The Wildlife Conservation Department was established in 1949 to implement the Wildlife and Flora Protection Ordinance declared in 1937. The main purpose of the establishment of the Wildlife Conservation Department was to manage the network of protected areas declared under the Wildlife and Flora Protection Ordinance, to conserve the wildlife resources of the country and to implement the related law.
The reserve area declared under the Wildlife and Flora Protection Ordinance is about 9000 square kilometers.
The Wildlife Reserves are as follows.
National Reserve
- • Strict Nature Reserve - 03
- • National Parks - 26
- • Nature Reserve - 09
- • Marine National Parks - 01
Sanctuaries - 66
Besides, two marine sanctuaries and one forest entrance have also been declared.
vision
"Conservation of Wildlife heritage for present and future generations."
mission
"Working with others to ensure conservation of wildlife heritage through professional management"
The objectives of the Department of Wildlife Conservation are as follows.
- To protect representative samples of all eco - systems within all climatic and geological regions of the Island, including sites of special scientific interest, expand and link wildlife P/A whatever necessary to ensure the survival of viable
- To enforcement of wildlife law in the Island under the Wildlife and Flora Protection Ordinance.
- To develop of strategic plans and programs for the implementation of national and international policies.
- To Launch tourism activities while protecting the ecosystem in protected areas.
- To reduce the misuse of wildlife resources in the country and prepare conservation plans for endangered species.
- To Encourage scientific research related to wildlife conservation.
- To Identify, classify, manage, update and declare protected areas under a scientific method.
- To Promote the public aware of wildlife conservation through public awareness and implementation of publicity programs.
- To Improve the social and economic status of the community around the protected areas and making the community oriented towards conservation.
- To Conduct health activities for displaced wildlife.
In order to achieve the above objectives, the Department of Wildlife Conservation has launched conservation activities through 13 Assistant Director Offices throughout the island and plays the responsible role of preserving the wildlife resources of the country for future generations.
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