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.

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.

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

• State Timber Corporation
• Ecosystem Conservation and Management (ESCAMP)

Following functions are carried out in accordance with the “Vistas of Prosperity” policy statement to achieve “Conservation of forest and wildlife” based on other national policies expected to be implemented by the Government.

Administrative Division

Providing necessary assistance to achieve the objectives of the Ministry through human resource management and management of physical resources, maintaining the administration and discipline of the Ministry, carrying out the institutional activities of all the officers of the Ministry and activities related to Parliamentary Consultative Committees, Parliamentary Questions and Cabinet Memoranda are  done by the Administrative Division.

Planning Division  

This division is responsible for planning and monitoring activities related to the subject of Wildlife Protection and Forest Conservation. Similarly to achieve the targets as per the Action Plan 2021.

Development Division

In collaboration with the State Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation, the activities of the Departments of Wildlife Conservation, Forest Conservation and National Zoological Gardens are regulated and the activities related to the State Timber Corporation are directly supervised and regulated.

Finance Division

Finance Division is mainly responsible for directly assisting the Secretary of the Ministry who is also the Chief Accounting Officer of the Ministry in discharging his duties related to the financial management of the ministry and institutions come under its purview. Accordingly, planning and organizing of the financial  affairs of the Ministry and affiliated institutions is done by this section.

Technical Division

This Division assists in the coordination and supervision of scientific and technological activities of the institutions related to wildlife, forest conservation and National Zoos and the systematic and effective implementation of such activities.

Internal Audit Division

The Internal Audit Division also conducts regular inspections and special inspections of departments to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the internal control systems in place in the financial and operational activities of the Ministry.

Project Division

Taking action to correct the media information related to the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation, having measures to coordinate and to promote the Ministry

Legal Division

Coordinating the Legal Drafting Department and the Attorney General's Department in the legal affairs of the Departments / Corporations falling under the purview of the Ministry and liaising with the Attorney General's Department regarding the conferred and existing cases being made by the Hon. Minister and Secretary of the Ministry as a partner.