Seventeenth International Forestry and Environment Symposium 2012 held Nov 16- 17 at Pegasus Reef Hotel, Wattala http://fesympo.sjp.ac.lk/gallery/

1. http://fesympo.sjp.ac..k
TOWARDS A GREEN ECONOMY

2. Highlights of the 17th
International Forestry &
Environment Symposium 2012
Organized by Department of Forestry and Environmental
Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura in
collaboration with the Ministry of Environment
November 16th & 17th, 2012 at Pegasus Reef Hotel,
Wattala, Sri Lanka
Compiled by Prof Hemanthi Ranasinghe

3. Theme
Towards a Green Economy
100 papers read under 8 sub themes &
posters

4. Sub themes
 Forest Management and Timber Utilisation
 Biodiversity Conservation and
Management
 Natural Resource Management
 Waste Management and Pollution Control
 Sustainable Energy
 Climate Change
 Socio economics of natural resources
 Sustainable Tourism

5. Chief Guest - Hon. Minister of Environment, Mr Anura Priyadarshana
Yapa
Guest of Honor – Dr. B.M.S. Batagoda
Vice Chancellor – Dr. N.L.A. Karunarathne
Dean/Science – Prof. Sudantha Liyanage
Head of Dept. – Prof. Nilanthi Bandara
Coordinator – Dr. Priyan Perera

7. Highlights of the Inaugural
Session

9.  Green economy is a concept which has
come to stay with the entire world and we
are compelled to work toward it.
 Government of Sri Lanka is serious about
adopting greening principles to
development
– Development of National Green Accounting –
to maintain environmentally friendly standards
– Tax benefits for greener technologies and
approaches in Budget.

10.  The value of our neighboring nations in
knowledge procurement and sharing
 The importance of networking with other
institutions both locally and internationally
 The contribution of the University as a
Centre of Excellence in Sustainable
Development not only in Asia but in the
world also

11. Sub Theme: Natural Resource
Management

12.  We should have development giving due
concern to environment so that the
development is sustainable.
 Mella leaves (Olax zeylanica) can be used to
curtail the insect damage in storage rice
 Mapping the disease incidence of gall wasp in
Eucalyptus using climatic factors – by GIS
technology

13.  Ketala (Lagendra ovata) can be used as a
good river bank stabiliser.
 Green Bamboo (Dendrocalamus spp) can be
propagated vegetatively using branch
cuttings under mist conditions using
soil:sand:coir dust misture with rootone
hormone.
 Paddy husk coated urea is a good slow
releasing nitrogen fertiliser for paddy
cultivation.

14. Forest Management and Timber
Utilisation

15.  Soil physical and chemical parameters are very important in
determining the plant growth especially N, P and K.
 Khaya senegalensis is faster growing than Mahogany but due to
color and less heartwood percentage the market acceptability is
an issue!
 Mulching can be used for early detection of white root disease
in rubber.
 The oil content of sandalwood did not vary between dbh and
height or heartwood percentage.
 The presence of knots is the major drawback for reduced price
in timber.

16. Biodiversity Conservation &
Management

17.  It is required to maintain homegardens & natural
areas as natural corridors for fauna and the
government should provide facilitation to
maintain these. Species with high conservation
status should be given priority for planting.
 It is important to conserve fauna in small natural
pockets in urban areas and this needs education
and awareness of public
 Discoveries of species ie Fissidens,
Poicilotheria spp. p

18.  Research on critically endangered species
ie. Land snails and also those with high
conservation status is a priority to determine
their habitats on the face of rapid
development.

19. Waste management and Pollution
Control

20.  Water quality of urban areas near waste dumping
sites affect populations – ie Nawinna.
 Implementation of proper household waste mgt
system depends on the education and income of
the householders.
 Biodegradable polymers can be made from
agricultural wastes – to reduce env pollution
 Molecular level toxicological assays can be used
to detect environmental pollution

21.  Landfill leachate pollution index can be
used to predict solid waste generation
 Kithul flour can be used as a natural
polymer to develop biodegradable polymer
 Nutrients in effluents from tanneries can be
removed by marine micro algae Chlorella
marina.

22. Climate Change

23.  Aqautic plant Azolla can be used effectively
for carbon sequestration (1.86 tonnes of
CO2/ha/yr) and fixes 0.33 N/ha/yr and can
be used as organic nitrogen fertiliser in
paddy fields.

24. Sustainable Energy

25.  Bio energy briquettes can be made from
Mana grass successfully

26. Our Team

27. http://fesympo.sjp.ac..k