Conservation forest declared near Wilpattu

Nearly 100,000 acres of land adjoining Wilpattu National Park have been declared a “conservation forest” with immediate effect to prevent further encroachment by people, Forest C o n s e r v at o r G e n e r a l A nu r a Sathurusinghe told the Sunday Times.

He explained that the President urgently signed the gazette during his visit to Russia thereby stopping people with political backing clearing more areas in the forest.

The gazette notification gives wider powers to the Forest Department’s five forest reserves - Mavillu, Wepal, Karadikkuli/Marichchakatti, Wilaththikulam and Periyamurippu that have now been gazetted as ‘Mavillu Conservation forests’ and have the highest protection available under the act,” he said.

Mr. Sathurusinghe said that in view of the gazette notification presidential and parliamentary approval will be needed to acquire or clear any land.

He said that entry will be restricted and entrance would only allowed for educational or research purposes.

He said that in future they have plans to gazette “Conservation Forests” to increase the forest cover to 32 percent of land in the country.

Sri Lanka’s forest cover is currently around 26 per cent.