Sri Lankan Forest Reserve Destroyed
10/26/99
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Title: Ritigala Forest Reserve destroyed by chena cultivators
Source: Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: October 26, 1999
Burning of forests for chena cultivation in the Anuradhapura District
has adverse affects on environment. The chena cultivators burn down 4
to 5 acres of forest or shrub land during every chena cultivation
season.
This was revealed at a conference for chena cultivators held at the
Talawa Sama Sevaya.
These cultivators of the district have started clearing the land for
next Maha Season chena cultivation anticipating rains during next
month.
Sama Sevaya launched this program to make aware the cultivators the
adverse affects of burning down the forests and shrub land, and to
minimise the environmental pollution.
A large extent of forest and shrub land has been burnt down and
cleared by chena cultivators in Ritigala area denuding the Ritigala
Forest Reservation of valuable tress, fauna and flora.
The indiscriminate burning down of forests and the unawareness of the
farmers are main causes of this destruction. The total burning down
is also causing infertility of the soil and no permanent or large
trees could be grown on these lands.
The Sama Sevaya has launched several programs to make aware the
farmers how to set up permanent chena lands instead of changing the
land every season, Mr. Samson Jayasingha Secretary Sama Sevaya
revealed.
One hundred permanent farm units have been already set up by the Sama
Sevaya.
Financial assistance too will be provided by Sama Sevaya to farmers
who launch permanent farm units to stop land and soil erosion and
growing permanent plants.
The Community Environmental Program of Ministry of Environmental
Affairs and Forests provides the necessary funds.