Model mitigation sites for Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC)

Bio-fence as sustainable mechanism:

By Ranga Chandrarathne

[email protected]
 

UNDP’ Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Programme in collaboration with National Disaster Committee, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resource and Department of Wild Life Conservation has developed a model mitigation site at Nawagaththegama, an area adversely affected by HEC.

Under the project, a bio-fence of jute, citrus and bougainvillea will be constructed in parallel with a 15 km electric fence. The UNDP DRM Programme has funded construction of live fence and to implement the other HEC mitigation strategies in selected sites.

Following a survey conducted in the village, it has been decided to try and test varieties plants which have already been used as bio-barrier to elephants. Jute or agave, citrus, bougainvillea have been planted in rows parallel to the 15 km electric fence.

Besides conservation aspects, the project has also looked into the plausible economic benefits that can be accrued from a bio-fence. For instance, the Community Based Organization (CBO) in the village can earn a supplementary income by the sale of lemon which grows in the fence.

Currently, the plants required for the bio-fence have already been grown in a nursery maintained by UNDP DRM project. This will automatically ensure the maintenance of the fence. If the project is successful, UNDP would step in providing markets for products such as lemon from the fence.

Farmers in the area are affected by constant attacks by elephants encroaching into their farmlands. It has also been found out that elephants detest the bees, a fact which had been tested by organizations. In the next step, UNDP DRM would test this if the bio-fence is a success.

One of the objectives of the project is to test whether a bio-fence can be used as sustainable mechanism in Sri Lanka in general and in Nawagaththegama, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa dry zones in particular.

Since bio-fence is constructed in parallel with an electric fence, effectiveness of the fences can be tested. In a project in Buttala and Moneragala Districts, a bio-fence will be constructed and the result can be compared and contrasted.

The project is managed by the District Secretary, Puttalam with District National Disaster Coordination Unit UNDP DRM program funding the project.

The UNDP/DMC Disaster Management Programme has selected the particular site as a demonstrative site for Model Mitigations of Human Elephant Conflict. Disaster Management Centre and UNDP Disaster Management Programme collaboratively introduces a sustainable bio-fence along the proposed electric fence.

This bio-fence is built with the consultation of Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources. The policy planning division of Ministry of Environment takes the leadership in close collaboration with Disaster Management Centre and UNDP DRM Programme to implement the proposed Bio-fence.

Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources provides the technical guidance to co-ordinate the implementation of the bio-fence. At present 40,000 plants were planted in nurseries which were established by the community (Agave - 15,000, citrus - 9,000, bougainvillaea - 10,000 and palmyrah - 6,000). UNDP DRM would from time to time make field visits to the site to evaluate the progress and sustainability of bio-fence. It hopes to take the results to the national level in order to introduce it as a national policy.

Maintenances of bio-fence requires less financial resources than an electric fence.

H.P.L.K. Nanayakkara is the Project Development and Planning Officer of UNDP’s Disaster Management Programme. Project is managed by District Secretary, Puttalam Divisional Secretary, Nawagaththegama and District Disaster Coordination Unit, Puttalam.