Together with the local community, this project will protect over 50 acres of biodiverse forests called Kandyan Forest Gardens in central Sri Lanka from the threat of deforestation. The project aims at protecting these forests by working closely with the owners and farmers to maintain and reforest these areas through workshops, financial incentives and providing native, fruit and spice trees including Nutmeg, Clove, Jack and Mee Trees but also lease and purchase to for long term protection.
Sri Lanka is one of the world's biodiversity hotspots. Its stunning forests teem with wildlife but are increasingly coming under threat. Multiple areas of forest surrounding the Forest Healing Foundation's current restoration project have recently become at risk of deforestation as communities search for alternative sources of income due to the financial impacts of COVID-19. We aim to protect forests whilst supporting sustainable development in the region.
The Forest Healing Foundation will create a protected area on land acquired. This will address the immediate urgency but we will also focus on the root cause of the problem. We are trialing alternative financial incentives that will enable smallholders to keep their land and conserve trees, even during challenging times.
This project will deliver habitat protection for 62 species of birds and a wide range of animals. It will secure essential water retention and erosion control benefits for the local community and contribute to reducing global climate change. Financial support for at least 20 local families will be delivered through income from forest produce and we aim to create a best practice model of community-based conservation in Sri Lanka for wider rollout.
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