The Ministry of Environment has announced that 50 forests will be declared as reserves through a gazette notification, in line with World Forest Day, which falls on March 21.
The announcement was made at a media briefing held this morning (17) at the Government Information Department.
According to the Ministry, the initiative is part of the “Vanaspathi” national programme, which focuses on declaring forests as reserves to strengthen conservation efforts.
In this latest phase, 50 forests covering 12,989.73 hectares across four districts and 13 forest regions are scheduled to be formally declared as reserves.
The media briefing was attended by Minister of Environment Dammika Patabendi, Secretary to the Ministry of Environment K. R. Uduwawala, environmentalist Ravindra Kariyawasam, and Director General of the Forest Conservation Department P. S. C. Palamakumbura. (Newswire)