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Proposed road in Sinharaja will not be allowed

05 Dec 2011 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The proposed widening and development of a 3.5km road stretch from Ilumbakanda to Suriyakanda on the edge of the Sinharaja Forest Reserve (SFR) will not be permitted and remain as a ‘Nature Track’ because the development of the road along the natural habitat will affect the fauna and flora of the Sinharaja forest, Environment Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said.

Addressing the media to announce the recommendations of the 12 member expert committee that probed into the controversial road construction, Minister Yapa said the environment ministry has no objection to the development of remaining parts of the road.

Minister Yapa told the media that the major impact due to the proposed road is ecosystem fragmentation, consequent to the wildlife are a loss of species from fragments and entire landscape.

“Even a bus runs between Pothupitiya and Imbulkanda which is a motorable road and we have no objection what so ever to develop that stretch of road. However, the foot path which is the centre of the issue can be used as it is and Environment Ministry is not in a position to approve the widening and development of this foot path,” Minister Yapa said.

Minister Yapa quoting the findings of the expert committee pointed out that isolation of habitats, a fundamental consequence of the process of fragmentation also influences the status of animal populations and communities in developed landscapes.

Minimizing the effects of isolation by enhancing landscape connectivity is one way to counter the adverse effects of fragmentation. The Identified threats can be broadly categorized in to three major categories, he stressed. (Sandun A. Jayasekera)

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Proposed road in Sinharaja will not be allowed

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