DEFORESTATION AND WILDLIFE

“The Elegant Pearl in the Indian Ocean” is admired by many from all around the world. The Greenery, the beauty was always the center of attraction with the tropical rain forests enriched with their charming biodiversity. However, this well preserved natural beauty has now been threatened due to many reasons and Deforestation is one of those highly sensitive threats which leads to many severe consequences. These forests are the habitat to many species, destruction of which can greatly threaten their lives, endangering the existence of many rare species unique to the tropical island.

As of now deforestation is one of the most serious environmental issues in Sri Lanka.

“Sri Lanka had a forest density of 82% in 1882. Fast forward to 2019, Sri Lanka’s forest density stands at a shocking 16.5%!”

News First reported in its article dated 14th April 2019. Many Rain forests including the UNESCO declared World Heritage; Sinharaja Rain forest are affected by deforestation. More than 60% of the trees are endemic and many of them are considered rare. 50% of Sri Lankan’s endemic species of animals (especially butterfly, amphibians, birds, snakes and fish species). It is home to 95% endemic birds.

Many development projects turn a blind eye to the prevailing environmental crisis hiding behind the shadows of decorative terms such as “Sustainable Development” and “Green Economy” with no precautions taken to prove the point. It is said such removal is done for agricultural reasons and plantation purposes since sale of Timber and Tea are a major part of the national economy, such large scale settlement schemes without the recognition given to wild animal habitats and their migration patterns have threatened wildlife and Sri Lanka’s rich biodiversity. Media reporting cases of wild elephants destroying paddy fields and attacking people aren’t rare in the Sri Lankan context. Such encounters are a result of the habitat destruction and their food being taken away. Foraging for food gets them killed in the cruelest ways! This is a very sad situation which has led Sri Lanka to be dishonored as a country with the highest number of elephant deaths. It is estimated that there are 6000 wild elephants in Sri Lanka today, which means that there still is a treasure out in the wild, adding more value into the economy with tourist attractions fascinated by the wild.

The rapid growth of Urbanization demanding deforestation; destroying habitats and causing global warming have “critically endangered” many wild animals in Sri Lanka as specified under “The Red List” by IUCN. Purple faced Leaf lunger - a Western subspecies (Trachypithecus vetulus), Nellu Rat (Rattus montanus), Black necked stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus), Painted Francolin (Francolinus pictus), Jungle bush quail (Perdicula asiatica) are few of those species hitting top in the list. The IUCN red list further states that 26% of Mammals, 14% of birds, 41% of amphibians and 37% of sharks are threatened.

The increase in Human-Wildlife encounters have put them into a conflict over land, water and resources and Deforestation is slowly killing the charming beauty under the veils of economy and agriculture.

- Rtr. Hiruni Fernando -