Why 4,000 acres dropped from Mavillu ?

 Mar 30, 2017

A forest reserve called Mavillu has been declared by bringing together the Mavillu, Veppal, Marichchakaddi-Karadakkuli, Vilaththikulam and Periyamurippu reserves located north of Wilpattu national park, but 3,0380 acres of previously cleared, but now becoming jungle once again as well as the entire coastal area have been dropped from the forest reserve, says the Environment Conservation Trust.

Accordingly, a shallow lake system adjacent to the Kallaru Oya and the dry-evergreen forest system as well as the coastal green belt, cacti and shrub jungles have been dropped from the forest reserve, it says.

 

The ECT stresses 4,000 acres have been cleverly taken out of the forest reserve with future development projects in mind. This is not the real method of conserving environment, it notes, adding that if the intention is honest, all areas, including the coastal belt, and excluding where permanent habitats are located, should be added to Wilpattu national park as per clause two of the fauna and flora ordinance, the ECT says.

 

That will help conserve the hydro catchments for Modaragan Aru, Kallaru and Aruvi Aru or Malwatu Oya, all located south of the forest reserve, as well as the shallow lake system and the coastal belt. If no conservation takes place and habitations expand, a severe water shortage and an escalation of human-elephant conflict will be unavoidable.

 

Ashika Brahmana