The community-based seasonal cultivation fences prevent elephants from entering and causing irreparable damages to human settlements and cultivations. The human-elephant conflict poses major threats to the well-being of both humans and animals. Crop-raiding by elephants across agricultural areas in Sri Lanka including the hot spot areas where the CSIAP is being implemented can be devastating for small farmers, leading to food insecurity, lost opportunity costs, and even death. Crop-raiding and property damage can also result in negative attitudes towards elephant conservation and retaliatory killings of elephants.
Dr.
Prithiviraj Fernando, Chairman, Trustee and Scientist of CCR, Sri Lanka delivered presentation on importance of erecting a sessional cultivation
fence to mitigate HEC. Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya, Elephant Ethologist and former
Director General of Wildlife Conservation, Sri Lanka, Mr. A. H. M. L. Abeyrathna,
Commissioner General of the Department of Agrarian Development, Nadeera Rajapaksha, Environmental Specials of
the World Bank and Dr. Janaka Jayawardena, Environmental & Social Safeguard
Specialist delivered speeches on the same subject.
Mr. S. Manoharan, Senior Consultant (Agriculture,
Food & Rural Development) & Dr. Athula
Senaratne, Senior Agriculture Specialist of the World Bank, Eng. R.M.B.
Rajakaruna, Project Director, Deputy Project Directors & Specialists of the
CSIAP, and top officials of implementing agencies were present at the
discussion.
Please see more images of the discussion.
