National Trust lecture on ‘Elephant Conservation and Development’
View(s):‘Elephant Conservation and Development’ will be the theme of the 93rd monthly lecture of the National Trust – Sri Lanka to be held at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, 479 T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10 at 6.30 p.m. on Thursday, March 30. The lecture will be delivered by Jayantha Jayewardene.
Elephant-human conflicts occur as a result of habitat loss and fragmentation. The problem becomes graver when there is ad hoc clearance of elephant habitats. Human-elephant conflict can take its toll both on human lives and property as well as elephant populations. Annually, on an average, in Sri Lanka 225 elephants and 65 humans are killed.
The conflict arises because of development in areas with elephants. Long-term we need land use planning that reconciles development needs and elephant needs, and strict implementation of those plans. For this to happen we need developers, researchers, conservation and planning agencies, political, administrative and regulatory authorities, and communities to work together.
Managing Trustee of the Biodiversity & Elephant Conservation Trust, Jayantha Jayewardene is a member of the Asian Elephant Specialist Group and the Editor of the AsESG journal Gajah. He was a member of the Committee to formulate the National Policy on Elephant Management and Conservation in Sri Lanka and of the Presidential Task Force on Wildlife.