The Colombo district is endowed with a variety of wetlands that comprise manmade lakes, canals, paddy fields, abandoned paddy lands and marshes. These wetlands provide a number of important ecosystem services such as nutrient recycling, preventing floods, particularly during heavy monsoons. Provision of food, fuel wood, opportunities for recreation and habitats for aquatic vegetation. Over 250 plant species including 9 endemics, and 280 species of fauna, including 32 endemic species are present in these urban wetlands. Main threats include reclamation or housing development, water pollution, unplanned release of sewage and solid waste, and the spread of alien invasive species.

The project objectives include creating urban ecological awareness among citizens including school children, initiating monitoring and data collection programs in three selected urban wetlands (Beddagana, Thalawathugoda and Weli Park in Nugegoda) by employing the citizen science approach and developing ecological sustainability in selected urban wetland systems as models for conserving the biological wealth contained in these parks with the involvement of the general public.

The project activities include organizing field trips and awareness programs for popularizing bird watching at the wetlands, providing training, increasing awareness through media, conducting school programs to create awareness on wetland conservation, improving wetland sites by planting native species, establishing site support groups at the wetland sites and developing a web-based information portal. By establishing links with different stakeholders, especially the relevant government institutions, the project has been able to fill a void in taking the message to the general public about the importance of protecting urban wetlands. With growing popularity as recreational areas, the three wetland parks have seen an increased number of visitors since the implementation of the project. Bird monitoring by the citizens as well as school children offer valuable information for agencies and organizations working to protect wetlands.

Close collaborations between the grantee (Field Ornithology Group Sri Lanka) and governmental organizations such as the Urban Development Authority (UDA), Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (SLLRDC) and the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) of Sri Lanka as well as with Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) have been successful in taking the message to the wider public and making this initiative sustainable.