Project Field Study 03- 2022
Course Module: Environmental Planning and Management (PNE/PNEH 22013)
Date: 13.02.2022 (Sunday)
Field Study Theme: Environmental cum Disaster Reduction Planning and Management
Participants: Students of the Bachelor of Arts in Community and Regional Planning (Honors and General), Department of Geography, University of Jaffna.
Study Area: Nayaru, Kokkilai, Chemmalai, Mullaitivu Town, Kallappadu North & South, Nanthikkadal and Kerudamadu – Mannakandal of Mullaitivu District
Objective:
- To observe and analyses the community activities that create positive and negative impacts on the eco-system of the area.
- To analyses emergency evacuation preparedness of the community that affected by the Tsunami (Kallappadu South and NorthVillage)
Places covered with in-depth discussion:
- Kokkilai-Nayaru: Students discussed with the local fishing community representatives about activities that affect coastal areas and eco-system. (Note: Some of the coastal field visits are stopped due to heavy rain)
- Mullaitivu Town: Students observed the land use change and the vulnerability of the surrounding eco-system
- Kallappadu: Students had an intensive discussion with the community people about the problems, livelihood, essential needs and emergency preparedness. Further they did a field survey of Raalkulam and observed its eco-tourism potential and learned about the plan of an evacuation path through this Raalkulam.
- Kerudamadu – Mannakandal: Students discussed with the local community people who are affected by annual flooding from downstream of Muththayankaddu Kulam-Per Aru about their problems and challenges and the community-led activities to prevent flooding
Methods used: Field Observation, Ethnographic, and Narrative inquiry
Study Outcome:
- Students observed and identified illegal fishing methods that affect the eco-system of the coast and the water bodies and the lack of appropriate mechanism to prevent this illegal fishing in the Kokkilai-Nayaru area.
- Students observed the land use change in the Mullaitivu town area and how it changes its surrounding ecology.
- Kallappadu village study was covered extensively and the students-civil society interaction was well observed. A walk through field observation and an intensive qualitative inquiry methods were applied with the local people which include residents, representatives of women welfare society, fisherman society and government officials. Students learned the problems, challenges and needs of the community and observed the ecology and the potentials of the Raalkulam water body of the village. Further they identified the importance of evacuation path for this community through this Kulam.
(Recommendation: Students recommend that an evacuation path through this kulam is very essential need in order to save this community from the disaster. The present bund path which is used by the students and residents are in a bad condition)
Note: Considering the problems and essential needs of this village, Department of Geography, University of Jaffna has planned to do an intensive study of this village with stakeholder partnership applying the concept of local-based development strategy and disseminate the findings to the agencies.
- In Karudamadu village visit, students discussed with local residents concerning flood issues and its related problems. Further they observed the Kerudamadu Bund Renovation work that was completed by the local residents funded by an NGO with contribution of the youth . Additionally students noted the problems like landlessness, microfinance issues, wild animals’ conflicts, administrative negligence and unemployment.
(Recommendation: A special disaster risk assessment study of Per Aru downstream area and developing a risk sensitive flood disaster reduction programmes are recommended by the students. Further an in-depth livelihood analysis is recommended)
Kokkilai Fishing Village
Nayaru Eco System Observation
Kallappadu Village survey
Nanthi Kadal Eco-system observation
Karudamadu Village survey
502 total views, 1 views today