Environmental & Social Issues due to Mini-Hydro Projects

1. Loss of Endemic and Endangered Freshwater Species

Most endemic and endangered freshwater fish and crustaceans live in natural streams that are being obstructed and
diverted for mini-hydro development. Volume and flow of water directly impacts the breeding patterns of Endemic Sri
Lankan freshwater fish such as Barred Danio (Devario pathirana) and Side-Striped Barb (Systomus pleurotaenia). The
recent explosive growth of mini-hydro projects partly funded by Carbon Credits has caused local extinction of many of
these ecologically important endemic and endangered species.

2. Destruction of Rainforests in Catchment Areas

Due to construction of headrace channel, penstock, power house, workers quarters and access roads within protected
rainforest reserves and buffer zones, many areas have been recently cleared of their endemic flora. Thousands of
endemic and critically endangered trees such as Hora (Dipterocarpus zeylanicus), Thiniya Dun (Shorea trapezifolia) and
Yakahalu (Shorea dyeri) have been recently felled down for construction of mini-hydro projects.

3. Loss of Ground Water for Agriculture

Due to obstruction of natural streams and destruction of rainforests, ground water reserves have significantly depleted
in areas where mini-hydro development has occurred. As a result, villagers are suffering due to lack of water for
agriculture and consumption even during small periods of dry spell, thus causing many social issues.

4. Increased Soil Erosion and Landslides

Due to clearing of vegetation along river buffer zones during construction period, severe soil erosion and
sedimentation has been observed. As a result of mining through sensitive hilly terrain for the construction of headrace
channels and penstock, several landslides have been reported.

5. Collapse of the Eco-System and Bio-Diversity

The wet-zone and the central highlands of Sri Lanka hold a rich bio-diversity that is already threatened due to human
activities. This beautiful but sensitive eco-system is home to the vast majority of endemic and endangered species in
Sri Lanka. Most of these species can live only on these areas with specific weather conditions and destruction of
rainforests and diversion of water due to mini-hydro projects directly contributes to the extinction of these species.
Once the endemic species are locally extinct, invasive species quickly spread causing rapid collapse of the eco-system.

6. Spread of Mosquito Borne Diseases such as Dengue due to Dried up Streams

Stretches of stream from weir to tailrace channel extending up to several kilometers go dry due to mini-hydro. The
resulting ditches of water devoid of native species are ideal breeding grounds for deadly mosquitoes such as dengue.

7. Impact on Tourism Sector - Loss of Livelihoods and Income

The rainforests, waterfalls, streams and rivers of Sri Lanka with immense aesthetic beauty are important to the local
village based eco-tourism sector. Due to the destruction caused both aesthetically and ecologically as a result of minihydro development, the eco-tourism sector has been greatly affected and livelihoods of poor villagers have been
severely threatened.

Rainforest Protectors of Sri Lanka

www.RainforestProtectors.org

Environmental & Social Issues due to Mini-Hydro Projects

Destruction caused to Sinharaja World Heritage Rainforest and Koskulana River due to a Mini-Hydro Project.

Landslide and destruction caused to natural stream due to Anda Dola mini-hydro project in Galle District.

Endemic and Endangered Barred Danio and Side-Striped Barb Threatened

(Copyright Galle Wildlife Conservation Society)

Rainforest Protectors of Sri Lanka

Eli-Hatha (7 waterfalls) in Sri Pada World

Heritage Rainforest now a mere trickle

www.RainforestProtectors.org