Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Deforestation destroying Sinharaja: Environmentalists
By Damitha Hemachandra
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
The heavy deforestation of Varanalgoda Proposed Forest Reserve (PFR), bordering the Sinharaja Forest is causing destruction to its buffer zone as well as the rich bio-diversity in the area.
According to the Society for the Protection of Environment (SPE), deforestation was caused mainly in the Banbarabotuwa, Wathurawa, and Pitakale areas out of the 1890 hectare proposed reserve.
Sajeewa Chamikara of SPE alleged that an owner of a private land within the PFR was using the permission granted by the Forest Department for timber to transport the timber he had illegally removed from state land.
"Deforestation in this 65 acre forest land has been going on during the past few years as checks by the Forest Department are infrequent," Mr. Chamikara said, adding that a 15 feet road had been constructed through the PFR.
Varanalgoda PFR is part of the Sinharaja Buffer Zone, including the Nelukatiya and Morapitiya proposed reserves and combined to make one system, where 74 butterfly species, 21 fish species of which 12 are endemic and 22 endemic bird species including the recently discovered Serendib Scope Owl have made it their habitat.
The forest system acts as a protection zone to the Sinharaja Forest Reserve and the SPE pointed out that deforestation could harm the 11,527 hectares forest as well as the Sinharaja Reserve.
Meanwhile, heavy deforestation was claimed to be disturbing toddy tapping, a traditional employment of the villagers.
Villagers claim that the elephants used for transportation of timber within the forest reserve were devouring Kitul trees thus endangering their livelihood.
However Chief Forest Conservator Sarath Fernando said immediate steps would be taken to stop the illegal timber racket within the proposed forest reserve .
"We have raided the area in question temporarily, stopping the operations but they tend to restart," he said.
According to Mr. Fernando the illegal timber trade is affecting the low country wet zone forests, which contains the highest bio-diversity in the country
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
The heavy deforestation of Varanalgoda Proposed Forest Reserve (PFR), bordering the Sinharaja Forest is causing destruction to its buffer zone as well as the rich bio-diversity in the area.
According to the Society for the Protection of Environment (SPE), deforestation was caused mainly in the Banbarabotuwa, Wathurawa, and Pitakale areas out of the 1890 hectare proposed reserve.
Sajeewa Chamikara of SPE alleged that an owner of a private land within the PFR was using the permission granted by the Forest Department for timber to transport the timber he had illegally removed from state land.
"Deforestation in this 65 acre forest land has been going on during the past few years as checks by the Forest Department are infrequent," Mr. Chamikara said, adding that a 15 feet road had been constructed through the PFR.
Varanalgoda PFR is part of the Sinharaja Buffer Zone, including the Nelukatiya and Morapitiya proposed reserves and combined to make one system, where 74 butterfly species, 21 fish species of which 12 are endemic and 22 endemic bird species including the recently discovered Serendib Scope Owl have made it their habitat.
The forest system acts as a protection zone to the Sinharaja Forest Reserve and the SPE pointed out that deforestation could harm the 11,527 hectares forest as well as the Sinharaja Reserve.
Meanwhile, heavy deforestation was claimed to be disturbing toddy tapping, a traditional employment of the villagers.
Villagers claim that the elephants used for transportation of timber within the forest reserve were devouring Kitul trees thus endangering their livelihood.
However Chief Forest Conservator Sarath Fernando said immediate steps would be taken to stop the illegal timber racket within the proposed forest reserve .
"We have raided the area in question temporarily, stopping the operations but they tend to restart," he said.
According to Mr. Fernando the illegal timber trade is affecting the low country wet zone forests, which contains the highest bio-diversity in the country
Dispute at historical temple
By Damitha Hemachandra
The Buddhasasana Ministry yesterday promised to inquire into the allegations made by the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) that the Divisional Secretary of Potuvil had prevented the construction of a ' Sangaramaya' in a temple premises by the chief incumbent of the Muhudu Maha Viharaya Ven. Kataragama Siriratana Thera.
JHU leader, Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera accused the provincial authorities of interfering with the activities of the temple. However the Archaeology Department said the Sangarama project was not allowed as its site came within the archaeological conservation area.
However Ven. Medhananda Thera said the best part of the 30 acre archaeology reservation had already been encroached by the villagers backed by politicians in the area and that there were nearly 20 houses built within the reservation.
He said the authorities had not taken action against these encroachers who had allegedly vandalised the nearly 2000 year old Muhudu Maha Viharaya."
The Muhudu Maha Viharaya had been declared a historical monument in 1965 and the temple had been the target of vandals since 1982.
The Buddhasasana Ministry yesterday promised to inquire into the allegations made by the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) that the Divisional Secretary of Potuvil had prevented the construction of a ' Sangaramaya' in a temple premises by the chief incumbent of the Muhudu Maha Viharaya Ven. Kataragama Siriratana Thera.
JHU leader, Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera accused the provincial authorities of interfering with the activities of the temple. However the Archaeology Department said the Sangarama project was not allowed as its site came within the archaeological conservation area.
However Ven. Medhananda Thera said the best part of the 30 acre archaeology reservation had already been encroached by the villagers backed by politicians in the area and that there were nearly 20 houses built within the reservation.
He said the authorities had not taken action against these encroachers who had allegedly vandalised the nearly 2000 year old Muhudu Maha Viharaya."
The Muhudu Maha Viharaya had been declared a historical monument in 1965 and the temple had been the target of vandals since 1982.
CEA to get tough with gem miners of Castlereagh
By Damitha Hemachandra
Monday, November 15, 2004
The Central Environment Authority (CEA) will take action against the mechanized gem miners in Chaperlton Estate in Castlereagh and the Gem and Jewellery Authority for granting approval for mining without an environment clearance from the CEA.
CEA, Director General, Manel Jayamanne said that heavy mechanized mining in the banks of the Kehelgamuwa river, a catchment of the Castlereagh Reservoir poses a threat to the reservoir.
"We would be taking legal action against all the parties responsible," Mrs. Jayamanne said adding that the CEA is seeking legal advice from the Attorney General.
She pointed that the high environment sensitivity of the area required any excavation to seek clearance through an Environment Impact Assessment.
According to the Society for Environment Protection (SEP), the Gem and Jewellery Authority had granted permission to 49 parties to do mechanised mining within 65 acres of the banks of the Kehelgamuwa River without the prior clearance from the CEA. Spokesman for SEP, Sajeewa Chamikara pointed out that the removal of soil using backhoe machines could lead to heavy erosion of riverbanks silting the reservoir.
The permission had been granted in early 2001 following complaints by the estate authorities of the increasing threat of illegal gem mining within the estate. As a solution the authority had taken over 65 acres of the estate and had auctioned it among 49 parties for mechanised gem mining.
The move had increased the threat of erosion and landslips affecting the tea cultivation and also destroying the high bio-diversity of the area
Monday, November 15, 2004
The Central Environment Authority (CEA) will take action against the mechanized gem miners in Chaperlton Estate in Castlereagh and the Gem and Jewellery Authority for granting approval for mining without an environment clearance from the CEA.
CEA, Director General, Manel Jayamanne said that heavy mechanized mining in the banks of the Kehelgamuwa river, a catchment of the Castlereagh Reservoir poses a threat to the reservoir.
"We would be taking legal action against all the parties responsible," Mrs. Jayamanne said adding that the CEA is seeking legal advice from the Attorney General.
She pointed that the high environment sensitivity of the area required any excavation to seek clearance through an Environment Impact Assessment.
According to the Society for Environment Protection (SEP), the Gem and Jewellery Authority had granted permission to 49 parties to do mechanised mining within 65 acres of the banks of the Kehelgamuwa River without the prior clearance from the CEA. Spokesman for SEP, Sajeewa Chamikara pointed out that the removal of soil using backhoe machines could lead to heavy erosion of riverbanks silting the reservoir.
The permission had been granted in early 2001 following complaints by the estate authorities of the increasing threat of illegal gem mining within the estate. As a solution the authority had taken over 65 acres of the estate and had auctioned it among 49 parties for mechanised gem mining.
The move had increased the threat of erosion and landslips affecting the tea cultivation and also destroying the high bio-diversity of the area
