The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi - Minister of Environment
The Minister provided written answers on forest cover and forest conservation, stating that forest enumerations are conducted every five years and that no enumeration was carried out between 2020 and 2024. He reported that the 2020 enumeration recorded 1,704,279.928 hectares under the Department of Forest Conservation, including natural forests, low-scrub lands and forest plantations. He said changes in forest extent are linked to population pressures, development needs and government land allocations, and outlined the Department’s responsibilities under the National Forest Policy and Forest Ordinance, including conservation, sustainable management, research, community participation, eco-tourism and private sector involvement.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, the answers are as follows:
¶ 02 (a) (i) Forest cover is enumerated every five years. Enumerations have been conducted in 1992, 1999, 2010, 2015 and 2020. There has been no enumeration between 2020 and 2024.
¶ 03 As per the 2020 enumeration, the extent under the Department of Forest Conservation is 1,704,279.928 hectares, comprising: - Natural forests under the Department; - Lands with scrub cover less than 10%; - Forest plantations under the Department. (The detailed table is available.)
¶ 04 (ii) Changes arise due to population growth and associated needs, special development needs, and allocation of land for government activities, among others.
¶ 05 (iii) The Department’s primary functions include: - Maintaining adequate and representative forest cover for climatic, soil, water, wildlife and flora conservation and for aesthetic, scientific, historical, social and economic needs; - Integrated land use ensuring optimal use of forest lands considering ecological and socio-economic characteristics; - Developing timber production through forest plantations for domestic use and export while ensuring soil and water conservation; - Scientific, sustainable management of forest resources to ensure continuous timber supply and sustainability; - Ensuring biodiversity conservation and environmental safeguards in all development and utilization of forest resources; - Conducting necessary research to support sustainable forest development; - Maintaining professional coordination with other institutions contributing to forest development; - Implementing community participation programmes aimed at conservation, management and development to uplift rural livelihoods; - Education and awareness programmes on forest conservation and development; - Protecting forest resources in line with prevailing forest policies and laws; - Promoting eco-tourism in a manner not impeding conservation, to uplift rural livelihoods; - Promoting private sector participation in forest development.
¶ 06 (iv) Under the National Forest Policy and the Forest Ordinance, provisions exist for establishing, protecting and sustainably managing forest resources, and for their sustainable use by the public where appropriate.
¶ 07 (b) Not applicable.
Provenance
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- Hansard, Monday, 24 February 2025 ·No. 1741236032093385 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: The Hon. (Dr.) Dammika Patabendi - Minister of Environment. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 24 February 2025. No. 1741236032093385. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/11649