Publication
 

The Sinharaja rain forest: conserving both biological diversity and a way of life

Eighty-five interviews were conducted in twelve villages around the Sinharaja National Heritage Wilderness Area, to find out which species are used by the villagers, and for what purposes, and also to find out what effects the establishment of the Wilderness Area is having on socioeconomic conditions in the villages. Selected responses are presented in an appendix. A further appendix lists Sinhala and scientific names of some 197 useful species, of which 33.5% are endemic. The functions served by forest resources in the national and local economies are described, including both income generation and subsistence. The authors argue the case for the villagers to have access to an 'extractive reserve' and to a 'buffer zone'. In its deforested parts the buffer zone should be used for agroforestry, while those parts of it that still have a forest structure should be intensively managed. This would help to provide the villagers with the alternative sources of income and subsistence that are crucial to conservation efforts. At the same time the Forest Department and the villagers should become co-managers of the forest resources. These steps should ensure the conservation not only of biological diversity, but also of the villagers' evolving culture and way of life.

Authors: 
M. McDermott, C.V.S. Gunatilleke, & I.A.U.N. Gunatilleke
Journal: 
The Sri Lanka Forester
Year: 
1990
Volume: 
19
Issue: 
3,4
Pages: 
3-22
Site: 
Sinharaja