Forest destruction alarm raised despite official denials
Contrary to government claims that Sri Lanka’s forest cover is not being destroyed, environmentalists are concerned of the damage being done.
“Attempts made to reduce rainforests is one of the most serious environmental hazards faced by Sri Lanka,” said Sajeewa Chamikara, environmentalist and director of the Environmental Conservation Trust.
Chamikara said: “In the 1920s, our country had 49% forest cover. Currently the forest cover has fallen by nearly 16%. Dry zone 13% and wet zone 3%.’’
He said vast areas of forest land are facing a threat because Divisional Secretaries are issuing agriculture permits.
“We are not against the decision to give land for cultivation, but providing land from the reservations is not acceptable,’’ he said.
The most recent development is the government’s plan to amend Circular No. 05/ 2001 to give authority back to District and Divisional Secretaries to transfer land to non-state entities for economic purposes.
As a result, the Department of Forest Conservation ( DFC) will not have an authority to assess whether it is a critical area or not, before the land is allocated.
“We didn't raise concerns with a political motive, but wanted to raise awareness of the damage,’’ Chamikara said.
“Deforestation in the island has already gone too far, as we already know, Horton Plains, Anawilundawa and Wanathawilluwa are the most impacted among them.’’
Chamikara urged the authorities to conserve the environment.
The minister issued a press release stating that no deforestation had taken place.
Minister Mahinda Amaraweera commenting on reports about the rapid destruction of Sri Lanka’s environment, said there is no truth to the reports.
Commenting on social media posts regarding clearing of land in forest reserves, Mr Amaraweera asserted that such an incidents had not taken place.
He pointed out that the opposition has used such propaganda to discredit the government.
He also noted that he had received complaints regarding environmental destruction in the Anawilundawa area and pledged that he would not allow any further environmental damage.
However, when the minister visited the Wanathavilluwa area where destruction had taken place on a land belonging to the Cement Corporation, he said that any damage to the environment will not be taken lightly.
About 29 acres belonging to the Cement Corporation in the Kurat i yamotte area in Wanathawilluwa had been destoryed.
“Anyone responsible for destroying the environment would not be spared, irrespective of their position and status,” he said.
“The government has given instructions to make arrests related to the destruction of Wanathawilluwa, the Sri Lanka Cement Corporation property, and other important forest areas.’’
About a month ago, a forest area belonging to the Cement Corporation had been encroached on and cleared.
Environmentalist San jay a Dhanushaka, said that protecting rainforests is particularly important.
According to the gazette, ministry approval has to be obtained after an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA).
He said there are administrative agencies led by the CEA that are responsible for guiding the EIA for projects and approving or rejecting them.
Before starting an EIA the land clearing needs to be done. With regard to this particular issue in Wanathawilluwa, where hundreds of acres were cleared for resettlement, the CEA was not aware of it .
Wet forests like Sinharaja account for 3%. They are also associated with the lowland and central highlands.
“Sri Lanka has been ranked as a biodiversity hotspot, but the forest cover has declined. Within this year Sinharaja, Wanathawilluwa, Anavilundawa, are already threatened. So we have been given a red alert that to maintain Sri Lanka’s biodiversity rainforests need to be protected,’’ he said.
He asserted: “We, as environmentalists, point out about this catastrophe, they justify it by misinterpreting it without giving proper solutions.’’
Despite claims by the minister that there were no major incidents of clearing of forests, there were regular reports from provinces about such activity as well as encroachment of state land, including forests and irrigation tank reserves.