarked public budget Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities) Non-financial contribution Yes Who provided the non-financial contribution? Citizens (e.g. volunteering) Type of non-financial contribution Provision of labour Co-finance for NBS Yes Co-governance arrangement Unknown Entrepreneurship opportunities Unknown Business models Business models Green densification model Green education model Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model? Public actor (e.g. municipality) 5. Evaluation and learning Impacts, benefits Environmental impacts Water management and blue areas Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems Achieved enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems Green space and habitat Increased green space area Achieved increased green space area Increased number of species present Achieved increased number of species present Improved prevention or control of invasive alien species Expected improved prevention or control of invasive alien species Enhanced support of pollination Achieved enhanced support of pollination Description of environmental benefits -Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems: "In Gothatuwa Wetland Park, even the smallest creatures tell a big story. Dragonflies, like the one captured here, are bioindicators of a healthy environment, reflecting the balance and purity of our wetland” (3) -Increased green space area: "A wetland park, however, has more human intervention. “More human intervention means that we change our landscape to provide facilities for visitors, such as parking, walkways, rest areas, and observation points to see wildlife more clearly and increase the number of sightings. So we give visitors additional facilities in a wetland park. In Colombo, we have four wetland parks: Diyasaru Park, Beddagana Wetland Park (managed by the Urban Development Authority), Kotte Rampart Wetland Park (managed by the Urban Development Authority), and the Gothatuwa Wetland Park (under construction, managed by the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation)" (2) -Increased number of species present: "During the event, seventy-five native wetland plants were planted by the staff of the Gothatuwa Wetland Park." (3) -Improved prevention or control of invasive alien species: "The quality of wetland ecosystems can be improved through proper management of water hyacinth" (3) -Enhanced support of pollination: "The Butterfly Garden at Gothatuwa Wetland Park is a haven for these beautiful creatures, surrounded by native and exotic flora designed to support and attract them. Wander through this serene space, learn about the unique plants that sustain our butterfly population, and reconnect with nature in a peaceful, urban oasis." (3) Environmental impact indicators Total number of vascular plant species protected or introduced 75 Economic impacts Generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation) Achieved generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation) Description of economic benefits -Generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation): "We are happy to announce that the first public volunteer wetland cleaning program of Gothatuwa Wetland Park was held on 01st April, 2023 at Gothatuwa Wetland Park." (3) Social and cultural impacts Health and wellbeing Gain in activities for recreation and exercise Expected gain in activities for recreation and exercise Cultural heritage and sense of place Improvement in people’s connection to nature Expected improvement in people’s connection to nature Increased sense of place identity, memory and belonging Expected increased sense of place identity, memory and belonging Increased appreciation for natural spaces Achieved increased appreciation for natural spaces Education Increased support for education and scientific research Achieved increased support for education and scientific research Increased knowledge of locals about local nature Achieved increased knowledge of locals about local nature Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits Achieved increased awareness of NBS and their benefits Description of social and cultural benefits -Gain in activities for recreation and exercise: "Gothatuwa Wetland Park is set to become your new favorite destination for outdoor recreation" (3) -Improvement in people’s connection to nature: "Gothatuwa Wetland Park isn't just about exercise—it's about connecting with nature and discovering new hobbies" (3) -Increased sense of place identity, memory and belonging: "Gothatuwa is designed to turn wetlands into a cornerstone of locals' lives" (1) -Increased appreciation for natural spaces: "A lot of people now see wetlands as something valuable, partly thanks to government entities that have taken ownership of the wetlands" -Increased knowledge of locals about local nature: "The staff of the Park participated in an awareness campaign to learn about the vital role wetlands play in our ecosystem and the importance of protecting them" (3) -Increased support for education and scientific research: "The celebration of the end of the Young Wildlife Biologist Starter Course could not have been a better example of how challenging, interesting and fun being in the field can be! To wrap up what has been an incredibly educational journey, the Young Wildlife Biologists got together for an overnight camping experience at Gothatuwa Wetland Park" (3) -Increased knowledge of locals about local nature: Using facebook posts such as: "Experienced birds arriving in October Brown Sabaritha / Brown Aspatia / Brown Shrike. Dumburu Sabariththa, an easy migrant bird that visits the country every year, is a winter in all the peak regions of Sri Lanka. The brown Sabariththa, which is coming to Sri Lanka in October, will return back in the end of April after the migration season." (3) -Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits: "Department of Town and Country Planning, University of Moratuwa visited our beautiful Diyasaru and Gothatuwa Wetland Parks to explore and understand the vital role wetlands play in urban planning and environmental sustainability" (3) Evidence for use of assessment Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process Unknown Presence of indicators used in reporting No evidence in public records Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports No evidence in public records Availability of a web-based monitoring tool No evidence in public records Use of GIS in mapping impacts No evidence in public records Cost-benefit analysis Unknown Transparency Inclusion of diverse stakeholders in project governance processes (e.g. planning, implementation, monitoring, etc.) Other Please specify other means of ensuring transparency Online disclosure of activities (3) Justice Community satisfaction Mixed: Feedback and reports show a combination of positive and negative sentiments regarding satisfaction with the NBS project within the community. Description of locals satisfaction with the project Few feedbacks are found as it has been recently inaugurated. On the one hand, they are positive, highlighting the ease of access to green spaces. However, it is mentioned that at the beginning the community did not support the project (the reasons are not specified), but that for now, locals regularly use the facilities (1) Trade-offs & Negative impacts Social justice and conflicts Lack of social acceptance Please specify Trade-offs & Negative impacts Selected The households encircling Gothatuwa Park were not initially supportive of the project, and grievances could emerge again. But for now, locals are using the facilities to walk and practice sports (1) Emphasis of existing social inequalities or injustices No information reported related to negative social justice-related impacts of the NBS project Measures to prevent gentrification or displacement No initiatives or policies were implemented High-quality & Transformative NBS Multiple impacts delivery (climate, biodiversity, just community) No Goal setting and impacts delivery In the planning phase, the project aimed to address issues in all 3 key priority areas, but impacts were not delivered in all three key areas. Reaching original project goals Most of the project goals were achieved Long-term perspective Yes Cost-effective solutions Unknown Equitable impacts A. All stakeholders benefit fairly from the project Transformative capacity Social change (e.g. social relationships, networks and dynamics within them) Ecological change (e.g. ecosystem functions and their distribution) Magnitude of change Reformist: by focusing on addressing underlying drivers of change but failing to address the problem structurally or systemically Application of lessons learned Unknown Perception of Environmental Change Unknown 6. Sources References 1. Bove, T. (2024). Once used as trash dumps, Sri Lanka’s wetlands are remade as flood-buffering parks. Accessed on October 11, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 2. Daily News (2024). Colombo’s Hidden Oasis. Accessed on October 11, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 3. Gothatuwa Wetland Park (2023). Gothatuwa Wetland Park Facebook Page. Accessed on October 11, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 4. International Water Management Institute (2024). Urban wetlands and the built environment: how Colombo’s green spaces enhance city life. Accessed on October 11, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 5. Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Economic Affairs, Livestock Development, Irrigation and Fisheries & Aquatic Resources Development (2019). Strategic Social Assessment . Accessed on October 11, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; Comments and notes Public Images Image Gothatuwa Wetland Park Kasun Bandara Hettinayaka Image Dragonfly at the Gothatuwa Wetland Park Gothatuwa Wetland Park Facebook Page
