Editorial

WALK TO TALK

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Newly elected Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissannayake, promised that they will bring the political will to protect the environment which convince many environmental activists to vote for the current regime. Yet, they had a bad start when Agriculture Minister Lal Kantha said that the farmers have the right to do anything when wild animals are found in the farm land.

Thus, new regime’s approach to wildlife management has faced significant opposition. While some supporters advocated for removing monkeys from home gardens and driving elephants back to national parks, these actions have proven problematic.

In Anuradhapura, a government-led elephant drive resulted in unexpected consequences. Over 150 elephants refused to move beyond the Oyamaduva farm, leading to conflict with local residents in Vilachchiya.

Furthermore, a government-funded monkey sterilization program in Matale proved ineffective, sterilizing only a small fraction of the population at a significant cost of 4 million Rupees. This program raised concerns about its feasibility in controlling the existing monkey population.

The Centre for Environmental Justice has actively communicated to the President and other politicians, warning them about the potential harm of unscientific and unorganized wildlife management approaches.

Unfortunately, the environmental discourse is often dominated by a few groups that control research data and suppress alternative viewpoints. Some of this data is even inaccessible to the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWLC). While some argue that protecting forest corridors are not important for elephants, majority believe, the forest corridors are crucial for the survival of various species including elephants and also provide vital ecosystem services.

The NPP policy emphasizes the reestablishment of forest corridors, which is a positive step. However, the DWLC must assert its authority and prevent ad-hoc interventions by individuals or groups. As President Dissanayake rightly stated, the

DWLC bears the primary responsibility for wildlife protection. It is imperative that the Department prevents unauthorized entities from usurping its role and ensures that wildlife management decisions are based on scientific evidence and best practices.

Wildlife management is a scientific endeavor. It demands careful planning, thorough data collection, comprehensive stakeholder consultations, and systematic engagement. While political will is essential, wildlife management cannot be hijacked by researchers, politicians, or farmers.

It’s crucial to recognize that the current human-wildlife conflict is largely a consequence of human-induced environmental imbalance. A human-centric approach is inadequate, as nature relies on the intricate balance of all species.

Past regimes have contributed significantly to this imbalance through the destruction of forests, wetlands, and marine habitats. If the current regime fails to address this issue, we must question the commitment to environmental protection that AKD promised during his campaign. Therefore, we urge the NPP regime to translate its promises into concrete actions.*