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Tree planting prevents earthslips and wastelands

A sustainable forest management will be implemented in the future. The reforestation of 30,000 ha under the Forest Management Project and 9,550 ha under the Upper Catchment Management Project under the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources will also be undertaken. The Department of Forest intends to utilise 700 ha for reforestation during this year, said Environment and National Resources Minister Rukman Senanayake.

Taking into consideration Sri Lanka's rainy season, the Ministry has changed the Tree Planting Day this time. Accordingly, the Natioanl Tree Planting Day of this year falls on October 15. It will be organised as a meaningful national event. The period from October 15 to November 15 has been declared as the National Tree Planting Month, the Minister said.

"Today the area covered by the forest in Sri Lanka is 22 per cent. Plantation industry, forest projects and home gardens have also contributed to tree planting and it has exceeded 60 per cent," he said in a message to mark National Tree Planting Day falling tomorrow.

Senanayake said: "The plants clean the air polluted by the man in various ways. Each plant is a machine which absorbs the pollutants and cleans the air. In addition, trees help clean the water. For example kumbuk trees along the banks of the Menik Ganga clean the water in the river polluted by the pilgrims.

"Due to the forest degradation and harmful agricultural methods, 18,000 ha. of the land has become wastelands. Therefore, tree planting is the sustainable solution for preventing wastelands and earthslips.

"A number of programmes on tree planting and environmental protection are to be implemented during this tree planting month. The National Tree Planting programme will be held today at the ministry in collaboration with all the other institutions under the ministry. Parallel programmes will also be held at other places. Obtaining the participation of schoolchildren is important in this regard. It is not adequate to pay attention to tree planting only on this special day and the trees planted should be properly maintained and protected. This should be a continuous action as it is our responsibility to replant trees in lieu of the trees that we cut down for timber and firewood.

"Sri Lanka has directed its way to the sustainable development methods and environment management has become an essential component in implementing such methods.

"We should make effort to plan such development activities in accordance with the agenda of 21st century.

"I am pleased to inform that a number of actions had been taken to solve the issue at the Upper Catchment Management Project.Though instant results cannot be expected by these activities long-term good results can be gained.

"The major environment issue arisen by today is the reduction of the generation of hydropower.

"Water supply for electricity generation had to be restricted due to the non-availability of adequate amount of water in the Mahaweli reservoirs. Reduction of forest cover has directly affected to reduce the water capacity in the reservoirs. Rainy water reserved to the Upper Mahaweli Catchment areas is absorbed by the earth. This has resulted in low level of ground water. If this is to be prevented in the future, action should be taken today.

"The main fact that should be emphasised during this tree planting month is to improve the positive attitudes of the people and to obtain their direct contribution towards the environmental conservation and tree planting.

"The ministry has devoted itself to provide guideline, assistance and sponsorship for this activity."

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