Management Plan for the Knuckles Conservation area

2010-2014

Project : Management Plan For The Knuckles Conservation Area

Time Period : 2010 – 2014Prepared By : Forest Department, Sri Lanka

Contents Background and conceptual framework Biological Diversity Regulation of Eco system services Socio economic Development Aesthetic Value Recreation Research and Education Institutional and legal Framework Operational Plan and Budget

Background & Conceptual Framework

A detailed management plan for the Knuckles forest was first formulated in 1994.

Most of the activities recommended in the plan are still being implemented.

Knuckles Forest Region Covers 210km2

Located in Kandy and Matale districts of the central province Sri Lanka

General Landscape Area is extremely rugged, with several peaks rising above 1500m.

Gombaniya is the highest peak with a height of 1906m.

Locally called this region as ‘Dumbara Kanduwetiya’

Rainfall Highland areas of the forest range is extremely wet with an average rainfall of 5000mm.

Lower eastern slopes are much drier with less than 2500mm.

Vegetation types Wide range of climatic and landscape features resulted lowland semi-evergreen forests to montane forests.

Watersheds Represents most important and critical watersheds of Sri Lanka.

Contributes to nearly 8% of the watersheds of Victoria & Randenigala reservoirs.

Represents 80% of upper watersheds of the proposed Moragahakanda & Kalu ganga reservoirs

Area above 1500m was declared as a climatic reserve in 1873

In April 2000, it was declared as the country’s first ever conservation forest

Proposed as a Mixed Cultural & Natural World Heritage Site

International and National Significance of KFA

Knuckles Conservation Forest will principally be managed to achieve the first policy objective in Forest Policy of Sri Lanka, 1995.

In addition, it will have to be managed to achieve second & third policy objectives to a limited extent.

Knuckles Conservation Forest has been proposed to be inscribed as a Mixed Cultural & Natural World Heritage Site under the World Heritage Convention.

Goal, Purpose & Objectives of the plan

Goal

To conserve Knuckles forest for posterity, with regard to biodiversity, soil, water. Historical, cultural, religious, scientific and aesthetic

values and to enhance contribution of forestry to the national economy as well as to the

welfare of nearby communities.

Purpose

Biodiversity, soil, water and other ecosystem services are conserved and the social welfare of peripheral communities is enhanced through ecosystem approach.

Objectives The composition, structure, functions and evolutionary potential of biodiversity conserved.

Regulatory ecosystem services of the KCA sustained. Livelihoods of Knuckles Buffer Zone communities improved.

Aesthetic value of the KCA conserved. Recreational capacity of the KCA enhanced Educational and Research opportunities provided. Institutional and legal framework established

Application of the PlanStructure Actions proposed in the plan are set out under the Seven criteria for Sustainability Developed in the Montreal Process.

Scope The plan applies within the geographic area of the Knuckles Conservation Area and its Buffer Zone.

Operation of the Plan Plan comes to operation on 1st January 2010 and continues to operate until 31st December 2014.

Biological Diversity

Biodiversity

“Biodiversity refers to the variability among living organisms and the ecosystem of which they are a

part”

Measured or observed in 3 different levels

Genes

Ecosystems

Species

Wide range of topographic and climate variation in the knuckles range.

MANY NATURAL VEGETATION

TYPESMontane forestsSub montane forestsSemi -evergreen forests

•Man made semi natural vegetation types

•Man influenced secondary vegetation types

•Patches of plantation forest

Faunal diversityFamily Genus Specie

sEndemic

Endemic to Knuckles

Nationally Threatened

Birds 26 42 128 17 - 20Amphibians

3 4 20 12 1 12

Butterflies

4 11 60 5 - 8

Mollusks

6 10 17 12 - 0

Mammals

12 17 31 4 - 9

Reptiles

4 10 53 23 1 24

Fish 4 9 15 8 3 7

Flowering plants diversity

Families Genera Species Rare Endemic Nationally Threatened

141 595 1033 12 160 11

Number of threats affecting on the biological diversity of the knuckles conservation area

Cultivation of cardamom inside the high elevation natural forest areas

Forest and grassland firesUnauthorized development activities carried out in private lands

Abiotic and biotic factors

OBJECTIVE: The composition, structure, functions and evolutionary potential of

biodiversity conserved

1) Existing Forest Area Maintained

2) Declining Quality Of Biodiversity Arrested

3) Mechanism To Monitor Biodiversity Established

1) Maintenance Of Forest Area

Proposed Activities Change the conservation area boundary Survey and demarcate the new boundary Maintain and monitor the new boundary Complete land acquisition Re-declare Knuckles conservation area Enforce forest low to control encroachments and any other kind of unauthorized alteration of boundary posts

2) Arresting Degradation Of Biodiversity Quality

Proposed Activities Restore degraded forest patches Control forest fires Control spreading of invasive species Manage habitats for mammals Control and regulate collection of forest products from forest

Promote production and efficiency use of forest products

Regulate tapping of water from upper streams with involvement CBOs

Conduct awareness programs on forest conservation Enforce forest law

3) Biodiversity MonitoringProposed Activities Train Forest Department staff on biodiversity monitoring. They can be entrusted with this task under the initial guidance from biodiversity surveying experts.

Monitor biodiversity using permanent sample plots

Analyse monitoring data to understand the positive and negative developments taking place with regard to biodiversity.

Take remedial measures to mitigate negative impacts

Regulatory Ecosystem Services

Knuckles is an important watershed in Mahaweli drainage system

Human practices causing land degradation & soil erosion in KCA Cardamom cultivation Unsuitable Land use practices: Shifting cultivation, Forest & grassland fires

OBJECTIVE: Regulatory ecosystem services of the KCA maintained

1)Human induced soil erosion controlled

2) water outflow monitored & assessed

3) Water pollution arrested

4)C sink capacity assessed & monitored

Proposed activities 1. Stop cardamom cultivation2. Complete land acquisition & prevent any destructive practices

in pvt. Lands3. Control forest fires 4. Encourage soil conservation measures in home garden in the

BZ villages5. Convert selected pine plantations into broad leaved spp. by way

of under planting with some useful species6. Apply appropriate soil conservation measures for the existing

road network within the conservation area7. Apply soil conservation measures in developing & maintaining

nature trails8. Control over use of nature trails by providing alternative trails9. Apply soil conservation measures in constructing buildings

Control human induced soil erosion

Assess & monitor water outflow Proposed activities1. Monitor water outflow at strategic

locations . Could be done in collaboration with the Mahaweli Authority of SL or Irrigation Dpt.

2. Make data available for the policy makers, politicians & to the general public

Arrest water pollution Proposed activities1. Conduct training programs for BZC to

avoid excessive use of agrochemicals2. Promote organic farming in BZ3. Conduct awareness campaigns among &

tourists to reduce water pollution4. Enforce environmental low on water

pollution5. Discourage wastage of water among the

village communities through the mechanisms proposed in chapter 2

Assess C sequestration capacity Proposed activities1. Assess the C sequestrations

capacity of KCA2. Publish the results & use the data to

highlight the importance of the conservation value of knuckles ecosystem

Socio-economic development

OBJECTIVE: Livelihood of KBZ communities improved

KBZ identified & mapped Income generation activities of BZ communities improved

Microfinance services in the BZ villages improved

Infrastructure & basic services developed & improved

Traditional rights to maintain customary & spiritual wilderness-based lifestyles protected

CBO strengthened

Outputs

Identification of KBZ

A key is proposed to determine the outer boundary of the buffer zone

Proposed activities1. Identify the KBZ using the criteria proposed2. Map the boundary of the BZ

Improvement of income generation activities Proposed activities1. Develop & improve micro enterprises

1. Conduct PRA exercises2. Identify & shortlist environmentally

nondestructive potential activities3. Perform market assessment & SWOT analysis4. Facilitate to build the links with service provides

2. Provide vocational training1. Conduct PRA exercises2. Identify & shortlist potential vocational training

requirements3. Facilitate to build the links with service providers

Improvement of microfinance services Proposed actions1. Train forest officers on mechanisms of

micro financing services2. Introduce microfinance service providers

operating in the nearby areas3. Facilitate the selection of microfinance

institutions to work with communities4. Assist communities to develop linkage

with the selected microfinance institutions

Infrastructure & basic service development Proposed actions1. Identify & prioritize necessary

infrastructure development needs2. Study feasibility of identified

development3. Develop linkages between line agencies &

beneficiary organizations4. Facilitate funding 5. Implement development activities6. Conduct monitoring

Protection of traditional wilderness-based customs Proposed actions1. Study & document traditional wilderness

based customs of adjoining communities2. Develop a mechanism to ensure local

communities to perform their traditional customs

Organizational strengthened Proposed activities1. Evaluate the organizational capacities of

Dumbara Surakinno or any other existing CBO

2. Identify the vulnerable areas which need to be strengthened

3. Conduct capacity building programs to address the identified issues of organizational strengthening

Aesthetic value

Constraints There is no documented inventory of the scenic areas of Knuckles region due to difficult accesses to most of the inner parts of KCA

Absence of comprehensive guidelines covering all forms of developments within the conservation area

Occurrence of forest and grassland fires and the disposal of garbage by the tourists

Some biotic factors such as forest die-back and spread of invasive plants

Proposed Activities

Prepare an inventory of the areas of scenic importance

Develop a guideline to protect scenic areas Stop all development activities which affect scenic beauty

OBJECTIVE: Aesthetic value of the Knuckles forest is conserved

Recreation

Recreation Knuckles area is rich in many scenic, environmental, sociological and cultural resources .

Attract many local and foreign tourists.

Year Deanstone

Illukkumbura

Local Foreign

Local Foreign

2005 2018 64 1992 082006 1925 42 2110 012007 2131 67 2418 472008 1316 66 12875 48

Recorded number of visitors to KCA (2005-2008)

OBJECTIVE: Recreational capacity of Knuckles conservation forest is

maintained and enhanced

Accommodation facilities improved Nature trails, access roads and access points improved

Linkages with stakeholders of tourism sector developed

Interpretation services provided to the visitors improved

Involvement of buffer zone communities in ecotourism facilitated

Negative impacts of tourism on natural and socio-cultural environment mitigated

Outputs

Proposed activities1. Improvement of Accommodation facilities

Develop and improve eco lodges Develop and improve camping sites Hand over the management of selected eco lodges and camping sites to Dumbara Surakinno or other suitable CBOs

Encourage and train villagers to provide home-stay facilities to small groups

Construct and improve dormitories

2. Development of nature trails, access roads and access points

Improve and nature trails Improve the access roads for the benefit of eco-tourism activities

Improve the facilities of the access points for the benefit of tourists

3. Development of linkages with other stakeholders of tourism

Strengthen the link with Sri Lanka Tourist Board Include information on Knuckles in the tourism promotion activities carried out by the SLTB

Conduct awareness programs for local travel agencies tour operators and major hoteliers

Disseminate information in the form of leaflets, brochures, documentary films etc. both in country and abroad

Include Knuckles as a tourist destination in tour packages of major tour operators

Use mass and electronic media including internet for propaganda campaigns

4. Interpretation services Develop and improve information centers Develop and maintain a web site or incorporate web pages to the proposed FD web site

Develop brochures and leaflets for the benefit of tourists

Employ guides

5. Involvement of buffer zone communities in eco tourism

Hand over the management responsibility of selected eco lodges to CBOs under a suitable agreement with the FD

Hand over the management of selected nature trails for CBOs

Hand over the management of selected camping sites for CBOs

Employ guides to accompany visitors inside the forest

Encourage community members to establish and manage sale centers, souvenir shops and food courts for the benefit of tourists

6. Mitigation of negative impacts on natural and socio-cultural environment

Determine the carrying capacity of different ecotourism attractions

Temporarily close down nature trails Create awareness among tourists on water and noise pollution

Develop a mechanism to get rid of litter efficiently from conservation area

Minimize unauthorized collection of souvenirs from the forest

Research and Education

Identified issues related to implementation and coordination of research activities

1. Inadequacy of facilities for researchers2. Absence of prioritized research plan3. Absence of effective coordination4. Insufficient expertise5. Lack of dissemination and Utilization6. Absence of mechanism to get field level officers

involved for research

Identified issues related to environmental education

Environmental education refers to organized effort to teach about how natural environments function and in particularly , how human beings can manage their behavior and ecosystem in order to live sustainably

1. Absence of an environmental educational plan2. No curricula for educational programme3. Absence of dedicated web site for knuckle forest4. Inadequate infrastructure5. Lack of trained human resources to implement quality

educational programme.

OBJECTIVE: Research and education opportunities of the KCA enhanced.

Proposed Activities• Identify priority research areas for KCA and develop

a research plan in consultation with all relevant stakeholders

• Strength the existing coordination mechanism of research

• Develop and improve research and education centers

• Conduct training programs to upgrade the capacity of forest officers to carry out research on their own and participate effectively in the research work carried out by the outsiders.

• Provide funds for important action researches.

Encourage collaborative research among various research institutions as well as eminent individuals

Develop and environment education plan for Knuckles taking in to account the interests of different target groups

Develop a curriculum for environmental education programs of Knuckles

Improve infrastructure facilities to cater the needs of environmental education

Reprint some important documents related to Knuckles “ Knuckles Massif – a portfolio” by Prof.P.G.Cooray

Institutional and Legal framework

Objective :- Establishing the institutional structure and legal framework for management of the Knuckles Conservation Area

OutputsAppropriate institutional structure for management established

Necessary infrastructure facilities developedHuman resource development programs in placedLegislative framework for management established

Management plan monitored, evaluated and improved

Proposed Activities Establish new forest ranges in Kandy and Matale divisions each

(Deanstone,Illukkumbura) Identify field assistant units according to the criteria Provide facilities for new ranges to function full scale.( Providing

skillful RFO, BFOs, territorial officers) Establish 6 beat forest offices (3 for each ) Conduct a detailed stakeholder analysis To identify the stakeholders who involved the management plan Analysis is carried by an awareness programme for them Set up 2 steering committees

Infrastructure development Development of infrastructure facilities for the forest officers engaged in the conservation of Knuckles forest is a key to obtain their maximum output.

Proposed activities Construct buildings with necessary facilities for forest department

Construct range forest office buildings with adequate facilities

Construct 3 new officer quarters for Deanstone range in Kandy division

Provide transport facilities

Human resource development Following training needs have been identified

Biodiversity monitoring Hydrological data collection Use of PRA techniques Development of resource management plan at village

level Guiding

Proposed activities Conduct a assessment of training needs Identify stakeholder for trainings Prioritize the training activity

Proposed activities Amend the National heritage and wilderness act taking into account the National forest policy objectives

Prepare regulations to incorporate certain provisions to carryout customary and traditional practices of rural communities

Declare KCA as a National heritage wilderness area, under the amended National Heritage Wilderness area act

Monitoring , Evaluation and Adaptive management

Proposed activities Survey and document the baseline condition against which future changes will be monitored

Prepare a monitoring plan consisting of the persons responsible for monitoring target dates for achievement of the results, monitoring intervals and the budgets

Conduct a interim evaluation after 3 years of implementation the plan

Change management strategies based on the research findings, feedback of monitoring data and ongoing evaluation

Operational PlanBudget

Thank you