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Use of Traditional Knowledge for Identification of Forest Degradation: A Case of Knuckles Range of Sri Lanka

Traditional Knowledge (TK) is an experiential knowledge built by people within a long duration and it extends in a wide range. This knowledge has been decaying with time and environmental degradation has become rapid. Finding the decaying traditional knowledge, analyzing its utility and using it for ecological restoration can be considered as heading towards a gap filling pertaining to researches. Even though, identification of forest degradation by applying TK in traditional societies is important in conservation of degraded forests, limited research have been undertaken relating to this research in Sri Lanka. With this limitation, the current study was focused to compile and classify the hidden traditional knowledge on forest conservation which has high level of utility in ecological restoration in Knuckles Range. Seven Grama Niladhrari Divisions out of 56 divisions laid in Knuckles range were selected as the study area using the multi-functional optimization equation and judgmental sampling method. Out of 346 families living in the study area, 120 families were selected by employing simple random sampling method. Data was collected through questionnaires, interviews, transect walks and observations while 11 group discussions have been made to verify and validate the TK of traditional farmers. Mainly qualitative data analysis methods were used and TK of forest degradation has been compared with the formal forest classifications. The study ascertained that the degradation of the forest cover has been covered by focusing to four main criteria as; a). Qualitative degradation (value of the plant, service done by the plant species to the environment and man.); b) Quantitative degradation (according to the size of the land where the degradation occurs and the number of trees that are being cut.); c). Physical condition of the plant (distribution of the tree and height, connection with the sunlight.) and d). Function of the plant system (interconnection between plants, interdependence between plants). Further, it was revealed that the traditional farmers in the study area had applied six different indigenous criteria to identify the forest degradation, namely; plant species, extent of the land use, location of the plant, change of the composition of the plant, decrease of the harvest and quality of the plants. Under each of criterion, different indigenous methods have been adopted for identifying degradation of plants and conservation of the plant species and rural agricultural systems. As an important finding of this research, it can be highlighted that the traditional methods used to find forests degradation in this research can be applied for identifying and minimizing the degradation of forests which cannot be seen in other areas in Sri Lanka. It was also identified that there is a high potential in those traditional methods with regard to securing the quality of the environment.