Saving our forests

The Knuckles Mountain range and its forest area are one of the most well-known sites in Sri Lanka. A hotpot for biodiversity, the Knuckles must be preserved for posterity without harming or destroying it. However, man’s deliberate and careless actions could lead to the destruction of such wonders of nature.

A case in point is the forest fire that broke out in the Knuckles Range a couple of days ago. It has burnt down 200 acres of natural forest and Forest Department managed pine plantations. It took firefighters and villagers six hours to control the raging fire.

The most pathetic aspect of the fire is that it has apparently been started deliberately by setting fire to the grass. Fortunately, no human lives were lost, but the damage to the endemic flora and fauna could be huge. It is difficult to fathom that someone could actually contemplate and carry out such an act of destruction.

It could have been a premeditated action or an act of sheer carelessness, like throwing a lit cigarette end on to the grass. Farmers are also known to burn grass in order to obtain fresh grass for cattle. As explained by a forest officer, there are no dry thunderstorms or volcanic eruptions to cause forest fires in the country. Only human actions could be behind forest blazes here. The Knuckles fire has spread uphill because of the dry weather and the wind.

It is time that regulations regarding access to natural sites are tightened. Visitors should not be allowed to take cigarettes, box of matches or lighters to forest reserves. The same goes for polythene, plastic bottles and derivative products.

Camping should be tightly controlled, with a more effective permit system. More research on the endemic flora and fauna should be conducted as there is evidence of theft of genetic material from our forests. Patents must be obtained where possible on any products that are derived from medicinal plants in forests. Preserving our forests is not the sole responsibility of the authorities.

The public too must be conscious of the need to preserve them. This is essential as our forest cover has dwindled to alarmingly low levels due to rapid deforestation over the last few decades. The old adage still applies to forests and national parks - take only photographs, leave only footprints. The jungle belongs to the flora and fauna, not to us.

A cleaner, greener Colombo

Colombo is the country’s biggest city and the first port of call for overseas visitors. But a first time visitor’s first impressions of Colombo would not be all that positive. Mounting piles of garbage, teeming slums, chaotic traffic congestion, sidewalks obscured by unauthorized stalls, damaged roads and an almost unbearable level of noise and air pollution are just some of the aberrations.

Thus Colombo clearly needs an overhaul. Making Colombo a cleaner, greener city is a major challenge facing the Colombo Municipal Council Competent Authority Omar Kamil and his officials. He has gone on record as saying that he wants to build a ‘new’ City.

The new administration of the CMC deserves plaudits for initiating a 100 day program for cleaning up the City. The first steps of the program have become highly successful. This is noteworthy in the context of the dengue menace and the dangers posed by other mosquito-borne diseases.

The CMC also has to find an urgent solution for the problem of solid waste disposal. Garbage dumps are an eyesore and a health hazard. The drainage network is being repaired, but we have seen many instances of blocked drainage holes. This is one factor that contributes to flash floods in the City. The CMC should seriously consider implementing a flood prevention mechanism in the City.

The removal of unauthorized structures on sidewalks and elsewhere is an emotionally and politically volatile issue, but it is a problem that has to be addressed, without necessarily depriving the pavement hawkers of an income avenue.

Traffic congestion is also a big problem that affects the City’s residents and the transient population. The construction of flyovers and a circular highway would lead to less traffic congestion, but an even better alternative would be an inner city public transport service that is clean and comfortable. That would also be an answer to the mounting levels of air pollution.

The Government has built several mega housing projects for slum dwellers, but there still are some settlements. The CMC should take the lead in this regard. The City fathers do have a lot of projects on their hands. Colombo should regain its reputation as a garden city in its quest to become a pre-eminent city in South Asia.