Assessment of deforestation and forest degradation in Sri Lanka: Application of the DPSIR framework

Abstract

Globally, forests provide habitat for a wide variety of species on earth and play a significant role in helping control global warming by sinking CO2. However, the world is facing a dual problem of deforestation and forest degradation, which are depleting forest biodiversity and ecosystem services everywhere and eventually leading to forest cover loss. Sri Lanka’s Forest cover, a developing country in the South Asian region, has been changing rapidly for two decades. Sri Lanka needs a detailed DPSIR framework with contemporary data and robust analytical descriptions to understand the changing patterns of forest coverage and address the underlying factors affecting them. Hence, this study analyzed the key causes of deforestation and forest degradation in Sri Lanka according to drivers, pressures, state, and impact between 2000 and 2020. Through this study, we have recommended suitable and realistic responses for Sri Lanka to minimize deforestation and forest degradation.