China to help construct bamboo ’Bio-fence’ as solution to human-elephant conflict

Colombo, July 28 (Daily Mirror) - China has agreed to provide the necessary technical and research support to establish a 'Bio-fence' using bamboo as a sustainable, eco-friendly solution to the long-standing human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka.

These proposals were agreed upon during an official study tour undertaken by a Sri Lankan delegation led by the Deputy Minister of Environment, Anton Jayakody, to the International Center for Bamboo and Rattan (ICBR) in Beijing, China.

During special bilateral discussions held with the Director General and senior officials of the International Center for Bamboo and Rattan, extensive studies were conducted on bamboo cultivation, modern processing technologies and various industrial products made from bamboo. 

The Deputy Minister made an official request to support the implementation of proposals related to creating a successful 'bio-fence' using bamboo to control Sri Lanka's human-elephant conflict and the Chinese side stated that while providing a sustainable solution to the human-elephant conflict, they are ready to extend full support for modern technology, best practices and Research & Development (R&D) activities necessary to uplift the economic standards of local communities through bamboo-based products.