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by Donovan Jayamanne

With the forest cover at a critical level the public anticipates its realistic development. Unless a wider view is taken on forest conservation the cry of dwindling forest cover would be heard, year after year, regime after regime, Minister after Minister.

Pre independence Ceylon had over 65% the land area under forest cover. It is now a critical 20%, in our own independent Sri Lanka. How and whither are we in forest conservation? Forests have not lost their significance to the eco-system, the ecology and the environment and therefore must essentially be conserved. A need therefore exists to sincerely identify the causes to remedy, before further investments.

The colonial masters, despite their rapacious clearing of forests for plantations and infrastructure, denuded less forest extents than we. In the post independence period of just only over 50 years we have devastated a good 45% of forests cover as against the 35% or less during the alleged predatory British rule of 400 odd years. What a disparity for a mere fraction of the period of rule and despite 'national' effort? And not to speak of advanced professionalism, the consulted expertise, stringent forest laws, deterrent punishments, the moratoriums, enhanced resources and what not?

The vast decrease in forest cover resulted since independence, therefore, is queer and tragic. With the so oft the proclaimed critical level of forest cover the public naturally anticipates a realistic development - a development through afforestation and re-afforestation, in extents and quality that bestows environmental and economic benefit. Does the current practice of 'Reforestation' of existing forest stands cleared wholesale, and re-grown with a single or couple of tree species, serve that purpose?

The re-grown is often luxury timber, a green gold, on vast and remote tracts, tempts timber thieves often dangerously armed. Some of these plantations even encourage recurrent fires to bald the forest floor that encourages surface run off of water, carrying silt downstream to overflow stream banks and fill up reservoirs. And consequently to cause even the menacing power cuts.

The reliance on penal statute alone for forest protection, the obsession hitherto, has amply proved to be a failure. That, to be ridiculously pursued solely, with more vigour is crass foolhardiness. A deviation in approach is also necessary.

Statistics on the offences detected, offenders dealt with, fines collected, value of fines, timber seized, their value, etc. etc. get wide publicity. No data exists of the amount and value of timber stolen and undetected, those harvested and wasted, those camouflaged by illicit clearings as chena cultivations, the extents under unsuccessful timber plantations, the excisions, etc. One has therefore to be wary of statistics, the potent tool of many a bureaucrat or technocrat in particular. Data may be relevant but selectivity poses danger.

Let there be a meaningful attempt to enhance our forest cover not only for socio- economic benefit but also to ameliorate the environment, the habitat, to societal uplift. 

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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