Concerns Over Solar Projects in Sri Lanka's Managed Elephant Range
The proposed solar energy park in Hambantota raises significant concerns regarding biodiversity loss and human-elephant conflict. While Sri Lanka aims for renewable energy growth, the potential clearance of 405 hectares of elephant habitat could worsen existing tensions between conservation efforts and energy development.
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Sri Lanka's government has approved multiple privately-owned solar power plants in Hambantota, potentially clearing 405 hectares of critical elephant habitat in the Managed Elephant Range (MER). Activists warn this could intensify human-elephant conflicts, with 72 human and 154 elephant deaths reported from 2015 to 2025 in the district.
The region has lost nearly 8,094 hectares of elephant habitat due to infrastructure projects, exacerbating the conflict. Experts argue that while solar energy is crucial for economic stability and aims for carbon neutrality by 2050, biodiversity loss must be addressed. The cumulative impact of these projects necessitates a comprehensive environmental impact assessment, highlighting the tension between renewable energy development and ecological preservation.
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