Report on Site Visit to Panirendawa Forest Reserve

Following up on reports of illegal soil extraction in the Panirendawa forest reserve, EFL conducted a site visit on 26th May 2016 to assess the ground situation. 4 abandoned excavation sites were found and approximately 20 acres of land appears to have been cleared for excavation. Further investigations revealed that illegal soil extraction had been carried out 3-4 years ago but had since stopped. Other land use patterns contiguous to the forest reserve are paddy fields, settlements, and the village temple. To prevent illegal soil extraction in the future EFL recommends that Forest Department monitors the forest reserve regularly. Additionally, EFL proposes to monitor mining activities in the surrounding area of the forest reserve through local environmental organizations and communicate detected activities to the Forest Department and GSMB for further action.

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