• Department of Forest Conservation spearheads several initiatives

Over the last two weeks, Sri Lanka has taken several measures to monitor its forest destruction and protect the country’s fast-dwindling forest cover. From special teams deployed to investigate the destruction of forests, to exploring the feasibility of using technological innovations and adopting regional regulations to ensure that byproducts used for export do not destroy forests, the Department of Forest Conservation has had its staff on the ground since the International Day of Forests on 21 March.

Several forest fires were reported due to the dry spell across Sri Lanka in the first three months of this year. According to the department, approximately 55 hectares of forest cover was destroyed due to such fires. 

Meanwhile, with environmentalists along with villagers living in the buffer zones raising concerns about deforestation in forest reserves, Conservator General of Forests Nishantha Edirisinghe deployed a special team comprising 100 forest conservation officers to carry out a detailed investigation around the peripheral zone of the Sinharaja Forest last week.

“We conducted a three-day operation in the Sinharaja Forest Reserve area following an intelligence report that cited forest destruction and mineral smuggling activities. The team reported that no damage had been caused to the forest reserve. However, the clearings had been made on privately-owned lands scheduled to be annexed to the Sinharaja Forest Reserve through Gazette No.2150/31 of 20 November 2019. 

“We will continue to deploy teams to investigate the forest destruction across the island in the coming weeks,” Edirisinghe told The Sunday Morning.

In addition to the special investigation, the Department of Forest Conservation held a community awareness week to educate and engage the public in preventing forest fires.

Using technology to save forests

Department of Forest Conservation Conservator of Forests (Social Forestry and Extension) Sathima Aluwihare revealed that according to 2015 statistics, Sri Lanka’s natural forest coverage was 29.2%. This forest cover now faces threats due to deforestation, illegal logging, and manmade bonfires that reduce forest cover, destroy life forms, and contribute towards climate change.

Aluwihare pointed out that Sri Lanka should employ technological innovations to transform how forest-related issues were monitored, reported, and addressed. In addition, she also urged for the country to implement sustainable forestry practices outlined by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

“Sri Lanka can use technological advancements to enhance its ability to monitor and report on its forest resources. Satellite imagery, remote sensing technologies, and geographic information systems can be employed to provide real-time data on forest cover, biodiversity, and changes. 

“Collaborative efforts between Government agencies, research institutions, and technology experts can set up robust monitoring systems, making informed decision-making possible, thereby ensuring the sustainable management of Sri Lanka’s diverse forest ecosystems,” Aluwihare explained.

She suggested the following measures for integrating technology to manage forests:

• Investing in new technological innovations that utilise satellite technology and drones to monitor forest destruction and degradation could ensure detection of illegal logging activities at an early stage
• Integrating blockchain technology to trace the origin of timber production could improve transparency in supply chain management, ensuring sustainability and legality
• Using technology to protect and empower indigenous communities where the land can be mapped and managed to zone sovereign lands that are accessed by such communities and enhancing the rights and livelihoods of these communities through collaborative efforts between the indigenous communities, Governmental bodies, and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)

According to Aluwihare, the Forest Conservation Department has announced an extensive programme aimed at conserving and managing the nation’s forests, underscoring the department’s commitment to environmental stewardship and encouraging citizens to play an integral role in combating deforestation and fostering sustainable practices.

“Interested individuals are invited to foster a greener environment, providing them the opportunity to become active contributors to the green revolution and to create a lasting impact on the national ecological well-being. 

“The Forest Conservation Department is committed to providing technical support for tree planting and tree management, along with carrying out awareness programmes for school children, the non-Government sector, and the public on forest conservation and protection aspects in all districts of the country. 

“Whether it is planting a tree in one’s home garden or volunteering to contribute to the verdant transformation of roadsides, urban gardens, or river banks, the department remains ready to provide the necessary plants to do so,” Aluwihare elaborated.

EU regulation on deforestation-free products

In March, Sri Lanka adopted the European Union (EU) Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR). The decision was announced during a meeting held to brief key industry stakeholders at the Foreign Ministry on 20 March, where Ambassador of the EU to Sri Lanka Carmen Moreno was present.

Effective 20 March, Sri Lanka’s rubber exports that benefit from EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) concessions will have to adopt due diligence to prove that products do not originate from recently-deforested land or have contributed to forest degradation. 

The EU adopted the EUDR in June 2023 to ensure that agricultural products consumed by EU citizens do not contribute to global deforestation or forest degradation. The regulation applies to the production of commodities such as cattle, wood, cocoa, soy, palm oil, coffee, rubber, and their derived products.

Foreign Ministry Secretary Aruni Wijewardane, while seeking technical assistance from the EU for adaptation of the regulation, also focused on Sri Lanka prioritising a sustainable industry in the rubber products export sector.

The information session saw the participation of over 60 rubber-producing companies in Sri Lanka. The company representatives utilised the platform for a constructive exchange of ideas on the EUDR to assist Sri Lankan rubber exporters with the new compliance procedure. 

The Directorate-General for the Environment of the European Commission in Brussels participated in the hybrid information session, involving key industry and Government officials to discuss the regulation.