Abstract:
This
research
is
an
assessment
of
Rural
Development
through
a
Community
Forest
Management
Project
(CFMP)
which
being
conducted
by
the
Forest
Department,
Sri
Lanka
considering
on
a
Community
Forest
Management
Project
related
to
Kendahena
GND.
The
objective
of
this
research
is
assessing
whether
a
rural
development
had
taken
place
through
this
project.
Primary
data
for
the
research
were
gathered
through
observation,
interview
conducted
with
the
officers
of
the
Regional
Forest
Office,
Kurunegala
and
the
discussions
held
with
a
selected
group
of
the
villagers.
Moreover
50%
out
of
193
Households
were
randomly
selected
and
primary
data
were
gathered
basically
by
giving
them
questionnaires.
Secondary
data
were
collected
from
books,
Magazines,
Journals,
Internet
and
various
other
sources.
The
information
gathered
was
simplified,
classified
and
summarized.
Percentage
Method,
Preference
Ranking
Method,
Direct
Metric
Ranking
Method
were
used
as
data
analyzing
methods.
The
analyzed
data
were
displayed
by
charts,
tables,
maps
and
diagrams.
Inefficiency
of
officers,
lack
of
proper
management
and
weak
involvement
in
to
the
affairs
of
villages
were
the
major
weak
points
of
this
project.
About
half
of
the
villagers
participated
in
this
project
actively
while
the
rest
were
only
aware
of
this
project
normally.
The
contribution
received
from
the
level
of
household
units
towards
family
development
and
housing
development
is
relatively
in
a
lower
standard.
It
could
be
observed
that
the
general
infrastructure
facilities
are
in
a
very
satisfactory
condition.