PEASANT PARTICIPATION IN RAISING SEEDINGS FOR REFORESTATION: EVIDENCE FROM THE PARTICIPATORY FORESTRY PROJECT

Anura S A Saturusinghe and A Widanapathirana
Forest Department

The involvement of peasants, including women and rural organizations, in raising seedings for reforestation is an important feature of the Participatory Forestry Project (PFP) being implemented by the Forest Department (FD). It is anticipated that much of the total requirement of seedlings will be produced through small-scale nurseries managed by peasants and their organizations. The programme of private nurseries has been in operation under the PFP since 1993. By the end of 1994, there were 236 private nurseries and another 10 managed by rural organizations located in 17 districts where the project is being implemented. The total number of seedlings produced in these nurseries was 1,196,377 representing over 50 percent of the requirement for that year.

This paper discusses some of the preliminary findings pertaining to people's participation in seedling production. Among the main issues discussed in the paper are the main achievements of this component, its socio-economic benefits and the changing scenario of people's attitudes towards reforestation through their involvement in seedling production. Based on the analysis, the paper finally emphasizes the importance of getting the peasants involved in the production of seedings required for reforestation.

Department of Forestry and Environmental Science,
University of Sri Jayewardenepura,Sri Lanka. 1999. All rights reserved.