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Deforestation for cultivation, illegal settlement: Wildlife officers in quandary 

14 Mar 2021

  • Elephant corridors under threat 

 By Yumiko Perera    Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) officers who raised concerns over a statement made by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa during the “Gama Samaga Pilisandarak” (Discussion with the Village) programme being misunderstood, which has ultimately led to the clearing of lands in forest areas, are now confronted with the problem of having to deal with persistent farmers.  Speaking with The Sunday Morning, All-Island Wildlife Guard Officers’ Union Chairman R.A.S.S. Ranawakaarachchi noted that some farmers had attempted to clear large parts of forest reserves for cultivation because they had misinterpreted the directions given by the President.  Whilst the President had emphasised the importance of identifying suitable lands for cultivation and had instructed officials to implement new rules that would allow farmers to cultivate these lands, Ranawakaarachchi noted that farmers have now resorted to clearing large land masses within the boundaries of forest reserves for farming, based on what the President had said.  “The farmers are now asking us to withdraw certain court cases we have filed because these are lands that fall within the boundaries of forest reserves. Not only has it become harder for us to enforce the law and arrest people who are clearing land masses for cultivation, but the lack of clarity has made performing our duties harder as well.  “Even areas in the forest reserves that are identified as elephant corridors are now being used for cultivation. There are major practical issues that arose with the said programme and the President’s statement being misunderstood, and we have since had to resort to sending a letter to the Presidential Secretariat in order to address the situation,” noted Ranawakaarachchi.  Ranawakaarachchi added: “The Ampara and Polonnaruwa Districts are under severe threat. The forest cover in the Dahaiyagala Forest Reserve is fast declining. We have no objection to whatever was suggested at the ‘Gama Samaga Pilisandarak’ programme. In fact, we believe it raised more awareness on the issue. However, it is unfortunate as to how the lack of clarity could do more harm than good.”  “If this situation continues, however, we would not be able to stop more illegal settlers from clearing the forests,” Ranawakaraarachchi added.  Previously it was reported that approximately 20 acres of forest land close to the Dahaiyagala Sanctuary, belonging to the Department of Forest Conservation (DFC), were alleged to have been cleared by businessmen acting under the guise of being traditional farmers.  Wildlife officials claimed that this deforestation took place after businessmen misinterpreted and exploited President Rajapaksa’s statements made at the “Gama Samaga Pilisandarak” programme held on 30 January that land should be released to traditional farmers for cultivation purposes.  The Global Forest Watch records that Sri Lanka lost 10.3 kilo/hectares (kha) of natural forest cover in 2019.   


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