EDITORIAL : THE DAILY MIRROR, SRILANKA

Blowing in the wind

Winning the environment battle too...As the country ‘celebrates’ another environment day today, we cannot ignore the shocking facts facing the country’s fauna and flora. Continuing to be victim to politically interfered targets and mismanaged policies of ill informed officials under successive regimes; our records indicate a very pathetic state indeed. Be it the dwindling forest cover due to overly ambitious development plans, or the increased deaths of an already depleted elephant population; our government policies with regard to the environment and its preservation leave much to be desired.

A clear lack of political commitment towards preservation of the environment in introducing policies that can help maintain a healthy balance between development and forest/wildlife conservation is an allegation even the present government cannot deny. The very lukewarm attitude towards an average of 250 reported elephants deaths annually over the last few years or the continued felling of trees as well as the encroachment into protected areas all speak volumes of a national environment policy gone wrong. The country is yet to right a politically infused threat to the protected national reserves, which have continued to be encroached upon under various political land distribution policies. The negative effects of the programs have included the tragic gunning down of a large number of elephants by villagers whose next step was chena cultivation. A number of such areas have been reported elephant country therefore the conflict that was to then follow.  Although the elephant situation  has again taken centre stage as we discuss the state of the environment; sadly the plights of other habitats; be they turtle, leopard or swallows are no different. The concentration on the elephant however, has much to do with the fact that given its tragic number today, e cannot ignore the grave danger the animal is in, unless there is a drastic policy change towards its conservation. The ‘obsession’ as it may seem, on the elephant has also much to do with the tourism potential that the government has placed much of its revenue on and the significance the animal plays to our ethos. It’s preservation therefore, can no longer remain one that we can take comfort discussion at an annual environment day forum or restrict to a tourism promotion brochure when its’ very survival is a cause of such tragic proportion.

Certainly, no one denies the crucial nature of accelerated development projects to a government that has vowed to win the economic battles as well. If the meticulous planning that ensured the victory at the battle field two years back are any indication, the ability of the present regime to win this battle with the same dedication can not prove such a hurdle. A clear commitment to preservation and motivating the officials towards its implementation with zero political interference is all that is necessary.