How do we ensure Human- Elephant Coexistence?

"We dont want to give up our land." Elephant corridor won't help to save us from elephant attacks and the aggregating conflicts due to loss of forest for the elephants. We have been living here for decades. Our fathers and fore fathers lived here. Our children should also live this divine land. We are fed up with go behind with these politicians and authorities. Who else we can say this injustices? We can not trust any one now. All are coming here for their personnel gains. This is what our team gathered today at the community meeting held at Hirudeniyaya village. Hirudeniyaya farmer leaders are complaining about their situation and cursing all those who are attempting to disturb their lives and livelihoods. People are strongly oppose the proposed Elephant Corridor from Kahalla - Pallakele forest to Hakwatuna Oya. The farmers say this is a path to destroy every thing even the lives of the people as the elephants come and going via their village under this scheme. Even school children can not go to school as there is no guarantee of the time of elephants are moving. Our whole life will be in danger.

Elephant Corridor for Human Elephant Coexistence issues

Today my colleagues attended a field survey and people's mobilisation meeting at Irudeniyaya villages in Polpithigama divisional secretariat area.
The Irudeniyaya villages around 8 agricultural villages were about to evict from their land in order to cater to the needs of the tourism project. The lands from Kahalla- Pallekele forest was given to farmers and more than 2 generations they were living in the area. The houses were built with electricity, access roads and nearby schools for children's education. Recently there is a suggestion to appropriate the lands under wild life department
People were schocked to hear this and agitated many ways including 3000 people gathering at Kurunegala in October 12th.  The message was clear. We dont leave our land.
The leaders submitted petition to N/W province chief minister and land minister. Without any surprise their response was clear.
"We dont have land powers to settle these issues".
People of Irudeniyaya went home empty hands but with a determination.
"We dont vote for any political party unless solve our land issue".
There were several promises given during the last provincial council elections. People will not be removed from their lands.
But today the issue has emerged in a different angle. It is a proposal for an Elephant Corridor from Kahalla Pallakele to Hakwatunawewa reservoir via Irudeniyaya.
The problem has a new face now. Today our discussion was to find ways and means to survive the farmers of Irudeniyaya and fishers in Hakwatunawewa reservoir and adjasent villages. People say we will not give up our land and wont allow fisher people to suffer with these new priposals.

Let us Protect Rathgama Lagoon- Says SFO-Galle Fisher Leaders

Southern Fisheries Organization-Galle has organized a dialogue between fisher people around Rathgama Lagoon and relevant government officials today, which was held at SFO-Galle office. The long term struggle to protect Rathgam lagoon is one of the main agenda item among the SFO-Galle team. The officials from Wild Life department, Environmental authority, irrigation department, Grama Niladari officers, fisher leaders, environmental activists and women concerned attended the meeting today. The Rathgam lagoon has been encroached by hoteliers and these attempts were prevented with the mediation of the people around the lagoon. However,there were series of requests, complains were made by the fisher people and some concerned groups including SFO-Galle was not heard by the authorities and hoteliers continued their tasks while destroying important wetland of Rathgam lagoon. Today, SFO-Galle took the initiative and brought the relevant authorities together to discuss and find ways to protect the Rathgam lagoon as a collective effort. The officials, fisher leaders, activists of NAFSO and SFO-Galle agreed to work together and prevent the destruction of Rathgam lagoon. The group undertook some responsibilities and agreed to meet again within 3 months time to assess the progress and evaluate the collaboration activities.

South Asian Convention on Coastal Management

My colleague Nalaka Rosairo attended a Coastal Management Work Shop at India. There were several representatives attended from South Asian region including, India, Maldives, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The Center for Science and Environment[CSE] a Delhi based organization and Pondichery based PondyCAN organized the work shop in which discussed the matters related to managing and regulating coastal environment, protecting coastal habitats and climate change. Presentations are available at: http://www.cseindia.org/content/south-asia-convention-coastal-management Fact sheets: India: http:// Bangladesh: http:// Sri Lanka; http:// Maldives: http:// Pakistan: http:// Nalaka Rosairo needs to update me further and will come back again if he has anything more to add to these information. Herman

Youth for Green Environment: Silviculture Program at Polpitigama

My colleagues in the Praja Sahayogitha Padanama in Polpithigama, in Kurunegala had done an excellent work on conservation of the environment. The Silviculture site at Polpitihigama area was one of the important contribution to the conservation of the area which is suppose to be a dry climatic condition. The youth group, the members of the YMESOC, the Youth- Movement for Environment and Social Change, had shed their sweat to make their environment green and wet in Polpithigama. Sampath Jayawardene, the coordinator of the program said to me, "This work changed the minds of the youth who engaged in this silviculture program. Our youth did their best not only to plant the trees, but also to protect them. We need to work hard to spread this idea and experiences in other areas of dry zone. We can see lot of positive things happening in the ground level. But we need to provide more space and resources to spread this idea and experiences". My colleague, Laksiri Pradeep did a nice poster based on the Polpitigama experience and I would like to share this with you all those who visit my blog for your information. I am sure, Laksiri will continue these experiences with other areas with Y-MESOC groups, in the north and south of the country. Herman

Tree Ordination program at Nilgala Forest Reserve!

Nilgala forest is one of a rich bio diversity in Sri Lanka and face serious threats to the same by now. People cut down trees from the forest for their personnel gains. With the blessings of some politicians, the henchmen engage the destruction of the forest.We think these are some what critical issues in present development context. Who ever, destroy such important forest is a prime concern of NAFSO and we are engage in to prevent the destruction. Environmental groups have engaged to protect Nilgala forest while using robes of the monks. The environmentalists says, "It is the ordination of the Nilgala forest and how long they are going to see the school. Yesterday, we have seen the vllagers have helped the trees covering the trees with monks robes. The function called, Ordination of the Trees which was held yesterday with the participation of villagers around Nilgala forest. The Environmental Justice Foundation facilitated the process with the communities around the forest. Herman

World Fisheries Day of NAFSO

NAFSO Celebrated World Fisheries Day on 21st November while joining with the global fisheries movement. Interestingly the Ministry of Fisheries also celebrated the WFD parallel to NAFSO.
At the NAFSO fisheries convention, the partner organizations came up with 14 points which are most pressing needs in the respective area.

The presentation and display them in the stage is seen as in the photograph.
The NAFSO adopted to work in relation to Land and Water for the coming years as this will be one of the most pressing needs of the country today.

The photo says the points identified by the partners.

The participants adopted those points with raising their hands and giving their consent to carry out work in relation to Land, Water and Fisheries.
Herman