Abstract:
Mangrove ecosystems represent an important ecological and socio-economic resource, especially in
coastal areas where communities often rely on natural resources and tourism livelihoods. The study
aims to explore the socio-economic drivers of mangrove sustainability in the Madu Ganga coastal
lagoon system in Sri Lanka. This research focuses particularly on the interactions of factors relating to
livelihood diversification, tourism development, community participation, and local governance in
affecting the sustainable management of mangrove forests. Addressing a critical research gap where
existing literature frequently isolates economic shifts from active micro-level governance, this study
adopts an integrated empirical framework. Formulating its survey parameters via Yamane’s sample size
formula, a structured questionnaire was systematically administered to 150 purposive and stratified
stakeholders. Structured questionnaires were administered to stakeholders like boat operators, fishers,
handicraft producers, food vendors, cinnamon producers, and small business owners. The survey
instrument was structurally developed based on the Social-Ecological Systems (SES) Framework and
the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA). Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive
statistics, while qualitative responses were analysed thematically following the Social-Ecological
systems framework and the sustainable livelihoods approach. Statistical results reveal that tourism
accounts for the largest livelihood category at 38%, followed by fishing at 19%, and small businesses
at 14%. The assessment suggests a strong operational movement away from fishing activities and
towards tourism-based employment, with 60% of the respondents confirming a household income
transition from fishing to tourism over the past ten years. Tourism was also associated with
environmental challenges. Notably, 80% of the participants identified unregulated boat traffic as a direct
driver of shoreline erosion and habitat disturbance, while 45% perceived the overall health of the
mangrove ecosystem to be in active decline. The strongest predictor of conservation success was
community participation, where localised monitoring initiatives and mechanisms for local governance
enjoyed substantially more support than centralised management approaches. While almost all
respondents acknowledged the vital role of mangrove ecosystems for tourism and sustainable
livelihoods, they felt ecosystem health was declining under anthropogenic pressures. It concludes that
sustainable management of mangroves in Madu Ganga is desirable but cannot be achieved without
balancing local economic development and environmental conservation through participatory decisionmaking, community-based governance of conservation practices, and ecologically sensitive tourism
initiatives. These insights directly enrich broader global sustainability debates by showcasing how
devolving conservation mandates to localized tourist cooperatives cultivates superior ecological
resilience over rigid state control.
