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Kithul
Treacle and jaggery producers monitor and protect the forest which
is helps their livelihood and uplift the living condition
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Under UNDP project of Promote Tropical Forest (GEF/PTF)
HEDO started to work with villagers that living in forest area for
forest conservation participatory approach.
The villagers light their houses from hydro power which is run by
forestry stream. Their children study the computer using the electricity
too. Therefore they keep the attention on forest protection. They
understood that ‘If electricity not there, their life can be going
back’. For sustainability of their electricity source the forest
must be protected.
The villagers knew well about the value of the forest. But they
didn’t concentrate about sustainability of it. Because they have
to be concentrate about the daily expenditure other than forest
conservation. The use forest to full filled the shortage of daily
expense.
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As a solution for this, HEDO kept the attention on economically
profited activities on non timber forest products to increase the
family income of the community who’s live in boundary of the forest
area.
In that area there were a lot of jaggery palm trees (KITHUL) which
can produce jaggy and treacle. Villagers were producing those but
they couldn’t sell it in fair price. There were middlemen between
the producers and the market. Therefore the middle men get more
profit than producers. So, the income was very low. Therefore the
younger community didn’t keep attention about this production.
While we discussed about the resources available with them which
are can be utilized for increase the income, they understood well
about the flam jaggery production. For start to this production
they had a one proplem which is the fair market. |
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HEDO had introduced a good marketing link to sell the production
in supermarkets on optimum price. The income of producers has increased
with this system.
They earn well now form non timber forest product and the life condition
also uplifted because of forest services such as hydro power (Electricity)
water and sanitation facilities, also communication facilities.
The forest is being protected by the vigilant group of palm trappers.
For tap the palm tree (KITHUL) they have to have entered the forest
three times per day. They are being vouched out the forest. No one
can fall timber because the tapers didn’t allow outside people to
enter the forest no one can escape from their bird eyes.
They keep attention on conservation of the forest which is helps
to uplift the living stranded of them.
Whenever you buy, consume and promote this products, you also being
promote tropical forest and conservation water catchments of Kalani
River, a one of pioneer river in Sri Lanka, In addition to consume
pure Kithul products. |
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Human
& Environmental Development Organization
Maligathenna, Deraniyagala,
Sri Lanka.
Telephone - +94365672503,
Fax +94362249438
Email – info@hedosrilanka.org |
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