By Sarah Hannan
Sri Lanka is considered one of the hottest hotspots when it comes to biodiversity, which means one would encounter various species of flora and fauna within the space of a square metre. However, the country being an island with a 21 million and growing population is not helpful, as the needs of the country’s citizens grow on a daily basis and civilisation is now encroaching into sensitive ecological spots.
Meanwhile, the development projects that have taken place without the input of wildlife and forest conservation experts or proper Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) have caused much disruption and are revealing its various effects.
Development should take place while roads and railways will need to be laid through sensitive areas at some point. However, proper studies need to be done before the groundwork even commences in order to ensure the humans and nature will not undergo rapid transition that would tip the balance of the ecology.
On the other hand, there is the cancerous biopiracy that has been robbing the rainforests and sanctuaries of endemic species that were not getting much traction on mainstream media or had not fallen under the watchful eyes of environmental activists.
Unbeknownst to many of us is that these individuals and groups are also profiting from smuggling biological material from strict nature reserves, aiding foreign scientists and collectors of exotic animals and plants to get hold of such materials at exuberant prices.
The most recent incident as exposed when a research team decided to publish a paper recognising a new species of twighopper that was discovered in the Sinharaja Forest Reserve. Having no Sri Lankan scientist or associated local university, concerns have been raised over how the team of scientists got hold of a dried specimen of the pygmy grasshopper/twighopper that has a body length of just 11.5 mm.
When people in the North and East were displaced or were huddled into Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps at the height of and after the civil war, the forest decided to take over their villages.
While the survey maps for the forest reserve had clearly defined the boundaries of the reserve with the forest spreading outward from the said boundary and creating new forests, the then Minister of Environment decided to claim these lands under “other state forests”.
The disputes that are still ongoing in the Northern Province in areas such as Silavathurai (which is a bordering village situated just above the buffer zone of Wilpattu) and then Peanut Farm in Panama (which is adjacent to the buffer zone of Kumana) are just two good examples of how people had lost their lands due to the forest spreading out and the former Minister of Environment then declaring such areas “other state forests”.
Then, when some returned after 15 years and tried to clear their plots of land and fix their house, they were branded loggers and squatters.
Moreover, in several instances, these families that live in the buffer zone villages had been given cultivation permits under the Swarna Bhoomi and Jayabhoomi schemes, where they were allowed to repurpose land to cultivate vegetables or even paddy. However, should the Government decide to claim these lands under the forest, there is no mechanism in place to relocate these villages that have functioned for decades in the said areas.
Changing behaviour patterns
Bird and Wildlife Team (Pvt.) Ltd. Co-Founder Uditha Hettige, speaking to The Sunday Morning about how development has changed the behaviours of various species, noted: “When proper studies are not carried out and necessary control measures are not in place, the development of infrastructure such as roads and railroads or even new human settlements can cause a big disruption in the behaviour of animals and even plants.”
Hettige, drawing a familiar scene the cities are getting used to due to the migration of the country’s peacock population towards the more densely populated neighbourhoods and cultivation land, revealed that the loss of forest cover and the construction of the Southern Expressway had given rise to the incident.
“The expressway helped them gradually move towards the cities and villages easily. Earlier, they were limited to the forest sanctuaries of Kumana, Lahugala, and Yala, but now they have gradually moved out from their usual habitats. What is more worrying is that this migration is now affecting the farmers, as the peacocks are pecking on the seeds that they sow in their fields or pick on the saplings as forage.”
Serpents and lizards too are now facing a threat, as peacocks tend to prey on their young ones. Hettige also noted that even the plants that grow on either side of the road networks are supporting the migration of these birds.
[caption id="attachment_97275" align="alignleft" width="300"]
A peacock flew across the southern expressway that runs through the Dandeniya-Aparekka Forest Reserve area - Photo Pradeep Dambarage[/caption]
During our travels to the East, we experienced the disruption the road had caused, as peacocks were flying across the highway, slowing oncoming traffic. Meanwhile, down the road that cuts through the Lunugamwehera National Park, which begins from Kataragama, there were three elephants accustomed to passing vehicles feeding them fruits.
Their feeding behaviours have changed from foraging to intimidating the vehicles that pass them as they walk in the middle of the road to pose for photos, and when the vehicle stops, they approach it and nudge the vehicle in hopes of being fed by passengers.
Developing infrastructure to remote villages
The most recent environmental concern raised was the road development work taking place adjacent to the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, where the road was to connect the Lankagama village to Neluwa and Deniyaya from the other end.
There were speculations that the road was to cut through the forest reserve and that it would cause deforestation and loss of endemic species of flora and fauna as well as wildlife.
However, the on-ground situation reports told a different story, where the village had been in existence for several decades, with some even claiming that the village had existed from the time of monarchical rule in Sri Lanka. The village has grown over the years, and the residents were facing difficulties in accessing their basic needs in an efficient manner.
Similar to Lankagama, there have been several instances where the Department of Wildlife and Conservation (DWC) had signed agreements with the Road Development Authority (RDA)/rural road network development offices and other local government institutions to allow roads to be built through the forest.
“The issue we are now facing is that there needs to be a proper mechanism in place to ensure the wildlife and the forest are not disturbed by the passing traffic. For that, we need to set up perimeter fences and ensure no garbage gets dumped into or no construction is done within the buffer zone of the forest. I think even the road that falls adjacent to the Sinharaja Forest Reserve will need to be closely monitored,” Minister of Wildlife and Forest Conservation C.B. Rathnayake told The Sunday Morning.
Plan 2050 and implementation
Whilst we are more focused on the present incidents and attempting to stop the development projects already underway, which are causing severe damage to the environment, we need to closely look at the National Policy Plan that is in place to develop the country by 2050.
According to the plan, regions have been identified as urban development zones, industrial zones, tourist and leisure zones, and international trade zones, to name a few.
Some of the planned work will see road networks and rail networks cutting across not one but almost all protected nature reserves and elephant corridors.
When we asked environmental lawyer Jagath Gunawardana if any of the environmental organisations or experts have been called in for consultation while these plans were written, he said that they were not informed.
“We get alerted after the plans are designed and the constructions of such development projects are underway. This is because the Government and its development agencies see us as a bunch of people who will oppose the development of the country. If they ask our advice, we are more than willing to give them advice on how development work can be carried out whilst protecting our environment,” Gunawardana elaborated.
The present Government has a lot of course-correcting to do, given that many investors and developers had not taken any impact on the environment into consideration and has now to reverse the impact in certain areas after the destruction has taken place. Having environmentalists or even the learned academics on such planning committees could immensely help protect the biodiversity of the country and achieve sustainable development as forecasted in no time.
Moreover, there needs to be a multipronged approach when it comes to conserving nature, allowing the population of the country also to exist while improving the quality of their lives by striking a balance and introducing methods of protecting the environment while reducing the conflict that is ongoing between humans and wildlife. If not, there should be a conducive environment where sufficient buffer areas are created so that humans and wildlife can co-exist. Proper monitoring mechanisms should also be implemented with agencies such as the Forest Department and the DWC, with them being provided with the necessary tools and workforce to carry out their duties.
Photos Pradeep Dambarage
A peacock flew across the southern expressway that runs through the Dandeniya-Aparekka Forest Reserve area - Photo Pradeep Dambarage[/caption]
During our travels to the East, we experienced the disruption the road had caused, as peacocks were flying across the highway, slowing oncoming traffic. Meanwhile, down the road that cuts through the Lunugamwehera National Park, which begins from Kataragama, there were three elephants accustomed to passing vehicles feeding them fruits.
Their feeding behaviours have changed from foraging to intimidating the vehicles that pass them as they walk in the middle of the road to pose for photos, and when the vehicle stops, they approach it and nudge the vehicle in hopes of being fed by passengers.
Developing infrastructure to remote villages
The most recent environmental concern raised was the road development work taking place adjacent to the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, where the road was to connect the Lankagama village to Neluwa and Deniyaya from the other end.
There were speculations that the road was to cut through the forest reserve and that it would cause deforestation and loss of endemic species of flora and fauna as well as wildlife.
However, the on-ground situation reports told a different story, where the village had been in existence for several decades, with some even claiming that the village had existed from the time of monarchical rule in Sri Lanka. The village has grown over the years, and the residents were facing difficulties in accessing their basic needs in an efficient manner.
Similar to Lankagama, there have been several instances where the Department of Wildlife and Conservation (DWC) had signed agreements with the Road Development Authority (RDA)/rural road network development offices and other local government institutions to allow roads to be built through the forest.
“The issue we are now facing is that there needs to be a proper mechanism in place to ensure the wildlife and the forest are not disturbed by the passing traffic. For that, we need to set up perimeter fences and ensure no garbage gets dumped into or no construction is done within the buffer zone of the forest. I think even the road that falls adjacent to the Sinharaja Forest Reserve will need to be closely monitored,” Minister of Wildlife and Forest Conservation C.B. Rathnayake told The Sunday Morning.
Plan 2050 and implementation
Whilst we are more focused on the present incidents and attempting to stop the development projects already underway, which are causing severe damage to the environment, we need to closely look at the National Policy Plan that is in place to develop the country by 2050.
According to the plan, regions have been identified as urban development zones, industrial zones, tourist and leisure zones, and international trade zones, to name a few.
Some of the planned work will see road networks and rail networks cutting across not one but almost all protected nature reserves and elephant corridors.
When we asked environmental lawyer Jagath Gunawardana if any of the environmental organisations or experts have been called in for consultation while these plans were written, he said that they were not informed.
“We get alerted after the plans are designed and the constructions of such development projects are underway. This is because the Government and its development agencies see us as a bunch of people who will oppose the development of the country. If they ask our advice, we are more than willing to give them advice on how development work can be carried out whilst protecting our environment,” Gunawardana elaborated.
The present Government has a lot of course-correcting to do, given that many investors and developers had not taken any impact on the environment into consideration and has now to reverse the impact in certain areas after the destruction has taken place. Having environmentalists or even the learned academics on such planning committees could immensely help protect the biodiversity of the country and achieve sustainable development as forecasted in no time.
Moreover, there needs to be a multipronged approach when it comes to conserving nature, allowing the population of the country also to exist while improving the quality of their lives by striking a balance and introducing methods of protecting the environment while reducing the conflict that is ongoing between humans and wildlife. If not, there should be a conducive environment where sufficient buffer areas are created so that humans and wildlife can co-exist. Proper monitoring mechanisms should also be implemented with agencies such as the Forest Department and the DWC, with them being provided with the necessary tools and workforce to carry out their duties.
Photos Pradeep Dambarage