Participatory Forestry in Sri Lanka: Success or Failure?

Presentation Abstract

Dinuka Senevirathne

Department of Forestry and Environmental Science

University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka was once a heavily forested island, but over the present century its forest cover has declined markedly to about 29%. Historically, much of the loss may be attributed to the creation during colonial times of plantations of tea, rubber, coconut and other crops. In the last decade the greatest single cause of deforestation has been the accelerated Mahaweli Development Program, a major irrigation scheme fed by a series of dams across Sri Lanka's largest river. Although not always publicly acknowledged, this resulted in the clearance of substantial areas of natural forests. However, in the 1980s there was a widespread recognition of a need for reforestation and forest conservation measures in both government and donor circles. Although there had been attempts to launch social forestry practices in Sri Lanka, forest management on a truly participatory basis was not taken place, because local people have not actively involved in tree or forest management in partnership with the Forest Department. The program have been run in many ways namely Taunga, reforestation, community forestry, participatory forestry, natural resource development. All those programs were implemented based on different aspects. Mainly the success of a program depends on the social factors, dependency on forest and awareness of the outcome. As per Sri Lanka socially now there are no much of tribes but people live as individuals and question the procedures in their own manner. Therefore it is actually hard to continue such community programs. On the other hand, the dependency on the forests or forest products declined at major level in Sri Lanka. Therefore it was hard to convince the people to work in such programs. However, different incentives were given to encourage the participation. Recent studies conducted on social forestry programs identified the need of institutional support to conduct such programs in successful manner.

Effect of farmer woodlots on farmers

Evaluation of farmers woodlots in the aspects of growth and effect on farmers

Thilina Jayarathne and Upul Subasinghe

Paper presented for the 14th International Forestry and Environmental Symposium 2009

The total forest cover of Sri Lanka is estimated as 32% from the total land area. More than 50% of this area lies in the dry zone where the original forests have been cleared drastically. Plantation forests are therefore being established particularly with exotics as local species are very slow growing, despite their very high timber value. Teak was the first exotic species introduced to Sri Lanka by Dutch in the 17th century for replanting purpose. Other than planting by Forest Department of Sri Lanka, the other methods of establishing teak plantations were community forestry projects (CFP), and now by participatory forestry projects (PFP).

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the farmers' woodlot programmes to identify the effects on farmers. For this purpose, a questionnaire survey was conducted to obtain information on their socio-economic status and management constraints from Anuradhapura, Thambuttegama, Kekirawa Ranges (Anuradhapura Forest Division), Habarana Range (Polonnaruwa Forest Division) and Galgamuawa Range (Kurunegala Forest Division). The questionnaire was distributed among randomly selected ten farmers of each plantation (altogether 214 plantations).

The results revealed the inadequacy of current lease agreement (25 years) and 100% of the respondents wanted to have an extension varying from 5 to 50 years. Moreover, 98% of the total respondents agreed to implement this programme for a second rotation. Farmers have been given a proper guidance by the government officers during the initial establishment stage of the farmer's woodlots. However, it has become inadequate with the time, especially when pruning and thinning are required. Elephant's damages and lack of water are the major problems faced by the most of the farmers. However, according to the farmers, there were minimum elephant damage after plantations become naturalised as witnessed in the Rambukwewa plantation in the Kekirawa range.

Results and direct observations also indicated that some lands given to establish farmers' woodlots are marginal lands for plant growth. Most of lands also indicated frequent fire and erosion. Since teak needs comparatively more nutrients for plant growth, it is recommended to evaluate the chosen sites for (i) the available nutrient levels, (ii) required timber species to match the site quality and (iii) the required growth rate.

In order to enhance the income of the farmers, it is recommended to start the second cycle of woodlots soon after completing the present one, perhaps with better management techniques. However, the plantations vulnerable for elephant damages should not be replanted using teak unless there is an effective protection system. Otherwise such plantations should gradually be converted to natural dry zone forests by the local species such as Azadirachta indica and Tamarindus indica.

Analysis of the management issues of Dawatagolla Plantation, Sri Lanka

Analysis of the current management issues of Dawatagolla Forest Plantation to make recommendations towards multiple-use forestry
by
Fareena Rusaik and Upul Subasinghe

Since 1940, the historical perspective of forest management shows that the management of forests was carried out with the prime objective of obtaining timber. With the increasing demand for timber, forest plantations help to bridge the gap between supply and demand. Therefore the policy makers in Sri Lanka concentrated to involve rural community through social forestry including fast growing tree species. After 1995, the concept of multiple-use forestry became the centre point of forest management.

It was decided to select the Dewatagolla Forest Plantation (DFP) as the study area. It is situated in Alawwa in Kurunegala District and the extent is 30 ha. It contains of mainly jak and mahogany which are divided into jak working circle (JWC) and timber working circle (TWC).

This study was designed with the objectives of identification of the current management issues in the DFP, analysing the present management plan to test the compatibility and provision of suggestions and recommendations through the multiple-use forest management strategies towards the sustainability.

Data were collected by measurements, questionnaire survey, formal and informal interviews and discussions with the villagers and relavent officers.

Results obtained from the survey indicated the necessity of an appropriate multiple-use forest management practices towards the sustainability. Measurements revealed that the 96% of trees to be removed to implement such management pactices. Therefore a constant approach should be made and selective system of timber management was recommended. Several indigenous and exotic tree species provide multipl benefits to the surrounding community were found through the observations. Furthermore, the willingness of the villagers were also identified for the utlisation of the forest in multiple ways.