An awareness workshop was held on September 11, 2020 at the Rock Fort Hotel in Galle on landscape management plans established on “Sinharaja Landscape”.
The plan targets the Sinharaja World Heritage site and other 22 natural forests in the peripheral areas that approximately cover 228,000 hectares spreading across Galle, Matara and Kalutara districts.
There were 60 participants representing all key stakeholders such as the Forest Department, Department of WildLife Conservation, Department of Agriculture, Irrigation Department, District Secretaries office, provincial and local Government authorities and many other relevant institutions.
The main lectures were conducted by Dr. Jinie Dela, Researcher and primatologist, Mr.Saman Jayasekara, Director (Planning) and Mr.H.G.Gunawaradana, Coordinator, Landscape Management Planning of the ESCAMP. Followed by these lectures a discussion was held on current environmental and socioeconomic issues arisen due to the misuse of lands and undesirable land use practices adopted by the institutions and the people in these areas.
Ecosystem Conservation Project (ESCAMP) have established landscape management plans for two selected pilot sites in the Dry Zone and the Wet Zone of the country.
