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“Resource Management for Sustainable Service Delivery”

Fulfilling its mission for the 22nd  consecutive year “22nd  International Forestry and Environment Symposium 2017” organized by the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura was successfully held on 10th & 11th  of November  2017 at Tangerine Beach Hotel, Waskaduwa. Enamored by the opening message of honorable minister Mr. Susil Premajayantha the event was gracefully commenced.

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 have taken part in this symposium.

The symposium was chaired by Dr. Prasanthi Gunawardena, Head, Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Dr. S. M. C. U .P. Subasinghe and Dr. G. G. T. Chandrathilake were the coordinators of the 22nd International Forestry and Environment Symposium. Around 140 new key research findings under the themes of Forest & Natural Resource Management, Biodiversity and Ecological Health, Climate Change & Disaster Management, Sustainable Land Use and Urban Development, Biomass and Sustainable Energy, Waste Management  and Pollution Control, Wood Science, Wood and Non-wood Industry, Environmental Economics in Resource Management, Geology, Soil and Water Resource Management, Environmental Engineering and Green Technology and Corporate Responsibility and Sustainable Tourism were presented by the scholars, local and foreign participants including key government officials, academics, researchers and business leaders in Forestry and Environment Sectors.

Prof. Naoto Kamata, Director, University of Hokkaido Forest, The University of Tokyo Forests, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences was the keynote speaker for the event. Theme talks were delivered by the Asst. Prof. Nobuaki Tanaka, Ecohydrology Research Institute, The University of Tokyo Forests, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo and Mr. Zuzhang Xia, Forestry Officer (Wood Energy), Food and Agriculture Organization.

Industrial pioneers having environmental friendly business initiatives also joined hands with the 22nd International Forestry and Environment Symposium 2017.

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.

This year’s symposium was co-organized with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Research and University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Sustainable Biomass Energy Project, Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy and Tokyo Cement Group shared the platinum partnership of the event. In addition, State Timber Corporation, Green Force Agriculture (Pvt) Limited and Control Union Inspections (Pvt) Ltd shared the gold partnership.

More information about the 21st International Forestry and Environmental Symposium is available at www.fesympo.sjp.ac.lk