Case analysis "The Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society issues"
The Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society (SLWCS) founded in 1995 had been working exclusively in Sri Lanka to protect native species while aiding the social development of the Sri Lankan people. Headed by Ravi Corea, president, and Chandeep Corea, projects director, the SLWCS began its first major project in 1998 — an innovative electric fence designed to resolve conflicts between the native villagers and the elephants in Sri Lanka and protect the surrounding forests.
The idea was to fence off elephant-restricted areas, such as villages and large agricultural fields, with solar-powered electric fences, leaving vast expanses of land outside the fenced areas for the elephants to range. In an effort to ensure the long-term survival of the project and with the co- operation of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, Elephant Walk Thru would lease 25 acres near a forest. A field scouts program to monitor, observe and record elephants in this forest was also a part of this project. These scouts would be recruited from the local villages, trained and educated in the wildlife of the area. Eventually, they would function as field guides to visiting guests, earning a reasonably high wage from an alternate, environment-friendly, sustainable source that would supplement the meagre living they made from agriculture. The guides would also conduct environmental awareness programs for other communities, schools, etc., in this area.
Since 1997, the SLWCS has been working in Sri Lanka to resolve human-elephant conflict, making use of community participation. The top management of Elephant Walk Thru believed that revenues from business operations, as well as a mix of foreign aid and grants, were important to develop an economic base for the project’s long-term survival.
In 2000, they applied to the Sri Lanka Board of Investments for forestland for the eventual development of EWT. Two years later, with national and local governmental approval for the release of the land, Ravi
The idea was to fence off elephant-restricted areas, such as villages and large agricultural fields, with solar-powered electric fences, leaving vast expanses of land outside the fenced areas for the elephants to range. In an effort to ensure the long-term survival of the project and with the co- operation of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, Elephant Walk Thru would lease 25 acres near a forest. A field scouts program to monitor, observe and record elephants in this forest was also a part of this project. These scouts would be recruited from the local villages, trained and educated in the wildlife of the area. Eventually, they would function as field guides to visiting guests, earning a reasonably high wage from an alternate, environment-friendly, sustainable source that would supplement the meagre living they made from agriculture. The guides would also conduct environmental awareness programs for other communities, schools, etc., in this area.
Since 1997, the SLWCS has been working in Sri Lanka to resolve human-elephant conflict, making use of community participation. The top management of Elephant Walk Thru believed that revenues from business operations, as well as a mix of foreign aid and grants, were important to develop an economic base for the project’s long-term survival.
In 2000, they applied to the Sri Lanka Board of Investments for forestland for the eventual development of EWT. Two years later, with national and local governmental approval for the release of the land, Ravi