Managing Arid Areas and Sand Dunes in Sri Lanka - Combating Desertification in Asia, Africa and the Middle East - page 331

The other projects/programs related to soil conservation are:

• Re-forestation and Watershed Management Project (1980)

• Community Forestry Project (1982)

• Land Use Policy Planning Project (1983)

• Upper Mahaweli Watershed Management Project (1987)

• Forest Land Use Mapping Project (1989)

• Landslide Hazard Mapping Project (1990)

• Shared Control Of Natural Resources Project (1992)

• Optimal Land Use in Sri Lanka with particular application to Land Degradation

in Plantation Industries (1994)

• Environmental Action I Project (1995)

• Upper Watershed Management Project (1997)

• Integrated Rural Development Programs (1982).

These projects and programs generated new policies and concepts of soil
conservation, including the value of public participation and co-management of
natural resources with the community. The government is now aware that soil
erosion cannot be contained through simple technological interventions and those
larger socio-economic factors that impinge on soil erosion need to be addressed.
Strong emphasis has been laid on new conservation measures and techniques
developed both by the Department of Agriculture and private researchers such
as “Conservation Farming” and “Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT)”.
NGO and bilateral donors also assist (Box 16.2 ).

Box 16.2: Community Action Program to Reduce Land Degradation
and Conserve Biodiversity in Maguru River Basin by Organization for
Aquatic Resources Management - GEF Small Grants project

This project will reduce land degradation and conserve biodiversity in Boralu-
goda (Maguru River). Maguru River has the highest freshwater fish species
diversity in Sri Lanka. In this river, there are 47 species of fresh water fish and
out of that 20 species are endemic to Sri Lanka. Immediate conservation and
management measures need to be taken to preserve this vulnerable ecosystem.
The area has also suffered from the harmful effects of tea cultivation and
road construction, which has led to severe soil erosion. Lack of awareness
on proper land management have contributed to this as well. Therefore,
the Organization for Aquatic Resources Management (OARM) intends to
conserve the fish population in Maguru River, reduce land degradation in
the Boralugoda area, conserve local biodiversity and provide sustainable
livelihoods for local community members.
To fulfill these objectives, OARM will prevent soil erosion by replanting
part of the tropical rainforest, erecting stone walls.