Afforestation to arrest landslides, soil erosion

Disna MUDALIGE

An afforestation and soil conservation campaign has been initiated by the Upcountry Development Authority as a solution to soil erosion, landslide and barren soil which are emerging as major problems in the Central Province, said Chairman Amerananda Weerasinghe to the Daily News.

The priority under this program will be given to Nuwara Eliya, Matale, and Kandy districts which are identified by Geological Survey and Mines Bureau as endangered areas with high landslide frequency.

Afforestation will be started in mountain slopes and barren lands, while conducting various soil conservation programs in the other areas, said Assistant Director Premasiri Weravella in a press release.

"To protect the reservoir banks in the Central Province suitable plants such as bamboo, kumbuk and cane will be planted to promote plantation in the reservoir banks.

This will provide a solution for the annual water capacity decrease in reservoirs such as Kothmale, Polgolla, Victoria, Randenigala and Rantembe due to filling of reservoirs as a result of soil erosion" he said.

The authority also hopes to increase the density of birds through reservoir bank plantation, which will help to promote local and foreign tourism in the area.

We also pay attention to grow and protect indigenous plant varieties in the hill country.

A series of awareness programs for farmer families on soil conservation methods will also be carried out in these areas.

Under this program, plants that are suitable to be grown in the region will be distributed freely to the families.

The scientific and practical knowledge regarding soil fertility will also be given to the people through these awareness programs" he explained.