Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Strategy - 1984, that address problems such as the mitigation of soil erosion,
improvement of soil fertility and the conservation of soil and water all of which
are related to land degradation in the country.
The Department of Agriculture (DOA) in general and the Natural Resources
Management Division in particular are heavily involved in addressing land degra-
dation issues. Recommendations pertaining to soil conservation activities and the
implementation of agricultural and other relevant policies related to control of
land degradation are some of the activities conducted by the DOA in collab-
oration with other institutions such as Hadabima Authority, Upper Watershed
Management Project, Provincial Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Up country
Development. These projects use traditional and local technologies to combat
land degradation. The Hadabima Authority of Sri Lanka is engaged in various
development programs in mid country area. Programs are conducted through a
participatory approach. These include soil conservation and watershed management,
home garden development, soil rehabilitation and rainwater harvesting in the mid
country. The officers of the Authority educate farmers and use traditional as well
as available local technologies in controlling soil erosion and the conservation of
water in the area. Research institutes such as the Rubber Research Institute and
Tea Research Institute adopt measures for the conservation of soil and water in
rubber and tea lands. As local technologies, agro forestry systems and ground cover
management introduced by the Rubber Research Institute are being used in rubber
plantations.
The Department of Forests contributes to the control of soil erosion and conser-
vation of water resources through the use of traditional and/or local technologies
partly by implementing activities detailed in the Forestry Master Plan and partly
through projects such as the Forest Resource Management Project and the South-
West Rain Forest Conservation Project. The Department of Export Agriculture
implements a number of programs that are closely linked with soil conservation
and the improvement of land productivity.
The Department of Forest is responsible for mitigating the impacts of desertifi-
cation process mainly in the arid zone of the island in addition to other areas.
Department of Forest has been involved in several ways to achieve this goal.
Some of these efforts are as follows:
Protection of forests in the country .
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By educating the people
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By law enforcement
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By enrichment of existing forests
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By afforestation programs
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By local people participation methodologies
Conservation of biodiversity .
Stabilizing sand dunes formed in arid zone areas .
Conservation and stabilization of soil .
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