Kanneliya forest reserve in danger says environmentalists

Sri Lanka’s rich biodiversity hotspot,Kanneliya forest reserve is in danger due to felling of trees for tea cultivations, says the Environment Conservation Trust (ECT).

Kanneliya situated in the Galle districts is one of large remaining rainforests in Sri Lanka other than the Sinharaja forest.

Director, ECT, Sajeeva Chamikara told Sandesaya that people living in the borders of the forest reserve continue to clear lands for tea cultivations causing a major destruction to it.

He accuses authorities for not taking preventive action to safeguard the Kanneliya forest reserve which is a rich biodiversity hotspot in Sri Lanka.

Mr.Chamikara said that there was a plan by the government to take over all lands bordering 500 meters from Kanneliya forest reserve(KFS)belonging to Land Reform Commission to the Kanneliya forest reserve.

“There is a cabinet paper for this purpose but it is not being implemented. As a result the destruction continues”, he said.

ECT has been making the Forest Conservation Department aware of the dangers posed due to the destruction but has failed to take action to prevent it.

 “ECT has given them several reports prepared on this and even the concerned ministry has been informed”, he said.

ECT says that Kanneliya forest which had 6114.4 hectares in 1934, has now reduced to 5276 hectares.

The rain forest is a major catchment area for two of the most important rivers in southern Sri Lanka, the Gin and Nilwala Rivers.

Many plants and animal species endemic to Sri Lanka are found in the Kanneliya forest reserve.