“Meeting environmental challenges in developing economies”

Fulfilling its mission for the 21^st consecutive year “21^st International Forestry and Environmental Symposium 2016” organized by the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura was successfully held on 23rd & 24th of September 2016 at Heritance Kandalama, Dambulla. Honorable minister Mr.Susil Premajayantha, graced the occasion as the chief guest.

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura Prof. Sampath Amaratunge, the Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Prof. Sudantha Liyanage,  several Heads of the Departments, Professors and academic members o have taken part in this symposium.

Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura is organizing this International Forestry and Environment Symposium since 1995. Distinguished as the oldest and most renowned Forestry and Environment Symposium in South Asia, the International Forestry and Environment Symposium is the premier event where researchers, academia, professionals, policy makers, and the industry meet to network, discuss and learn about the latest developments in forestry and environment sectors. Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura is one of the key departments in the faculty of Applied Sciences ,with a mission of assisting in the sustainable management of natural resources and environment through manpower and knowledge. Department of Forestry and Environmental Science is the only one of its kind in Sri Lanka, which offers both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Forestry and Environmental Science and is committed to update, modernize and develop programs to levels par excellence. It also plays an important role in national development by its involvement in national and international committees, development projects and activities, conductance of applied research, dissemination of research findings, creating awareness on environmental issues among the general public.

The symposium was chaired by Dr. Prasanthi Gunawardena, Head, Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura and Dr. Priyan Perera was the coordinator of the 21^st International Forestry and Environment Symposium. Around 150 new key research findings under the themes of Waste to energy, Forest & Natural resource Management, Biodiversity Conservation, Sustainable Energy & Tourism, Climate Change & Disaster Management, Socio-economic dimensions in Natural Resource Management, Corporate Trends in Sustainability, Geology, Soils and Water Resource Management and Green Technologies and Solutions were presented by the scholars, before 350 local and foreign participants including key government officials, academics, researchers and business leaders in Forestry and Environment Sectors.

Prof. Richard Vlosky, Director of the Louisiana Forest Products Development Center, Louisiana State University, USA; Associate Prof. David Newsome, an expert in sustainable tourism, from Murdoch University, Western Australia and Associate Prof. NaohiroGoto, an expert in Environmental System Engineering from Toyohashi University of Technology, JAPAN were the keynote speakers for the event.

Industrial pioneers having environmental friendly business initiatives also joined hands with the 21^st International Forestry and Environment Symposium 2016.  Mr. Kumar Perumal, Chairman of the Endeavour Corporation; an Australian international organization which has positioned itself for the long term in the renewable Green Energy business in Sri Lanka, stated that the 21^st Forestry and Environmental Symposium 2016 was an ideal opportunity for Endeavour as a platinum sponsor to showcase its Green Energy business and an important platform to share its story.

Mr. Praveen Gnanam, Director – Innovations of Tokyo Cement Group; the largest manufacturer and supplier of cement and concrete in Sri Lanka, who came forward as a Platinum Sponsor of the event stated, “ We at Tokyo cement are excited to partner with the University of Sri Jayewardenepura’s Department of Forestry and Environmental Science for the 21st International Forestry and Environment Symposium ”.

In addition, Outotec, National Science Foundation shares the platinum partnership and DAMRO, Control Union and State Timber Corporation shared the gold partnership.

More information about the 21^st International Forestry and Environmental Symposium is available at http://fesympo.sjp.ac.lk