Analysis of the current management issues of Dawatagolla forest plantation to make recommendations towards multiple-use forestry

Abstract

Since 1940, the historical perspective of forest management shows that the management of forests was carried out with the prime objective of obtaining timber. With the increasing trend for demands of timber, forest plantations help to bridge the gap between supply and demand. Therefore, the policy makers concentrated to involve rural community through social forestry introducing fast growing and commonly grown tree species. After 1994, the concept of multiple-use of forestry becomes the center point of the forest management with the introduction of National Forest Policy (1995). It was decided to select Dawatagolla Forest Plantation (DFP) as a study area. It is situated at Alawwa in Kurunegala District with the extent of 30 hectares (ha) containing mainly Jack (Artocarpus intergrifolia) and Mahogony (Swietenia macrophylla) divided in to Jak Working Circle (JWC) and Timber Working circle (TWC). The present study was designed with the objectives of identification of the current management issues in the forest DFP, analysing the Present Management Plan (PMP, 1998) with present forest situation to identify the compatibility and provision of suggestions and recommendations through the multiple use forest management strategies towards the sustainability. The study was carried out through tree mensuration, questionnaire survey, informal and formal interviews and discussions with homegardeners. The sampling for forest survey was based on stratified random sampling and the social survey was based on systematic sampling method. Fieldwork was carried out with the assistance of forest Filed Officers. The secondary data also were used for the study. Results obtained from the survey indicated that the necessity of the appropriate multi-use of management practices to the DFP towards sustainability. The tree mensuration study revealed that the 96 % of the trees to be removed to implement multiple-use management practices. Therefore, the consistent approach was made and selective system of management was recommended. Several indigenous and exotic species provide multiple benefits to the surrounding inhabitants were found through the observations. Furthermore, it was identified by the discussions and the interviews that the publics are willing to participate to make this forest multi-use. This forest is to be managed to sustain itself forever in multiple-use of manner with the public participation.