Work on Protected Area Management Project begins
 

by Florence Wickramage

The Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWLC) has commenced work on the Rs. 3350/- million Protected Area Management and Wildlife Conservation Project which aims to sustainably manage and conserve seven protected areas coming under its purview as well as to upgrade the economical and social standards of communities living adjacent to the parks.

The project is jointly funded by the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the Netherlands Government.

The seven protected areas brought under the PAM & WC Project are Minneriya, Wasgomuwa, Kavudulla, Ritigala, Bundala, Horton Plains National Parks and the Peak Wilderness areas.

A main thrust of the project is the launch of Community Outreach programmes to educate fringe village communities and targetted groups on the importance of conserving protected areas and wildlife, DWLC Director General Dayananda Kariyawasam said.

Many faceted project addresses a whole range of environmental issues which include the minimising of the Human-Elephant Conflict, Habitat Management and Conservation of Wildlife, provision of adequate water resources for wildlife and village communities, provision of infrastructure in the parks such as information centres, office complexes, staff quarters and, visitor facilities, Providing alternate livelihood means for villagers in fringe villages which depended solely on park resources.

Kariyawasam said that community participation was an important component in the successful implementation of the project.

Special emphasis is laid on harnessing the support of community based groups in the respective areas to work in harmony with officials in carrying out development programmes in these areas.