Except at locations of the chainages 02+000, 42+000 and 52+000, the new trace deviates from the combined trace. The major deviation occrs between 0!+000 and 2"+000 and the rest are relativel# small in extent. Ecologicall#, the minor deviation between 00+000 and 0"+000, and between 0$+000 and 0%+500 cannot be expected to impose a mar&edl# different impact on the environment as the# still traverse the same or similar wetland areas which are mostl# abandoned padd# fields and bilt p land. The description and impact anal#ses therefore are restricted to the major deviation between 0!+000 and 2"+000. 3.2.1 Flora 3.2.1.1 Terrestral !lora The major deviation in this part of the trace lies between 0!+000 and 2"+000. The deviated segment however traverses largel# over bilt p land where the hman settlements are and between "%+!00 and "'+000 crosses a segment of the low(l#ing areas at )anape. Therefore the predominant terrestrial flora along the deviation comprises of that in home gardens. *owever, ot of the 0% endemic species encontered in the area 0+ were recorded among terrestrial flora. The terrestrial plants encontered along the ,-./ trace are presented in Table ". Table ."0 )lant species encontered along the ,-./ trace of the sothern highwa# Terrestal Acacia caesia *ingr(vel 1abaceae Allophylus cobbe 2obbe 3apindaceae Antidesma ghaesembilla -(embilla Ephorbiaceae Areca catechu )wa& 4recaceae Argyreia populifolia + 5iritilla /onvolvlaceae Artocarpus incisus 6ata( del 7oraceae Arundo donax )oaceae Canavalia cathartica 8al bonchi 1abaceae Caryota urens 2ithl 4recaceae Cassia tora Tora 1abaceae Ceiba pentandra )ln( imbl -ombacaceae Cerbera manghas 4poc#naceae Cerbera odollam 5on(&adr 4poc#naceae Chromolaena odorata * )odi(sinnomaran 4steraceae Chukrasia tabularis *lan(hi& 7eliaceae Cinnamomum sp. 2rnd 9araceae Clerodendrum infortunatum )inna :erbenaceae Clidemia hirta 7elastomataceae Clitoria ternatea ;il(&atorod 1abaceae Cocos nucifera )ol 4recaceae Crotalaria verrucosa <a&(bairi#e 1abaceae Cyperus corymbosus 5al(ehi /#peraceae Derris scandens 2ala(wel 1abaceae Dillenia suffruticosa =i#apara =illeniaceae Elaeocarpus serratus 8eral Elaeocarpaceae Ficus hispida 2ota(dimbla 7oraceae Ficus tinctoria 8al(ehet 7oraceae Glochidion coriaceum + Ephorbiaceae Glochidion Moonii + -(*n &irilla Ephorbiaceae Glochidion stellatum + 2irilla Ephorbiaceae Glochidion eylanicum *n(&irilla Ephorbiaceae Gomphrena globosa 6aja(pohott 4maranthaceae Gymnema pergularioides + 4sclepiadaceae !edyotis trichoneura 6biaceae !evea brasiliensis 6bber( Ephorbiaceae !ibiscus furcatus ;a(piritta 7alvaceae !ibiscus tiliaceus -eli patta 7alvaceae !orsfieldia iryaghedhi + 7alaboda 7#risticaceae "xora coccinea 6atambala 6biaceae #eucaena leucocephala * .pil ipil 1abaceae #imonia acidissima =ivl 6taceae #itsea glutinosa -o(mee 9araceae #ud$igia sp. 8el(&arab >nagraceae Macaranga peltata 2enda Ephorbiaceae Mangifera indica 4mba 4nacardiaceae Morinda coreia 4h 6biaceae %ephelium lappaceum 6ambtan 3apindaceae &lax "mbricata Telati#a >lacaceae &lax eylanica 7ella >lacaceae &sbeckia aspera -owiti#a 7elastomataceae 'agiantha dichotoma =ivi(2adr 4poc#naceae 'anicum maximum * 6ata(tana )oaceae 'avetta indica )avetta 6biaceae 'hoenix sylvestris .ndi 4recaceae 'ongamia pinnata 7agl(&aranda 1abaceae 'othus scandens )ota(wel 4raceae 'remna obtusifolia 8el(midi :erbenaceae 'sidium gua(ava )era 7#rtaceae 'sychotria eylanica + 6biaceae )ichadia scrabra 6biaceae *chefflera sp. 4recaceae *colopia sp. 1lacortiaceae *ida acuta 5as(bevila 7alvaceae +erminalia catappa 2ottamba /ombretaceae +rema orientalis 5admba ?lmaceae +riumfetta pentandra Epala Tiliaceae ,ernonia eylanica + )pla 4steraceae -alidda antidysenterica + .dda 4poc#naceae -edelia trilobata * 8edelia 4steraceae .iiphus oenoplia Eramini#a 6hi@ophoraceae 3.2.1.2 A"#at$ !lora 4AaticB amphibios flora consists of plant species characteristic to freshwater wetlands, particlarl# abandoned padd# fields in the lowlands of 3ri 9an&a. The habitats available in the wetland are of considerable diversit#. -esides the channels across the wetlands that eventall# drain into -olgoda la&e, open water areas occr in the wetland and the# are the relativel# deep areas of the wetland. 3ch areas are srronded b# patches of herbaceos vegetation that consists of marsh plants. The marsh consists of herbaceos species characteristic to abandoned padd# fields in the soth western coastal plain and it is dominated b# grasses and sedges. 1reshwater aAatic plants occr in the open water areas in the middle part of the wetland along the channels. The peripheral vegetation is dominated b# tree species that t#picall# occr associated with freshwater marshes. 4 list of tree and shrb species fond to occr in association with the )anape wetland C"%+ !00D is presented in Table 2 and the herbaceos plant species encontered in the wetland are presented in Table $. Table 20 Tree and shrb species associated with )anape wetland.
Except for Exacum sp/ 4ll other species are not endemics and the# occr in abndance in association with padd# fields throghot the wet @one. The sedge *coenoplectus grossus CThnhiri#aD is collected from this wetland b# the villagers to weave mats. 3.2.2 Fa#%a 3.2.2.1 Terrestral !a#%a a%& a'()*a%s Terrestrial environment in the location of deviation Cassociated with )anape wetlandsD is predominantl# homesteads and rbber plantations. The# provide habitats for terrestrial fana, particlarl# insects, birds and reptiles. .n terms of diversit#, the least represented fanal grop in this part of the trace and in the site of deviation are the small mammals. Thirteen btterfl# species have been recorded from the area of the deviation and the# are ecologicall# important as pollinators. Three species of sna&es happen to occr in the area ot of which one, i.e. 0enochrophis asperrimus C=i#a bari#aD is endemic to 3ri 9an&a. )#thons which are rare sna&es in the area ma# find their territories and nmber of habitats shrin& once the road is constrcted and the# will become more vlnerable. /innamon plantations arond 2rndgahahete&ma is the onl# area where the endemic small mammal species CAxis porosnus D C8il mwa(3D are fond in 3ri 9an&a. Table 4 presents the diversit# of btterflies, a major grop of pollinators, fond to occr along the ,-./ trace while Table 5 presents the reptiles reported to occr in the area. These species were also &nown to occr in and arond the )anape wetland. Table 40 3pecies of btterflies recorded along the ,-./ trace of the sothern highwa#. B#tter!les The nigger The white for(ring The lesser grass ble The ble tiger The common je@ebel The plains cpid =ar& cerlean The gre# pans# The peacoc& fans# The indian dart The Three(spot grass #ellow /ommon crow /ommon sailor Table 50 3pecies of reptiles reported to occr along ,-./ trace Fa'l+,S(e$es E%-ls) %a'e Stat#s A-a'&ae Calotes calotes 5reen garden li@ard Threatened Calotes versicolor /ommon garden li@ard
S$%$&ae 7ab#a carinata /ommon s&in& 7ab#a maclaria 6oc& s&in& Table + presents the mammal species that inhabit the habitats associated along the road trace of the ,-./ section. Table + 0 7ammal species associated with the area along the road trace of the ,-./ section of the sothern highwa#. Fa'l+,S(e$es E%-ls) %a'e Stat#s S#&ae *us scrofa
M#r&ae Mus mesculus .ndian hose mose /ommon )attus ratus *ose rat /ommonB Axis porosnus 8il mwa Endemic 3.2.2.2 A"#at$ !a#%a .nvertebrates, fish, amphibians, birds, insects and mammals constitte the fana of )anape wetlands and among which fish and birds are visibl# the most important grops of fana in the ecolog# of )anape wetlands. Table % presents the common fish species that occr in )anape wetlands. 2nife fish, an escaped exotic ornamental fish is abndant in the area and being a carnivoros fish, it appears to affect the indigenos fish poplations in the marsh and the associated streams, hence it is considered an alien invasive species. Table %0 /ommon fish species in )anape wetlands of the ,-./ section of the road trace
3.2.2.3 A0a% !a#%a Table ! smmarises the bird diversit# associated with the wetlands of )anape. .nterviews with the villagers revealed that migrator# bird species, of which the# do not &now the names and large birds sch as )elicans and 9arge Egrets visit this wetland dring certain times of the #ear. 3ince the srve# was done dring the months of ,ne(4gst the members of the srve# team were not able to observe them in the field. Table !0 terrestrial and aAatic birds reported to visit the wetlands of )anape C)1 F )add# fieldG 9/ 89 F 8etland F 9ow /ontr#G ?4 F ?rbarn areaG 4)1 F 4bandoned padd# fieldG *5 F *ome gardenG >4 F >pen areaG 4H F 4ll HonesG 9=H F 9owland dr# @oneG 98H F 9owland wet @oneG :/ F :er# /ommonG / F /ommonG 7i F 7igrantD 3cientific ;ameB1amil# English ;ame *abitats Stat#s 4cciptridae 4ccipiter badis 3hi&ra *5 VC *aliaster inds -rahmin# &ite 89B)1 VC 3pilornis cheela /reasted serpent eagle 89 VC
Thres&iornithidae Thres&iornis melanocephals -lac&(headed ibis )1B89 VC 2 IM1ACT I2ENTIFICATION JBIC SECTION Tables $ presents the networ& anal#sis of potential impacts de to the major deviation between 0!+000 and 2"+000 in the ,-./ section of the road trace. 2.1 Flora 2.1.1 Terrestral !lora The major deviation that occrs in the ,-./ section of the trace lies at -andaragama area Cbetween 0!+000 and 2"+000D and it traverses across a relativel# small Ccompared to -olgoda wetlandsD patch of wetlands sitated arond )anape ela CstreamD. 3ince the terrestrial flora is represented primaril# b# the flora of home gardens constrction of the road ma# not lead to complete loss of these species, bt will redce significantl# the available habitats for fana, inclding birds and particlarl# the insects that are of extreme importance as pollinators. *arvests from home gardens depend largel# on the pollination sccess and when the pollinators lose habitats and ths srvival in the area agricltral prodce too will decline. 2.1.2 A"#at$ !lora 8etlands of )anape represent an abandoned padd# field and the floral species present are characteristic to sch environments, as sch removal of these species from the area ma# not contribte immensel# to decrease plant diversit# in general. The onl# endemic plant species encontered in the area CExacum spD is also rare and of high potential as an ornamental plant. 7an# wetland plant species are traditionall# sed b# the villagers for sbsistence ses sch as sedges for weaving mats and other hosehold items and with the road constrction sch opportnities will not be available for the villagers. 4lthogh the wetland arond )anape is going to be reclaimed and changed with all the impacts discssed herein, sggestion to deviate it to the present trace will prodce less impact when compared to the combined trace which was proposed to traverse across the -olgoda la&e wetland complex. 6eclamation of this wetland will affect the local water table as this is an area with stagnant freshwater that ma# pla# the role of grondwater recharge. 2.2. Fa#%a 2.2.1 Terrestral !a#%a a%& a'()*a%s Terrestrial fana are affected mainl# throgh loss of habitats, particlarl# those that are important as pollinators and biological pest controllers sch as insects. *abitats of the endemic mammal Axis porosnus will not be affected b# the deviated road trace, however road &ills of this rare species ma# ta&e place as the cinnomon plantations have been fragmented b# the major trace Ccombined traceD. )ollinators will lose habitats and ths their role will be hampered reslting local declines in crop harvests, particlarl# frits. 2.2.2 A"#at$ !a#%a 8ith the proposed activities of the road constrction, habitats for aAatic fana, particlarl# fish will be largel# lost permanentl#. )anape wetlands spport otters, a protected animal in 3ri 9an&a. 6emoval of vegetation, reclamation and noise created b# the traffic will ma&e this site nfavorable for them and ma# leave the area with time as this wetland is connected to -olgoda la&e wetland complex and 2al ganga. 2.2.3 A0a% !a#%a )anape wetland at the deviation is a site that a considerable nmber of resident as well as a few migrator# birds visit de to its sheltered localit# and relativel# low distrbance. 8ith reclaiming part of it for the road and de to sbseAent introdction of traffic, this will become nsitable as a bird habitat and it will affect bird poplations, leading to declining diversit# among them. /learing vegetation will redce the habitats, food and shelter for the avifana and this will lead to decline in their poplation si@es. -irds are seed dispersal agents and low nmbers of birds in the area ma# affect natral seed dispersal and in trn will negativel# affect terrestrial plant diversit#. Table$ 0 4 networ& anal#sis for the identification of ecological impacts of the proposed deviations of ,-./ section of the 6oad trace for sothern highwa#. "0 3ite clearingG 20 /t and fillG $0 9and reclamationG 40 5enerated J diverted traffic Ecological component )roject activities predicted to have significant impacts .mpacts )rimar# C.nitialD 3econdar# CsbseAentD 1inal " 2 $ 4 Terrestrial flora .rreversible loss of plants, inclding 0% endemic species 9oss of plants, inclding those that are sed b# people Cmedicines, timberD 1ragmentation of poplations, =eclining poplation si@es J fragmentation decrease the viabilit# of poplations, especiall# of endemics .rreversible loss of plants J animal diversit# =eclining opportnities for sbsistence ses for villagers Terrestrial fana 9oss of habitats for terrestrial J avifana, pollinators Cbtterflies, insects J small mammalsD Enhanced exposre =eclining poplation si@es J fragmentation decrease the viabilit# of poplations, especiall# of endemics J rare ones =ecreasing protection, road &ills 9oss of animal diversit# 9ow #ields from crops de to enhanced pest attac&s, infertilit# C pollination failresD 4Aatic flora 9oss of plants and wetland area 9oss of endemic and rare plants CExacum spD 9oss of habitats for fana, wetland processes that remove ntrients J heav# metals from water 9oss of genetic resorces, habitats for fana =ecline in poplation si@es of plants and associated fana, deterioration of environmental Aalit# =rop in water table and less water in srface wells 4Aatic fana 9oss of plants and area of wetlands 9oss of habitats, food , shelter J conditions for reprodction for some aAatic fana =eclining fanal diversit# of the area )oor retrns from fisher# prodce 4vifana .rreversible loss of habitats, food sorces J protection 9oss of habitats for migrator# bird species ;oise and vehicle lights in the night change the Aalit# of bird habitats )oplation si@es decline -irds will move to other areas, high competition, lac& of food and habitats for resident J migrant birds )oor seed dispersal and predator control, affects agricltral prodctivit# 7igrator# birds ma# not have enogh energ# to complete the life c#cle, poplation decreaseB extinction