The Southern Expressway

Extension Through The

Dandeniya-Aparekka Protected
Forest Reserve
"Dandeniya Aparekka Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka," "in Matara District" August 22,
2014 Submitted by Public Interest Law Foundation, Sri Lanka
The Road Development Authority (RDA) Sri Lanka has proposed extending the Southern
Expressway from Matara to the Mattala Air Port (i.e the Mahinda Rajapakse International
Airport) located in the Hambantota District. Regrettably, the proposed expressway will traverse
through the Dandeniya-Aparekka Forest Reserve and also cut across an area within the forest
called a Deniya (in the Sinhala language). The deniya (which serves as a watershed) is a vital
part of the forest eco-system and is also important to other Forest Reserves adjacent to it (such
as Kirinda-Mahayaya and Masmullakele). It has been ranked as one of the 70 top priority forest
units of the highest importance for watershed protection by the National Conservation Review
(NCR).

This Forest Reserve is classified as a lowland wet zone rain forest and has an extent of 348 ha.
It is located in the Matara District in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. It was declared as a
Forest Reserve as far back as 1938 under the Forest Ordinance No.16 of 1907 as amended
from time to time (Proclamation by the Governor in Ceylon Government Gazette No. 8417 of
2/12/1938). It comes under the control of the Forest Department (FD).

According to the National Conservation Review (NCR) the Dandeniya-Aparekke Forest Reserve
is ranked 17th in the list of 25 top priority forest of the highest importance for biodiversity
conservation. The NCR notes that it is very important to protect these top priority forests in order
to conserve the 455 woody plant species endemic to Sri Lanka. This forest is home to 8 species
which are nationally threatened as well as 29 species which are globally threatened. Additionally
it habours 3 species of endemic woody plants that are not found in the rest of the top priority
forests in the country.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report for the proposed expressway extension
was released in October 2013. However, the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) as the
Project Approving Agency gave approval for it only in May 2014 subject to conditions (Public
Notice under the NEA that appeared in the Ceylon Daily News of 23/5/2014). It is understood
that one of the conditions is that the RDA must obtain the approval of the Forest Department for
the segment of the proposed expressway that will traverse through the Dandeniya-Aparekka
Forest Reserve.

The length of the proposed expressway segment that will go through the Forest Reserve ranges
approximately from 800 metres to I Km. The RDA states that it is the shortest route to cross the
forest. Nonetheless, the Forest Department believes that the impact on the forest will be
severe. Given below are some of the main concerns:

The expressway trace will go through deniya lands (which are lowland valleys within the
forest which serve as water storage areas during the rainy seasons). Throughout the year water
seeps and flows into this area from the springs of the mountains. Thence forward the water
(from the Deniya) feeds into a nearby stream. Despoiling the watershed area will have negative
impacts on the entire forest eco-system (including fauna and flora).

It will interfere with the free movement of animals, increase the risk of floods in the rainy
seasons, give rise to greater soil erosion, and lead to quick drying up of the catchments of many
streams.

The expressway trace will lead to fragmentation and deforestation (with the smallest part cut-
off being 70 ha). The negative impacts of these are far and wide and include isolation of
populations leading to extinction of some; reduced richness of fauna/flora species and genetic
diversity; and increased risks of invasive species and climate change).

The EIA notes that around 7 ha will be cleared and that this area has 137 plant species within
it. It also notes that 35 of these species are endemic, with 5 of these being endangered and 8
being vulnerable.

The valuation of the forest has been done on timber value only. This has left out many other
factors such as cultural, ecosystem and support services. The resultant value is Rs. 15.000/=
per perch (approx US $ 118) which is even lower than a perch of bare land in the vicinity.

The Forest Department has proposed an alternative route. It will by-pass the forest and traverse
through a pinus cultivation at the periphery of its southern border. It is assessed that this route
will solve most of the concerns that have come to light and be the least harmful. Hence, the
Forest Department has not yet granted approval for this project. However, the RDA is
determined to stick to its plans and state that all environmental impacts have been considered
and mitigation measures planned out. It further states that it is economically viable to go through
the forest when considering the number of families that will have to be resettled if other options
or alternatives are taken (source: interview with RDA).

It is our assessment that the EIA for the proposed project is inadequate and unconvincing. The
routing is questionable and controversial and the alternative needs to be seriously studied.
There is every possibility to achieve a win-win-win situation. Therefore, we strongly urge the
RDA to rethink the routing options giving special consideration to the alternative suggested by
the FD. At the same time we trust that the Forest Department will uphold its stance on
protecting the Dandeniya-Apparekka Forest Reserve.