'Let's preserve trees, before the last tree vanishes'

God has cared for these trees, saved them from drought, disease, avalanches, and a thousand tempests and floods. But he cannot save them from fools. - John Muir (Scottish-born American naturalist, author, and early advocate of preservation of wilderness in the United States)

By Dhaneshi YATAWARA

The department was started during the colonial era and forests were important for the well-being of the environment. The Forest Conservation department today has to play the role of a conservator rather than a controller. "The Forest Conservation Department is the key player in forest conservation in Sri Lanka," said Hitisekara. Protecting forest's, increasing forest cover and, forest management - are the main functions of the Forest Conservation Department and the other related functions follow at the next level. "Functions assigned to the Forest Conservation Department are related to the country's legal system," he added.Trees play' a big role in preserving the environment and making the world a better place to live. Trees need to be preserved if the environment is to be protected. There will be no environment without trees," said H.M. Hitisekara, Conservator General of Forests of Sri Lanka. Being a bio-diversity hot spot, the Forest Conservation Department has a serious role to play in protecting this green cover.

"Today our services have expanded - earlier it was to protect forest cover but today we have to shoulder other responsibilities in the development of the country too. Most of the resources are embedded in forests. Our duty today is to protect these forests while contributing to the development of the country and managing them," Hitisekara said.

Read full article: http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2011/11/06/fea05.asp