Climate Change

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Two decades ago the notion of Climate Change was labeled as far fetched, while in Sri Lanka, the term was almost unheard of. However today, Climate Change is not only one of the most discussed topics in every part of the world but is also an issue that has become alarmingly very real, to each and every one of us. The threats of Climate Change are felt all over the world; freak patterns of weather, sea level rising and threats to island nations have become issues as urgent and important as terrorism and poverty.

 

Increasing levels of temperature as a result of Climate Change is already giving rise to fear that Sri Lanka’s agriculture based economy will suffer – affecting foreign currency generating crops such as tea and rubber.

 

In response to the growing demand for knowledge on how Sri Lanka plans to address Climate Change, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has established the Climate Change Secretariat to take comprehensive action to contribute towards local, regional and global efforts in combating Climate change and to integrate unavoidable climate change scenarios into national sustainable development plans and address these issues at the national level.

 

EFL has over the years carried out information dissemination and distribution through workshops, publications and dialogues on the need to address Climate Change without delay.

Read EFL’s

 

Economics of Climate Change (178kb)

 

 

 

Hakgala Strict Natural Reserve (Picture) – An important watershed forest


Key Data

 

  • Established in 1938, covering an area of 1,142 hectares
  • Situated in the administrative Districts of Nuwara Eliya and Badulla
  • One of only three Strict Natural Reserves (SNR) in Sri Lanka Of all Protected Areas, SNRs are afforded the highest level of protection
  • Part of the wet montane forest ecozone of Sri Lanka, classified as a Ceylonese Monsoon ForestAltitude ranges between 5,400 and 7,150 feet
  • Part of the Central Highlands Forest Complex which included the Horton Plains National Park

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    Threats and Challenges
    • Estimated that at least 25% of the Hakgala SNR has been encroached
    • It is estimated that there are 200 smallholder encroachments, totalling more than 150 hectares
    • The loss of forest cover will reduce carbon sequestration
    • Loss of forest cover will reduce the resilience to withstand Climate Change