Objectives and Scope of the Plan
- To assess the current land use pattern and status of the Hambantota District HSA and assess current/future demands that are shaping the use of land/natural resources within it.
- To review the ecological character of the Hambantota District HSA, and map existing forest patches, corridors and other important ecosystems within it including food production areas.
- Identify issues, threats and drivers of change that have and will continue to shape the ecological character and balance within the landscape. The focus here should be centred mainly on ecosystems within and adjacent to the HSA landscape that supports the food production ecosystems.
- To determine critical ecological networks within the HSA landscape and the economic value of key ecosystem services, especially focusing on benefits to food production ecosystems.
- To study the extent of the HEC over the last 10 years, with a particular emphasis on HEC levels (number and intensity) that exist in the landscape today and how it will increase and intensify with agricultural expansion and productivity improvement that is planned under the HSAAD (Hotspot Area Agriculture Development) plan. Mapping of the potential movement paths of elephants in particular (normally an elephant is assessed to move 2800sq Km a year). This is essential to suggest mitigation measures due to HEC (Humen Elephant Conflict).
- To understand the social impacts of the HEC on community living and livelihoods including impacts on vulnerable groups.
- To identify key stakeholder groups in the HSA landscape, assess their level of interest and influence on its future land use and identify means of engaging them for fostering greater harmony between conservation and production land-use practices – to improve the climate resilience of the HSA landscape. The involvement of local communities in a participatory approach will be very useful
- To identify appropriate landscape-level management strategies that will promote integrated management of agricultural areas and the natural resources that underpin ecosystem services that are essential for food production and buffer against climate risks.
Dr. Janaka Jayawardena, Environmental and Social Safeguard Specialist of the CSIAP briefed participants on the objectives of the workshop. Mr. H.M.P. Bandara, Deputy Project Director, CSIAP and Mr. S. Manoharan, Consultant, World Bank also expressed their views too. Senior government officials representing various institutions attended the workshop. the Agro-Ecological Landscape Resilience Plan in Hambanthota was developed by Teams Consultants.
