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The key theme for this year’s IFES was ‘Tropical forests and recent developments in environmental management’. In addition there were seven other themes such as Bio Diversity Conservation Management, Social Economics of Natural Resources, Waste Management and Control of Waste, Alternative Energy Source and Climatic Changes. Reputed international researches and many relevant government officials took part in this symposium.
Speaking about the main sponsorship Sadaharitha Plantations extended for the symposium, Chief Executive Director, H.K. Rohana said, “As a plantation and a commercial forestry company, we continuously try to educate different communities about the importance of a green economy for Sri Lanka. During academic symposiums of this nature, participants get educated on the CO2 cycle and the contribution made by natural forests towards the preservation of living organisms on planet earth. The importance of sustainable use of natural resources and the positive consequences of the usage of alternative energy were highlighted during this symposium.”
He further stated that Sadaharitha felt it was its duty to sponsor a symposium of this nature as this was an opportunity to propagate knowledge of new findings of forestry management as the Jayawardenepura University was spearheading in the project.
IFES has been taking place since 1995 and is considered as the foremost forestry and environmental symposium of South Asia. This symposium attracts renowned researchers, academia, regulatory decision makers and public-private sector industrialists as it gives them an opportunity to engage in an intellectual discussion on new findings of the environmental studies discipline.
Sadaharitha Plantations Limited commenced its commercial forestry projects 12 years ago and embarked on a mission to promote a green economy in Sri Lanka by way of encouraging investments in this new investment criteria. A decade down the line this venture has proven to be an ideal investment to upgrade the financial strength of micro-level investors and a lucrative form of earning much needed foreign exchange for the country’s economy without harming the environment.
At present there are more than 20,000 investors registered with Sadaharitha Plantations and more than 2,000 acres of land that has been cultivated. The plantations comprises of Teak, Sandalwood and Rambutan.
As a result of maintaining industry best practices, Sadaharitha has secured the ISO 14001 quality certification. As a result of its transparent management approach and good governance, Sadaharitha has managed to engage in this sensitive business without any customer complaint or legal interferences.
For the commitment Sadaharitha has shown in developing the commercial forestry category, which has managed to successfully divert the attention from felling trees in national/protected forests and for the environment practices has earned them a Presidential award in 2012 National Environmental Awards ceremony under the category of ‘Best Environment Practices’.
