Abstract:
Mangrove ecosystems are vital coastal habitats that deliver critical ecosystem services.
However, dense mangrove root systems efficiently entrap and accumulate microplastics (MPs),
converting these ecosystems into long-standing sinks for MPs pollution. In Sri Lanka, growing
microplastic pollution, linked with the lack of microplastic-specific policy and regulatory
framework, inadequate environmental examining, insufficient scientific evidence, institutional
fragmentation and poor coordination. These deficiencies have generated major policy and
governance gaps, resulting in disintegrated management of MPs contamination across
interconnected riverine, estuarine, and coastal ecosystems. This review synthesizes existing
knowledge on mangrove microplastic pollution, critically evaluates Sri Lanka's National
Environmental Policy and regulatory framework, and reviews the global policy framework on
MP pollution control through a comprehensive literature review. The methodology is
structured into three sections: (a) study of the plastic lifecycle and microplastic toxic
contaminants affecting mangrove ecosystems; (b) an extensive review of microplastic
contamination research trends in Sri Lanka, with specific attention on riverine, coastal and
estuarine mangrove ecosystems; and (c) an evaluation of global microplastic policy and
regulatory frameworks and adaptable policy responses for nationwide mangrove conservation.
The review further examines the appropriateness of existing global regulatory mechanisms,
including the European Union REACH Synthetic Polymer Microparticles (SPM) Restriction,
the EU plastic pellet regulation-2025 on strict rules to prevent pellet losses, and the United
Nations Global Plastics Treaty, to create a cohesive policy pathway for Sri Lanka’s MP
pollution control. By examining these internationally recognized frameworks and mechanisms,
this study identifies key policy implications, including the need to regulate globally generated
microplastics, prevent industrial pellet loss into the environment, and develop standardized
protocols for routine monitoring and assessments. Furthermore, the paper outlines future
research and policy directions, emphasizing the importance of scientific monitoring,
interdisciplinary research, and integrated river- to -mangrove management approaches. These
measures are essential for fostering evidence-based policymaking and achieving effective
control of microplastic contamination across interlinked freshwater, estuarine and mangrove
ecosystems.
