Illegal and environmentally harmful activities such as brushfires, garbage dumping, noise pollution, and unauthorised raves have been reported in the Knuckles World Heritage Reserve in recent years.
The Forest Department has responded by arresting violators and initiating legal action on several occasions.
However, recognising that legal enforcement alone is insufficient to address these challenges, the Department has launched several initiatives under the guidance of the Conservator General of Forests. These programs aim to curb illegal commercial activities and promote awareness of sustainable eco-tourism practices. A recent online discussion hosted by the Conservator General, which drew around 700 participants, resulted in several productive decisions to safeguard the reserve. One such initiative involved training a group of eco-tourism guides. The first batch of 62 guides participated in a five-day workshop held in December 2024 at the Inamaluwa Field Training Centre of the Department of Forest Conservation.
The program was supported by the Central Province Tourism Department and conducted by the Eco-Tourism Division, along with the Kandy and Matale District Forest Officers and their teams.
The trainees received certificates at a ceremony on May 16, at the Ministry of Environment auditorium.
Minister of Environment Dhammika Patabendi, Deputy Minister Anton Jayakody, Ministry Secretary K.R. Uduwawala, Conservator General Nishantha Edirisinghe, Director of the Central Province Tourism Department Sandamali Hewage, Kandy District Forest Officer Bharatha Dissanayake, Matale District Forest Officer Ashoka Herath, and officials were present. More workshops are planned for more groups of guides as part of ongoing efforts to preserve the pristine beauty and ecological integrity of the Knuckles Reserve Forest.
