THE USE OF FORESTS BY RURAL COMMUNITIES AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO FOREST CONSERVATION PLANNING: A CASE STUDY IN THE KNUCKLES FOREST OF SRI LANKA

Abstract

The indigenous communities of the Knuckles forest depend on the surrounding forest fortheir survival. A government conservation plan has been implemented in the Knucklesregion with the aim of conserving this unique natural heritage. This paper looks into thecurrent use of the forest by the indigenous people, change of forest-use in history and theattitudes of the people towards the current conservation status of the forest. The aims ofthe project were, to qualitatively assess forest use by the indigenous community andidentify key social issues that need to be addressed when implementing a conservationplan for the Knuckles region.

A Participatory Rural Appraisal was conducted in five villages in the eastern slopes ofthe Knuckles range. Data collected based on geography, history, forest-use andconservation issues was qualitatively analysed focusing on a temporal analysis.

Results show that these villagers lead a very simple and difficult life, based mainly onpaddy cultivation and forest use. Current use of the forest is mainly for subsistencepurposes, grazing of buffalo and cardamom cultivation. Main use in the past was forshifting cultivation. Conservation issues included both consumptive and altruisticconcerns, particularly regarding the prohibition of shifting cultivation, pine plantations,biodiversity and migration.

It concludes that the villagers are almost exclusively dependent on the forest and damageto it from them seems to be minimal. It also infers that when initiating conservationplans it is important to assess what part, how, for what purpose and by whom the forest isused.