A PROPOSAL FOR DECLARATION AS A GIAHS THE CASCADED TANK-VILLAGE SYSTEM (CTVS) IN THE DRY ZONE OF SRI LANKA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS, SRI LANKA MARCH 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................................. 5 SUMMARY INFORMATION .................................................................................................. 6 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE PROPOSED GIAHS ............................................ 9 1.1 The Dry Zone ............................................................................................................ 10 1.2 Ancient Hydraulic Civilization of Sri Lanka ............................................................ 11 1.3 Traditional Agriculture in the Dry Zone ................................................................... 15 1.4 Irrigation Systems ..................................................................................................... 16 1.5 Traditional System of Water Management ............................................................... 18 1.6 Geographical Distribution of Village Tanks ............................................................. 20 1.7 The Cascaded Tank-Village System (CTVS) ........................................................... 22 1.8 Key Components of the System ................................................................................ 24 1.9 Production System..................................................................................................... 27 1.10 Goods and Services Provided By the System ........................................................... 27 CHAPTER 2: THE PROPOSED GIAHS SITE ...................................................................... 29 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 29 2.2 Land Form and Climate............................................................................................. 33 2.3 Soil Type ................................................................................................................... 35 2.4 Nucleus of the GIAHS (Horiwila/Palugasweva Cascade) ........................................ 36 2.5 Tourism ..................................................................................................................... 41 2.6 Archeological Importance ......................................................................................... 43 2.7 Five Criteria for the Selction of the GIAHS Site ...................................................... 44 2.7.1 Food and Livelihood Security ............................................................................ 44 2.7.2 Biodiversity and Ecosystems Functions ............................................................ 50 2.7.3 Knowledge Systems and Adapted Technologies ............................................... 61 2.7.4 Culture, Value Systems and Social Organizations ............................................ 70 2.7.5 Remarkable Landscapes, Land and Water Resource Management Features .... 80 CHAPTER 3: GLOBAL SIGNIFICANCE ............................................................................. 83 CHAPTER 4: OTHER SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS ........................ 85 4.1 Relevant Structures, Architecture ............................................................................. 85 4.2 Traditional Agricultural and Domestic Implements.................................................. 90 4.3 Gender Roles ............................................................................................................. 94 CHAPTER 5: HISTORIC RELEVANCE .............................................................................. 95 5.1 The Extent to which the System has been Maintained.............................................. 95 5.2 Unique Contribution to the History and Socio Political Evolution of the Nation..... 96 CHAPTER 6: CONTEMPORARY RELEVANCE ................................................................ 99 1 CHAPTER 7: THREATS AND CHALLENGES ................................................................. 102 7.1 Challenges in Natural Resources and Water Management ..................................... 102 7.2 Challenges in Agricultural Productivity, Resiliency and Profitability .................... 103 7.3 Access to Agricultural Land .................................................................................... 103 7.4 Appreciation of the Value of CTVS ........................................................................ 103 CHAPTER 8: PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS .............................................................. 104 8.1 Ongoing Efforts (National and Local) to Promote Dynamic Conservation ............ 104 8.2 Potentials and Opportunities for Sustainability and Management .......................... 105 8.3 Expected Impacts of GIAHS on Society and Ecology ............................................ 106 8.4 Motivation of the Community, Local Authorities and Other Stakeholders ............ 106 CHAPTER 9: DYNAMIC CONSERVATION PLAN FOR THE PROPOSED GIAHS ... 108 9.1 Ongoing Efforts at National and Local Levels and a Preliminary Gap Analysis ... 108 9.2 Description of Key Strategies to address the Threats and Challenges .................... 109 9.3 Resource Mobilization Plans to support the strategies............................................ 111 9.4 Dynamic Conservation Work Plan for the proposed GIAHS ................................. 113 KEY REFERENCES ............................................................................................................. 115 ANNEXES ............................................................................................................................. 119 Annex 1: Land use map of the proposed GIAHS site ........................................................ 119 Annex 2. Agro-ecological map of Sri Lanka ..................................................................... 120 Annex 3. Wild fruit and vegetable species found in the CTVS ......................................... 121 Annex 4. Importance of traditional rice varieties found in the CTVS ............................... 125 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: A village tank in the proposed CTVS – Mahaweva .................................................... 10 Figure 2: A Village tank in the proposed CTVS–Yakandagaswewa .......................................... 10 Figure 3: Soil type distribution with annual rainfall isohytes in Sri Lanka ................................ 11 Figure 4: Ancient Bisokotuwa in Korasagalle tank .................................................................... 14 Figure 5: Ocean of the King Parakramabahu, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka ..................................... 15 Figure 6: Map showing density distribution of village tanks ..................................................... 21 Figure 7: Schematic representation of a tank cascade system .................................................... 22 Figure 8: Map showing tank cascade systems in Sri lanka ......................................................... 23 Figure 9: Various components of a village tank (Dharmasena, 2010b) ..................................... 25 Figure 10: Gas gommana (Tree belt) in tank – Palugaswewa .................................................... 26 Figure 11: Kattakaduwa of Udakadawala tank ........................................................................... 27 Figure 12: Handicrafts production in Palugaswewa Junction (2003) ......................................... 28 Figure 13: Location map of the proposed GIAHS site ............................................................... 29 Figure 14 Detailed location map of the proposed site ................................................................ 30 Figure 15: Monthly rainfall distribution at Mahailluppallama ................................................... 34 2 Figure 16: Position of soil series on the landscape - Palugaswewa ............................................ 35 Figure 17: Hydrological connectivity of tanks in the cascade .................................................... 37 Figure 18: Distribution of houses in a part of the Horiwila CTVS ............................................. 39 Figure 19: Sigiriya (The Lion Rock) .......................................................................................... 42 Figure 20: Travelling on bullock cart at Hiriwadunna ................................................................ 42 Figure 21: Tasting traditional foods at Hiriwadunna .................................................................. 43 Figure 22: Paddy cultivation irrigated by the tank - Udakadawala ............................................ 45 Figure 23: A traditional multi- storey watch out for protecting crops Udakadawala ................. 46 Figure 24: A traditional multi- storey watch out for protecting crops Palugasweva .................. 47 Figure 25: Karaka – a fish catching device - Palugaswewa area (2003) .................................... 48 Figure 26: Kemana – a fish catching device - Palugaswewa ...................................................... 48 Figure 27: A tank with lotus and water lilies – Udakadawala .................................................... 49 Figure 28: Plant species distribution in CTVS ........................................................................... 51 Figure