Climate Urgency and the Future: Technologies of Anticipation in Sri Lanka

Negombo Estuary, Gampaha District, Western Province of Sri Lanka.

Fieldwork update by Suranga Lakmal Kiri Hennadige - March 2025

My research, titled "Climate Urgency and the Future: Technologies of Anticipation in Sri Lanka," examines how scientific and societal responses to climate change are shaped by different forms of anticipation. This study explores the role of biotechnology and geotechnology in forecasting climate catastrophes and investigates how various stakeholders—including scientists, policymakers, conservationists, and local communities—engage with these technologies. The research also examines the socio-political dimensions of climate adaptation, particularly in coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, which play a crucial role in climate mitigation and biodiversity conservation.

The Negombo estuary has been selected as the primary research site due to its ecological significance and its role as a contested space where scientific research, governmental policies, and local livelihoods intersect. My focus is on mangroves and their ecosystem. Mangroves are intertidal woody plants that play a crucial role in coastal protection, carbon sequestration, and fisheries support. Through a combination of ethnographic fieldwork and participatory observation, I am investigating how various actors, from scientists to fishermen, perceive, anticipate, and respond to climate uncertainties.

Oloolua Forest Ecotour with Rosemary, 19 November 2024.JPG

This study aims to explore how climate uncertainties are anticipated and addressed within the ecological, scientific, and policy landscapes of Sri Lanka, with a particular focus on the Negombo estuary. First, it seeks to understand the different types of anticipation exercises used to address future climate uncertainty, particularly in relation to mangrove services and values. This includes examining how these exercises function within scientific communities, policy frameworks, and local societal contexts. Second, the study investigates the role of biotechnology and geotechnology in climate adaptation, analyzing how biotechnologies—such as mangrove restoration, blue carbon sequestration, and ecosystem rehabilitation—alongside geotechnologies like remote sensing and GIS mapping, are applied in scientific and experimental labs. Additionally, it examines the expertise involved in deploying these technologies. Third, the research delves into conservation priorities by identifying which forms of life (mangroves, fisheries, seagrasses, etc.) and non-life (coastal land, sediments, water bodies, etc.) are prioritized for protection. It also considers the socio-political implications of these decisions, including the ecosystems or species that are overlooked and the reasons behind their neglect. Finally, the study assesses power dynamics in climate anticipation by investigating how various stakeholders—scientists, policymakers, conservationists, and local communities—resist, manipulate, or divert climate adaptation efforts. This includes analyzing public controversies and conflicts that arise from these interventions at both local and global levels. Through this multi-faceted approach, the study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how climate futures are shaped in contested ecological spaces.

I am currently conducting ethnographic fieldwork in Negombo, a historically rich city known for its Catholic fishing community. The atmosphere here is deeply influenced by both the cultural and environmental context. Every day, I hear the melodic strains of Catholic githica (hymns) echoing through the streets, which adds a spiritual rhythm to the daily life of the community. The sound of fishermen preparing their nets or boats can be heard, blending with the chatter of locals and the hum of motorbikes in the background.

In terms of the environment, the Negombo Lagoon is unfortunately heavily polluted, and the air often carries the strong, unpleasant smell of decaying organic matter mixed with brine and industrial waste. This pollution is a stark reminder of the environmental challenges the area faces. The colors of the landscape shift throughout the day—mornings are filled with warm, golden hues as the sun rises, casting soft light over the lagoon and the bustling markets. By midday, the colors intensify, with the bright, sharp sunlight reflecting off the water, almost blinding, while the air becomes stifling with heat. As evening sets in, the colors cool to deep blues and purples, with the occasional orange streak of sunset, while the smell of fish and saltwater intensifies. Night time brings a quiet calm, though the distant sounds of fishermen’s calls and the rhythmic crashing of waves are ever-present. These sensory experiences contribute to the complex and layered environment I am studying, allowing me to immerse myself in the local community and its relationship with the mangrove ecosystem.

For qualitative data collection, I employed a combination of participatory observation, focus group discussions, and semi-structured interviews. Participatory observation was a key method, allowing me to actively engage in scientific activities with the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) as well as in fishing activities at the Negombo estuary. This approach provided valuable insights into both the scientific and traditional practices related to mangrove conservation and fisheries. In addition, I organized focus group discussions, particularly with women and children, to explore their knowledge about mangroves and climate change. This helped capture a diverse range of perspectives, particularly those from marginalized groups within the community. To further explore my research topic, I conducted semi-structured interviews with scientists, scholars, and researchers, enabling me to gather in-depth information about their views on mangrove ecosystems, climate change, and conservation strategies. Alongside these methods, I maintained a comprehensive field diary, and used tools such as photographs, videos, drawings, and audio recordings to document my observations and interactions. These various data collection tools provided a rich and multifaceted understanding of the research context, ensuring that both scientific and local knowledge were represented in my analysis.

Currently, I am collaborating with the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA). As part of this research, I have actively participated in scientific activities related to mangrove restoration, conservation, and carbon sequestration, particularly in mangrove mapping. Additionally, I have engaged in awareness programs, cleaning campaigns, and mangrove planting initiatives, allowing me to explore conservation efforts from scientific, policy-driven, and community-led perspectives. These experiences provide insights into how different stakeholders approach conservation and their anticipation of the present, past, and future.
Alongside my work with NARA, I have been engaging with fishing communities around the Negombo estuary, where fishermen closely interact with the mangrove ecosystem. They rely on traditional fishing techniques such as brash piles, stake nets, thatta dala, wisi dal, gokran methods, and shrimp kotu. By participating in these activities, I aim to understand the role of intergenerational knowledge in fisheries and mangrove conservation, as well as the challenges posed by climate change, industrialization, and urbanization on fishing livelihoods. Furthermore, my research examines the gap between scientific knowledge on climate change and the lived experiences of fishermen, highlighting how local ecological knowledge can complement scientific research in addressing environmental uncertainties and shaping their anticipation of the present, past, and future.