A man’s role in the degradation of soil and water resources in Sri Lanka: a historical perspective

The upper catchment areas of the major rivers situated in the central Highlands of Sri Lanka had been stripped of the natural vegetation to make way for the plantation agriculture during the British period. Large areas of forest on steep slopes were cleared within a period of less than 100 years and the consequences of these actions were immediately visible in the form of accelerated soil erosion, siltation of low lying areas, frequent flooding, drying out of streams, etc. Even after Independence, land clearing continued unabated. Today only small patches of forest are left, even those are not in the critical areas. Most of the ten plantations have lost the fertile upper soil layer due to erbsion. Adoption of proper conservation strategies in the upper catchment areas to protect soil and water resources from further destruction is of paramount importance now more than ever before.