Please take immediate measures to stop the destruction of 1600 ancient Kumbuk trees in Kaudulla. Cutting down these Kumbuk trees will not help in flood control. Please use proper means for flood prevention such as renovating the degraded tanks and establishing marsh wetlands to absorb the spillover water. We do not want Sri Lanka to get bad reputation as the country that destroyed it's trees in the name of flood prevention. Trees protect us from droughts and we need decision makers to look at the full picture.
1600 ancient Kumbuk trees along a tributary of Mahaweli river in Kaudulla, Sri Lanka have been marked by authorities to be cut down, citing flood prevention. It is understood that some timber merchants are taking the opportunity to make a quick buck at the expense of rare slow growing ancient native trees on the banks of this tributary. Cutting down these Kumbuk trees will not help in flood control. Authorities should use proper means for flood prevention such as renovating the degraded tanks and establishing marsh wetlands to absorb the spillover water. As concerned citizens, we urge relevant authorities to take immediate action to halt the destruction of these giant Kumbuk trees and preserve them for future generations.
We are yet to get an update on this issue first came to light September 2013. If you know more information, please send them to GTFmovement@gmail.com.
