Performance Report – 2010 - Ministry of Finance and Planning

conservation of the environment atnational and international levels.Table 50 Environment Sector TargetsIndicatorAt the end of Medium term target 202020102016Percentage of forest cover of total land 23 (1.055mn ha) 28 (1.28mn ha) 35 (1.65mn ha)areaPercentage of the protected areas of the 14 (0.64 mn ha) 20 (0.91mn ha) 25 (1.14mn ha)total land areaTotal waste collection per day 2900 Mt 6000 Mt 8000 MtTotal plastic waste collection per day 7200 Mt 9000 Mt 15000 MtValue of imports of plastic andRs 25 bn Rs 20 bn Rs 15 bnpolythene per annumAnnual averages of particulate matterless than 10 micrometers64 (Micrograms/m3)40 (Micro grams/m3) 30 (Micrograms/m3)Proportion of population using a sourceof improved mean drinking water (%)84 90 100Soil erosion in the hilly regions of thecountry100(tonnes/ha/year)60 (tonnes/ha/year) 0 (tonnes/ha/year)Government has been taking a number ofpositive steps to ensure environmentsustainability enacting the NationalEnvironment Act in 1980 and establishingthe Central Environment Authority in1981. Also in 1990 was established theMinistry of Environment as a coordinatingbody to environmental related activities inSri Lanka. The National EnvironmentPolicy was formulated in 2003 whichprovides directions for addressing thecross sectoral issues as well as theunderlying causes of environmentaldegradation in the country.Steps should also be taken to use useinnovative methods such as trackingelephants with GPS Collar, Strategy of"cohabitation" coupled with ongoingmethods like the establishment of electricfences.Also solid waste is a very big problemparticularly in urban areas. As per theBudget Speech 2011 stress has been laidon the importance of establishing of wastemanagement sites.The Integrated Watershed Managementprogramme should be implemented toconserve the 103 water sheds. Also seasand ining should be encouraged with apreparation of new policy for theirprotection.Establish mechanisms for monitoring andassessing environmental conditions andtheir economic implications.Encourage life-cycle assessment, carbonfoot printing and Environment ImpactAssessment in industry and business.Promote eco-design to minimize theenvironmental footprint. Haritha Lankaprogramme should be launched to addressthe environmental issues in a cost effectiveway. Conservation of mangroves shouldbe incorporated into the NationalEnvironment Policy by considering thecurrent issues associated with mangrovevegetation.During the period of 2006-2010government made a significant total capitalinvestment in the environment sector.189