21 March, 2020, Colombo, Sri Lanka, “Sri Lanka’s Forests are too much fragmented and degraded- It requires urgent restoration for sustaining species” said Hemantha Withanage, Executive Director of the Sri Lanka based Centre for Environmental Justice.

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 March the International Day of Forests in 2012. It’s an important day to remind everyone that humans cannot survive without forests. Forests are home to millions of species. Sri Lankan Forests sustain over 2500 animal species, 3314 vascular plants and many more species. Humans too depend on forest for food, water, clean air and livelihood. Forest are the territories for millions of indigenous communities around the globe.

According to the FAO, 28.8% or about 1,860,000 ha of Sri Lanka was forested in 2010. Of this 9.0% ( 167,000 ) is classified as primary forest. Sri Lanka had 185,000 ha of planted forest. Between 1990 and 2010, Sri Lanka lost an average of 24,500 ha or 1.04% per year. Last several years we have lost at least 8000 Ha of Forest annually.

We are losing forest in an alarming rate for agrocomodities, infrastructure development and human settlements. In the recent years damage to the forest cover and tree cover in Sri Lanka has increased mostly due to the infrastructure projects and politically motivated land grabbing. It was noticed many of the housing project during the last regime was built within the elephant corridors. Land grabbing continue to happen under new regime too. Illegal logging, encroachments and grazing happening around the country and specially in the dry zone has degraded the forests. We are also losing forest due to the forest fires.

Sri Lankan forests are rapidly losing its capacity to sustain  its species diversity. Therefore, we often see animal human conflicts around the country. In 2019 Sri Lanka lost 409 elephants and 101 humans. We also see increasing conflicts with Monkeys, Peacocks etc. Poaching wildlife has also increased around the country.

Its clear that Sri Lankas forest cover is too much fragmented and degraded and they cannot provide adequate safe habitats for its animal population. It needs urgent restoration and regeneration to provide ecosystem services for the growing population. Growing land demand for increasing population should be managed wisely to save our remaining forests.

We all need to understand that Sustainable management of forest is key to combating climate change, and well-being of current and future generations.

Centre for Environmental Justice

For more information-

Hemantha Withanage- 0777600503

Ranjan Karunanayake – 0717774947