TROPICAL FOREST CONSERVATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC WELLBEING OF SELECTED VADDA COMMUNITIES IN SRI LANKA

Presentation by Inter-agency Working Group on the 'Livelihood Recovery of Traditional Forestdwelling Communities of Sri Lanka

UNDP Regional Initiative on Indigenous Peoples Rights and Development (RIPP)

Regional Dialogue on Natural Resource Management

10-14 November 2007, Chiang Mai, Thailand Traditional forest-dwelling communities, once largely dependent on forest resources for their livelihoods, currently suffer extreme poverty as a result of imposed mainstream forces, e.g. modern development schemes, Protected Area (PA) management and conservation policies. The enforced adaptation to mainstream scenarios has adversely affected the once free spirited forest dependent Vadda people, their traditional lifeways and cultural values. One key livelihood transition has been the adoption of sedentary agricultural practices. This shift has led to an increased dependency on external inputs, e.g. chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and has restricted access to seasonal water sources. As a result, the traditional livelihood strategies which helped to preserve forest resources are being eroded. The price the Vadda people have paid is high. They face undue pressures and struggle to maintain livelihood security. The loss of traditional values, in exchange for material aspirations influenced by external economic, socio-cultural and religious influences is distinctly evident. The Inter-agency Working Group on the 'Livelihood Recovery of Traditional/Indigenous Forest-dwelling People (IWGLRIP2005) was established to develop partnerships with forest dwelling communities. The Working Group committee, facilitated by UNDP/GEF-SGP, is comprised of representatives from the Biodiversity Secretariat of the Ministry of Environment, the Centre for Eco-cultural Studies (CES), operating as the joint secretariat, and The Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWLC). The Working Group's main objective is to facilitate the recovery of forest livelihoods and to preserve associated traditional knowledge systems. The process will be carried forward through negotiations between stakeholders for proactive change, in order to overcome the barriers the forest communities presently face in relation to interacting with their natural environment.

In spirit of the International Decade for Indigenous Peoples, developments for the establishment of the National Traditional Knowledge Policy (NPTK) were set in motion (2003). The NPKP, and its th associated strategies, were finally declared on 9 august 2007, a day recognised internationally for the celebration of indigenous peoples. Pre-existing policies, such as the National Biodiversity Action Plan and National Forest Policy, already highlighted the importance of preserving traditional knowledge practices and their associate communities. However, the NPTK exists as a government policy solely dedicated to the promotion and facilitation of traditional knowledge, and to the maintenance of the eco-cultural well being of indigenous communities that have nurtured such wisdoms for thousands of years.

The proposed strategy and implementation mechanism for the NPTK:

of required policy changes to promote the 'living traditions' of traditional forest communities. Establishment of a Joint Secretariat and Implementation Committee for the Inter-agency Working Group established. Preparation of a work plan for the pilot programme through a participatory approach. Preparation of a model community participatory mechanism. Establishment of a long-term financial investment plan for the forest Vadda community livelihood recovery programme. Minimising conflicts of interest between Protected Area (PA) managers and forest people. Minimising the adverse effects of community dependency as a result of PA's. Establishing 'eco-cultural' villages as an alternative to the free-spiritedness and food insecurities faced by the forest people. Recovery of traditional livelihoods for forest dwelling communities living in the peripheries of PA s, by way of improved natural resource access. establish a documenting system for traditional knowledge. To Empowering and enhancing the skills and capacities of local communities. Setting up a mechanism for equitable-sharing of benefits from PA's and bio-prospecting. Establishing a local market for the sale of community products. Establishing a community interpretation programme on traditional cultures and up-scaling existing facilities. Setting-up a micro-financing programme for re-acquiring mortgaged properties. Raising awareness of social issues, e.g. communicable diseases and gender relations.
Facilitation

Programme implementation
The traditional Vadda communities summarised below are the selected beneficiaries of the 5 year programme for Phase 1. Ratugala serves as the pilot programme for implementation over a two-year period from Aug 2007 onwards. (1) Ratugala: environs of Gal Oya Forest Reserve (Monaragala District) (2) Pollebadda: environs of Nuvaragala Forest Reserve (Ampara District) (3) Dambana: environs of Maduru Oya National Park (Badulla District) (4) Henanigala: environs of Maduru Oya National Park (Ampara District) (5) Gallinda, Rotavava and Minneriya: environs of Sigiriya wildlife sanctuary, Minneriya-Giritale Nature Reserve and Minneriya-Giritale National Park (Polonnaruva District) (6) Dimbulagala and environs: environs of Flood Plains National Park and Vasgomuva National Park (Polonnaruva District) (7) Panama: environs of Kumana wildlife sanctuary, Yala National Park; and Lahugala-Kitulana National Park (Monaragala District)

U N D P

We would welcome your comments and suggestions

Coordinating Secretary Centre for Eco-cultural Studies (CES) PO Box 03, Diyakapilla, Sigiriya, Sri Lanka Email: centeco@sltnet.lk; centeco@hotmail.com Director Biodiversity Secretariat Ministry of Environment, "Parisara Piyasa' 104, Robert Gunawardene Mawatha, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka Email: gaminigamage@yahoo.co.uk