Australia – A Pioneer of Community Forestry in Sri Lanka by DR. DUNSTAN J. FERNANDO Source: Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade The Sri Lanka Community Forestry Programme (SLCFP) commenced in 2012 and was completed in December 2016 with grant funding of AUD 4.97 million (LKR716 million). The purpose of this initiative was to consolidate the previous pilot project; Sri Lanka-Australia Natural Resource Management Project(SLANRMP) into SLCFP.   The ultimate goal of SLCFP was to improve the management of natural resources to support livelihoods and contribute to poverty reduction in 18 administrative districts of Sri Lanka’s dry and intermediate zones. In addition, the programme prioritised women’s empowerment and improvement of socio-economic conditions of rural livelihoods. SLCFP has contributed positively to a number of positive ongoing changes within the Department of Forest Conservation. Improvements in the attitude of officers in the Department towards communities living near forests enabled both parties ...

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