2018 Jul 18
With the current state of our environment in Sri Lanka, it is important to provide insight unto the movements made by stake holders within important environmental landmarks within our country. Within our scope of attention, it was revealed that most environmentalist groups had made it a point to bring attention to the Knuckles mountain range and the handling of its associate lands. This narrative was made the biggest talking point at the World Environment day celebrations, held at Vihara Maha Devi Open Air theater on June this year. This was organized by a large selection of environmentalist groups. The discussion was not given a lot of attention by authorities though it created much debate given the magnitude of the accusations.
Claims were made of how close to 10,000 acres of land from affiliated territories near Knuckles mountain range where been sold or transferred to private entities. The Movement of Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR) had suggested a value close to 20, 000 acres[1].
Given a recent exposure, we decided to bring this matter back to the public eye.
It is generally accepted that the central regions of the Knuckles mountain range consist of close to 31.67 km2 (1 km2 = 247.1 acres)[2]. This land is jointly controlled mostly by the Central Environment Authority and the State Plantations Corporation (inclusive of the lands under the Knuckles Conservation area).
The State Plantations Corporation stated on the 12th of July 2018 that certain projects that involved the using of lands under the conservation had been withdrawn as it involved land that should otherwise be protected. In doing so, they have admitted that previous plans to carry forward with the projects would harm the existing land within Knuckles that should be conserved. They cite the fact that due to vague boundaries, the issue was made more complex issue when allocating land and the Forest Conservation Department should be held accountable on this matter.
The SPC further mentions that the buffer zone established by the UNESCO itself is not quite clear and is problematic. The Deputy Conservator of Forest Conservation Department had mentioned that the marking of boundaries is yet to be concluded, which presents itself as a slightly contradictory statement since in the month of June the Forest Conservation Department had mentioned none of the land used for projects fall under conserved land[3].
Arguments can be raised on how it is possible to function on land appropriations elsewhere when the locations of high risk are also drawn with blurred lines. With such unreliable facts, it becomes harder to protect our environment day by day.
[1]http://www.dailymirror.lk/148349/MONLAR-alleges-Knuckles-land-given-to-associates-of-ministers
[2]http://www.cea.lk/web/?option=com_content&view=article&layout=edit&id=1159
[3]http://www.dailymirror.lk/148349/MONLAR-alleges-Knuckles-land-given-to-associates-of-ministers
