Statistics summary
Sri Lanka is a small, densely populated tropical island located in the Indian Ocean. In 2010, forest
cover was estimated to be 26.6%
of total land cover equivalent to 1.7 million hectares which extrapolates to a
declining forest cover of 0.6 to 0.3% over the past decade (FAO, 2010). The last
analysis in 1999 estimated forest cover of 2.0 million hectares or 30.8% of the
land area, with dense forests covering 22.4% of the land area, sparse forests
7% and plantations 1.4% (Bandaratillake & Fernando 2003). A district-wise analysis, however, using Landsat 7 ETM+ data suggests a possible rise in dense forest cover to 25.7% by 2001, with some districts showing significant
deforestation while others showed increases in forest cover (Ratnayake et al.,
2002). The draft NJP
lists the following drivers of deforestation at the present time: large-scale
agricultural and settlement projects, poverty associated with landlessness, conversion of forests to
permanent and swidden agriculture, encroachment from estate crop cultivation (such
as tea and cardamom), and demand for timber and land due to population growth
and changing lifestyles (Bandaratillake, 2011). A 2010
national forest cover assessment has been finalized but the results are not yet
published.
There are four indigenous
communities within Sri Lanka: the Kinnara, Ahikuntaka, Roddhi and Veddah
peoples. They are scattered around Sri Lanka and their populations have
declined over time. The Kinnara use various non-timber forest products to
produce handicrafts. The Veddah, possible descendants of the island’s first
inhabitants, have had close connections to the forest for over 2, 500 years
(Samarasekara, 2001). Their traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyle and culture
has been impacted by loss of forestland to large-scale irrigation and other
development schemes, and the establishment of conservation areas with
prohibitive regulations such as a hunting ban. They have been compelled to
shift their livelihood base from hunting and gathering to agriculture. Their
traditional lifestyle has also changed due to increased access and mainstream
education, which has resulted in their integration into other societies.
Sri Lanka like other tropical islands has high biological diversity and endemism,
particularly in its montane and lowland wet forests. Dry monsoon forests are the most
widespread and cover about 1.02 million hectares. Lowland rain forests cover only 124, 340 ha while sub-montane and montane forests cover 68, 892 ha. Much of the remaining
forest area has been threatened by habitat loss and degradation and Sri Lanka is listed as one of
the world’s 34 biodiversity hot spots
(Conservation International, Western Ghats and Sri Lanka). Trees outside forest areas (TROF) systems in Sri Lanka such as smallholder home
gardens, coconut and rubber plantations cover another 27% of
the land area or 1.8
million hectares (Chokkalingam & Vanniarachchy, 2011). They supply most of Sri Lanka’s forest products
and are also increasingly important for their environmental services.
The agriculture sector
contributed about 11.9% of the GDP in 2010 while employing 32% of the
population. Forestry activities contributed 9% and estate crops (tea, rubber,
coconut and minor export crops) 28% of the agriculture sector’s contributions
to the GDP (Central Bank of Sri Lanka, 2010). The
economic contribution of forestry is likely underestimated due to incomplete
data on collection and use of timber, fuelwood and non-wood forest products (Perera,
Vlosky, Amarasekera, & De Silva, 2006). Only marketed products are included
and household use of fuelwood and other resources are not documented