REFORESTATION AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT

Project will be implemented by the SLG Forestry Department and will include institutional development and specific forestry activities. First, the Forestry College at China Bay will upgrade its curriculum to include tropical forest biology. Foreign guest lecturers will be assigned on a short-term basis. Forestry management refresher courses (3-6 months in duration) will be offered to 45 Forest Department staff members per year. A foreign country traineeship program for 19 nonprofessionals (e.g., forest guards) will be instituted, in addition to specialized short-courses for 20 other nonprofessional staff members. International consultants will be assigned to assist Forestry Department personnel to develop research objectives and analyze native forest species. Also, short-term, out-of-country training will be offered to 19 Forestry Department staff members, as well as graduate degree training to two other staff members and one member of the State Timber Corporation. A national forest extension service will be set up, consisting of seven mobile units. The units will provide forestry information to villagers via presentations, posters, films, and radio programs. Institutional backstopping for the extension service will include training of 18 nonprofessional and professional personnel in specialized extension skills, MS-level training for two staff members, and training of village leaders in forestry extension and conservation methodology at the China Bay College. In addition, the Forestry Department will reforest 15,000 acres of denuded watershed in the Upper Mahaweli Catchment Area, and will establish 35,000 acres of fuelwood plantation on degraded chena (slash/burn) lands. A national baseline map will be developed using Landsat satellite imagery. Village-run fuelwood plots will be established in 50 villages, and a village charcoal production program will be instituted by the State Timber Corporation. Approximately 4,500 jobs will be generated through these activities. Project Paper Amendment of 8/1/83 extends project from 7/85 to 7/87. Reforestation of the upper watershed will be expanded from 15,000 to 24,000 acres, two fire control centers and a radio network will be established, and village fuelwood plots will be decreased from 50 to 15. Baseline mapping and charcoal production efforts will be deleted. In institutional development efforts, a second student hostel and support buildings will be added to the national Forest College and nine field offices will be added - seven for the forest extension and two for the forest research service. (PD-AAN-507)