Management Plan on Knuckles Conservation Area Sri Lanka

Management Plan for the
Knuckles Conservation area
2010-2014

Project : Management Plan For The Knuckles
Conservation Area
Time Period : 2010 – 2014
Prepared 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 Plan
Structure
 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.

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
GenesEcosystems
Species

Wide range of topographic and climate
variation in the knuckles range.
MANY NATURAL
VEGETATION
TYPESMontane forests
Sub montane forests
Semi -evergreen forests
•Man made semi natural vegetation
types
•Man influenced secondary vegetation
types
•Patches of plantation forest

 Faunal diversity
Family Genus Species Endemic Endemic
to
Knuckle
s
National
ly
Threate
ned
Birds 26 42 128 17 - 20
Amphibi
ans
3 4 20 12 1 12
Butterfli
es
4 11 60 5 - 8
Mollusks 6 10 17 12 - 0
Mammal
s
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 fires
Unauthorized 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 Monitoring
Proposed 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

 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 cultivation
2. Complete land acquisition & prevent any destructive practices in pvt.
Lands
3. Control forest fires
4. Encourage soil conservation measures in home garden in the BZ villages
5. Convert selected pine plantations into broad leaved spp. by way of under
planting with some useful species
6. Apply appropriate soil conservation measures for the existing road
network within the conservation area
7. Apply soil conservation measures in developing & maintaining nature
trails
8. Control over use of nature trails by providing alternative trails
9. Apply soil conservation measures in constructing buildings
Control human induced soil erosion

Assess & monitor water outflow
1. 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
1. Conduct training programs for BZC to avoid
excessive use of agrochemicals
2. Promote organic farming in BZ
3. Conduct awareness campaigns among &
tourists to reduce water pollution
4. Enforce environmental low on water pollution
5. Discourage wastage of water among the village
communities through the mechanisms
proposed in chapter 2

Assess C sequestration capacity
Proposed activities
1. Assess the C sequestrations capacity of
KCA
2. Publish the results & use the data to
highlight the importance of the
conservation value of knuckles
ecosystem

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 activities
1. Identify the KBZ using the criteria proposed
2. Map the boundary of the BZ

Improvement of income generation activities
1. Develop & improve micro enterprises
1. Conduct PRA exercises
2. Identify & shortlist environmentally
nondestructive potential activities
3. Perform market assessment & SWOT analysis
4. Facilitate to build the links with service provides
2. Provide vocational training
1. Conduct PRA exercises
2. Identify & shortlist potential vocational training
requirements
3. Facilitate to build the links with service providers

Improvement of microfinance services
 Proposed actions
1. Train forest officers on mechanisms of micro
financing services
2. Introduce microfinance service providers
operating in the nearby areas
3. Facilitate the selection of microfinance
institutions to work with communities
4. Assist communities to develop linkage with the
selected microfinance institutions

Infrastructure & basic service development
1. Identify & prioritize necessary infrastructure
development needs
2. Study feasibility of identified development
3. Develop linkages between line agencies &
beneficiary organizations
4. Facilitate funding
5. Implement development activities
6. Conduct monitoring

Protection of traditional wilderness-based
customs
1. Study & document traditional wilderness based
customs of adjoining communities
2. Develop a mechanism to ensure local
communities to perform their traditional
customs

Organizational strengthened
1. 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

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
 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 08
2006 1925 42 2110 01
2007 2131 67 2418 47
2008 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 activities
1. 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

Identified issues related to implementation
and coordination of research activities
1. Inadequacy of facilities for researchers
2. Absence of prioritized research plan
3. Absence of effective coordination
4. Insufficient expertise
5. Lack of dissemination and Utilization
6. 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 plan
2. No curricula for educational programme
3. Absence of dedicated web site for knuckle forest
4. Inadequate infrastructure
5. 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
Outputs
Appropriate institutional structure for management
established
Necessary infrastructure facilities developed
Human resource development programs in placed
Legislative 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 to name as Mixed cultural and National word heritage under National heritage
and wilderness area act 1988
According to that no human activities are allowed
except research education and recreation purposes
But there were conflicts among different sections
therefore within the management plan it
recommended some activities
2007 declare knuckles as a Environmental protected area-environmental act No 47 1980
By considering private states and sate lands falling
KCA
To control the unauthorized activities in the area
Forest Ordinance by forest (amendment) act No 23 1995
Didn’t indicate the provision for making regulations
with regard to the activities which are permitted
No regulations for conservation forests have been
formulated, cause for most of illegal activities

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

Management Plan on Knuckles Conservation Area Sri Lanka

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