Sustainable utilisation:

The way for forest conservation

by Gamini WARUSHAMANA

How is the environment protected in an open capitalist economy where everything is being valued in rupees and cents? No other option, let the people derive money from the environment in a sustainable manner, said the CEO of the Human and Environment Development Organisation (HEDO), Anura Prematilake.

A micro power plant

HEDO has put this method into practice and successfully concluded a project in Dereniyagala in the Kegalle district and the project has been recognised by the United Nations as a successful model.

The Rajruwagala Forest Conservation Project in Dereniyagala is evidence of the sustainable cohabitation between the community and the forest. The project was funded by the EU and the UNDP. By the time the conservation project was launched in 2007 the Rajruwagala forest was half destroyed by the community themselves creating serious issues to their lives, Prematilake said. The forest was cut down for timber, wood for gem mining and under growers such as cane and bamboo were excessively cut and sold for the industries. Tea small holdings encroached the forest in all directions. Excess use of chemical fertiliser polluted water.The community earned money from the forest direct and it came to an end. Finally this forest destruction lead to a drop in the water table level. Water pollution, land slides, decline in the bee population and erosion of top soil.

The demand to reverse the process came from the community itself. The communities in the three villages Imbulavitiya, Kohiladeniya and Gallelihella bordering the Rajruwagala Forest were mobilised by HEDO enabling them to extract forest resources in a sustainable manner for their livelihood.

Prematilake explained his experience. Firstly we marked forest boundaries with the assistance of the forest department. This was the most difficult part in the project because people had invaded the forest and cultivated tea and other crops. Therefore at the beginning all the villagers were not with the project. The Chief Incumbent of the Temple Ven. Ambalanpitiye Saddhananda Thero played a commendable role in attracting people to the project. It was not difficult to make people aware of the value of the conservation of the forest, because they were experiencing the dire consequence of the damages they had done.

The community was organised in small groups and they are vigilant of any unauthorised entry into the forest or any destruction. Replantation was done with the widest participation of the people.

Then we realised that unless the forest gives direct benefits to the communities this process would not continue. These remote villages situated nearly two three kms away from the Deraniyagala-Ratnapura main bus route. The roads were not motorable, there was no electricity or safe drinking water for the households. The project launched three micro hydro electricity sub projects Imbulavitiya 7 Kw, Kohiladeniya 2 Kw and Gallelihella 3 KW and a water supply project.

In the electricity project the technology is simple and the water is carried by a PVC pipe from the upstream. It is connected to the turbine that powers a small generator. The generated electricity goes through voltage and frequency stabiliser and the excess supply is burnt by three heaters.

The area bordered the Sri Pada Rain Forest is blessed by nature and receive heavy rainfall during ten months of the year. There are small water streams everywhere. The Imbulavitiya hydropower plant is located on the bank of a small water stream at the boundary of the Rajruwagala forest. K.P. Sumith Kumara, the caretaker of this small power house is responsible for providing uninterrupted power supply for 21 households and the temple of the village. He is an employee of the electricity consumer society of the village. His salary and maintenance cost of the plant and the distribution line is Rs. 250 monthly fee (a fraction of what the rest of the people pay for the electricity from the national grid) given by the electricity consumers. Kumara as well as all other electricity consumers are now responsible for the protection of the forest.

A water stream flowing from the Rajruwagala forest

The technical consultant of the project G.M.K. Nayanananda said that the project provides 230V supply throughout the day. During the daytime when the usage is limited the generation reduces to one third of the capacity. HEDO has also generated livelihoods connected with the forest for the communities . The jaggery, Kitul treacle and bee honey production has become lucrative businesses for the people. E.U. Indrapala (32) who is engaged in Kitul tapping said his average monthly income is over Rs. 40,000. In good months I earn around Rs. 60,000. We get Rs. 350/kg price for jaggery after HEDO's initiative. Earlier the price was around 150 and this industry was not attractive. HEDO purchases a part of the village jaggery production and market it under Green Lanka label.

The people who regularly enter into the forest for Kitul tapping keep a vigilant eye on any damage to the forest. Prematilake said that this is another objective of promoting this industry.

Organic fertiliser manufacturing project has been initiated to reduce chemical fertiliser usage. Liquid fertiliser produced through Wormy culture is also used by the smallscale tea growers.

The computer training centre at the temple provides IT training for the village children and youth free of charge. Though the physical connectivity of the village with the rest of the world is difficult the village is connected via mobile and CDMA telephones. Today, few years after the conclusion of the conservation work the living standard of the people have improved significantly.

The power projects and livelihood projects are managed by the community without HEDO intervention. They have gained technical skills to maintain power plants, Prematilake said. People too said that after the project they purchased TV and other electrical appliances, telephones and their lives are changed.

HEDO plans to extend the project to eco tourism. We have huge potential and it would provide income for the community while they further bound with protection of the environment, Prematilake said.