About Us

Vision 

 “A sustainable country where wildlife and forest resources conserved” 

Mission 

"Having the objective of nurturing the biodiversity through conservation wildlife and forest resources, to give leadership to make policies on in-situ flora conservation and in-situ and ex-situ conservation of fauna and for the promotion of sustainable timber industry, coordination and steering of leading institutions for the implementation”

Ministry bears the responsibility of formulation of policies related to the wildlife and forest conservation in Department of Wildlife Conservation, Department of Forest Conservation, Department of National Zoological Gardens and State Timber Corporation.

Scope

Nurturing biodiversity through the conservation of biodiversity, expansion of the national forest cover through the forest cultivation and conservation of the natural habitats where wild animals live.

Functions and duties

•  Formulation of policies relevant to the subject of wildlife and forest conservation in accordance with the laws and regulations to establish “Wildlife Conservation and Forest Conservation” in line with the “Vision of Prosperity” policy statement and other national policies expected to be implemented by the Government.
•  Implementation of projects under National Budget, Public Investment and National Development Projects.
•  Formulation, implementation, follow up and evaluation of the subjects and functions of the institutions under the purview of the Ministry and related policies, programs and projects.

Special priorities 

• Expansion of parks, reservoirs and wildlife food crops required for the survival of wildlife.
• Implementing modern measures to minimize damage to houses, property and crops by wild animals in rural areas.
• Implementing community based protection measures in line with safety measures including elephant fences and ditches in those high risk areas to prevent human-elephant conflict.
• Introduction and expansion of afforestation at home garden level as well as in schools, hospitals, offices, workplaces and low-lying areas and urban parks to increase forest cover by expanding afforestation.
• Implementation of green coverage expansion programs.
• Conserving wetlands and mangrove systems and controlling human activities that destroy them.
• Taking steps to identify eroded and barren lands and implementing cultivation of coconut other crops, grasses and establishment agroforestry gardens.
• Encouraging establishment of afforestation strips around factories, urban tree groves, roadside plantings including expressways and highways, government office lands, afforestation around apartments, orchards and agroforestry home gardens.
• Implementation of projects for reforestation.
• Development of river valleys and establishment of specific sand mining strips along rivers and land.
• Creating and popularizing the concept of green and smart cities and habitats, planing and implementing programs and projects to create eco-sensitive community.
• To protect the lands reserved for the protection of wild animals, to develop lakes, rivers and forests in those areas and to create cultivations necessary for the promotion of food for wild animals.
• Carrying out animal welfare and conservation activities.

Introduction

The Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation was established by the Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2187/27 dated 09.08.2020.

The newly established Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation has been entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the most sensitive flora and fauna of the world in accordance with the policies and regulations pertaining to wildlife protection and conservation in line with the Vistas of Prosperity  Policy Statement. The main responsibility of the State Timber Corporation under the Ministry is to provide the necessary leadership to become the supplier of the most trusted timber and timber products in the country within the next five years and to nurture biodiversity through wildlife and forest conservation through policy guidance to the State Ministry. It is the responsibility of the Ministry to expand the national forest cover through sensitive forest plantations and to preserve the natural environment in which wildlife lives and pass it on to future generations.

Institutions under the Ministry

• Department of Wildlife Conservation
• Department of Forest Conservation
• Department of National Zoological Gardens
• State Timber Corporation

Administrative Division

Providing necessary support to achieve the objectives of the Ministry through the management of human resources and physical resources, maintaining the administration and discipline of the Ministry, carrying out the institutional work of all the officers of the Ministry and the activities related to parliamentary advisory committees, parliamentary questions and cabinet memoranda done by the Administrative Division.

Planning Division  

This division is responsible for planning and monitoring activities related to wildlife protection, forest conservation and animal welfare. Also, the necessary activities are coordinated to achieve the goals as per the annual action plan.

Development Division

This division regulates and supervises development activities related to the Department of wildlife conservation, Forest Conservation, National Zoological Gardens and State Timber Corporation, Ecosystem Conservation and Management Project.

Finance Division

The main function and task of this division is to provide the necessary direct support to the financial control role of the Ministry and the institutions under the Ministry subject to be performed by the Secretary of the Ministry of Wildlife and Forestry as the Chief Accounting Officer. Accordingly, this division performs the planning, organization and management of the financial control activities of the Ministry and the institutions under the Ministry.

Technical Division

This Division assists in the scientific and technical activities related to the Departments and Institutions of Wildlife, Forest Conservation and National Zoological Gardens and coordinating and supervising the formal and effective implementation of these activities.

Internal Audit Division

The Internal Audit Division conducts regular inspections to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the internal administrative systems operate related to the financial and operational affairs of the Ministry and conducts special inspections in relation to the departments.

Project Division

Correcting media information related to the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation and coordinating relevant projects is done by this section.

Legal Division

Coordination of the Legal Draftment's Department and the Attorney General's Department and the Honorable Minister of the Ministry and the Secretary of the Ministry with regard to the legal affairs of the departments/corporations under the scope of the Ministry, as a stakeholder and coordinate with the Attorney General's Department in connection with the assigned and existing cases.