NILGALA MEDICINAL FOREST RESERVE SET ALIGHT AGAIN
King Buddhadasa’s legacy needs much more protection
The Nilgala forest that is famous for its medicinal plants and herbs has been ablaze from Monday afternoon (28).
Residents of the area said that the Nilgala Forest Reserve that spreads over an area exceeding 12,000 hectares was cultivated with medicinal plants and herbs by King Buddhadasa who was wellknown as an Ayurvedic physician. The locals complained that though the fire was spreading fast the authorities had not taken any steps to control it. In response to this comment, officials of the Forest Conservation Department said that it was the villagers who set fire to the forest reserve every year during the drought to track down wild animals. They added that the villagers who depend on collecting and selling medicinal herbs for a living also believed that the plants would grow better after the forest was burnt.
Range Forest Officer, Bibile Range, I.A.C.R.Wijetilleka said, “After I received information that a fire had broken out in the Pitakumbura area of the Nilgala Forest Reservation, I sent a team to put out the fire. However it was not possible to bring under control the fire that had spread over a large area as quickly as
Nilgala Forest Reserve that spreads over about 12,000 hectares was cultivated with medicinal plants and herbs by King Buddhadasa
desirable. Consequently, I find that an area of about 15 acres of the forest has been destroyed. But, it was not a natural bush fire: the villagers have the habit of setting fire to the forest reserve during the drought every year to increase the yield from medicinal plants and to track down wild animals. Our attempts to create public awareness on the danger of ruining the forest reserve which is rich in biodiversity and water resources have served no purpose.”
However, the villagers said the individuals who set fire to the forest reserve were from other areas and charged that the officials failed to provide adequate protection to the forest reserve and to take action against individuals responsible not only for setting fire to the reservation but also for the illegal felling and removal of valuable plants and trees. They went on to say that in previous years that collectively, over 1000 acres of the forest reserve had been destroyed by unscrupulous individuals. They requested the Forest Conservation Department to implement a sound plan to protect the medicinal forest unique to South East Asia.