Udawalawe Community Development Programme
 
     
 
            Situation
 
 
 
The species diversity of Udawalawe National Park is threatened by invasive species, pollution, water scarcity and development pressure from surrounding areas. The community bordering the park can play a critical role in reducing the threats to the park, if they have the capacity to protect it.
 
 
 
 
 
            Intervention
 
 
 
FWC aimed to build the technical and institutional capacity of the communities to conserve and manage wildlife and natural resources of the park.
  
 
     
 
            Activities
 
 
    1. Eradication of invasive species in the project area .
    2. Motivate them to plant and manage forest species in their fields, follow land and home garden systems .
    3. Trained the local people to manage and maintain and derive benefits from the irrigation system.
    4. Set up people managed irrigated agriculture system.
    5. Renovated community pond and restored aquatic communities to begin fish production and to increase biodiversity.
    6. Women lead existing cropping practices improvement and many innovative measures were introduced, specifically to increase agricultural diversity.
    7. Trained the youth in plant propagation techniques such as budding and crafting to grow rare food crops, horticultural crops and ornamental plants to make their home garden and arboretum economically viable.
    8. Opened retail outlets at the main road to sell their produces and processed products.
 
     
 
            Output
 
 
  1.  Reduction in the dependence of local communities on the park and natural resources in cases where there is clear evidence that their  dependence is damaging to conservation.
  2.  Alternative livelihood needs of the communities are met; those perceived as a direct threat to wildlife and also ensured that the alternatives  are in consonance with their needs and culture.
 
 
 
       
  Waste recycle programme in Udawalawe Model village for Kithul industry development in Ranamuregama  
   
     
 
  Support Elephant Transit Home at Udawalawe
 
     
 
Elephants with their massive bulk and power, their social habits and assumed intelligence, have been a figure of respect in religion, a cultural symbol and a useful work animal that has fascinated man from the earliest of civilization.

The elephant’s great adaptability to changed environments and its preferences for open, forest edges places the animal in more danger of direct contact with humans.

They are being shot, snared, electrocuted, run into trains, poisoned and every where deprived of habitats, as a result baby elephants become orphaned or abandoned when its mother die or falling into trenches.

To protect the elephant’s calves, Department of Wildlife Conservation has established Elephant Transit Home (ETH). The objective of ETH is to reintegrate the wild elephant’s orphans into wild herds successfully. The orphaned calves and adults receive medical care, food, shelter and companionship of other elephants at ETH. Department of Wildlife Conservation has successfully released some batches of baby elephants back to the wild since year 1998.

For rehabilitation and supplementation of wild orphaned elephants, ETH requires huge assistance for their medical care and milk food.

FWC support ETH on ad hoc basis by providing syringes, teat bottles and baby milk.
  
     
       
  Alien invasive Species (Lantana) removal campaign in Udawalawe Provide necessary milk, medicines and goods for Udawalawa elephant’s Orphanage  
     
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