By Karina Medyk | Volunteer
The last 4 months have been filled with projects across our conservation and reforestation eorts, as well as the expansion of environmental education and community engagement.
On March 31st, we hosted our very first Youth Club Workshop, with 25 participants from Wepathana village. The day was rich with engaging and educational Activities, including:
- a talk on the health benefits of the forest;
- a conservation-themed game, where children discussed the importance of conservation and reforestation;
- birdwatching to foster appreciation and connection with Nature
- hands-on tree planting experience.
Following that success, on May 5th we hosted another workshop with children and teenagers from Narammpanawa Village. Our goal is to oer monthly educational workshops to deepen young people’s connection to nature and raise awareness of conservation and biodiversity.
We’re also preparing to launch Corporate Workshops, where we’ll talk about the importance of Kandyan Forest Gardens and how we can work in harmony with nature. We’re excited to evolve Forest Healing Foundation into an educational organization through our workshop programs.
In partnership with Action Change, we’re developing expanded educational programs, including volunteer and internship opportunities through collaborations with local universities and communities.
Our partnership with Khiri Travel has also begun! Over the next 3 years, we will reforest 1 acre of Kandyan Forest and involve local schools and youth clubs through educational programs. We have started this project by conducting a soil testing: we collected a sample from the reforestation area and sent it to Gannoruwa lab to analyze organic matter and pH to verify the fertility of the soil, and track the project’s impact by 2027.
This study is being conducted in collaboration with the University of Peradeniya focusing on biodiversity and carbon capture research.
Our field team continues with the reforestation work at Bululand, our first land purchased for reforestation, where, over the past years, we have planted over 500 trees. During the past months we’ve focused on maintenance - which includes clearing overgrown branches and invasive species, improving the soil by adding organic fertilizer, replacing protective mesh and planting supportive species around that area, to improve fertility, to prevent erosion and improve water retention. We have planted a variety of tree species, including wild mango, kohomba tree, goraka, bakmee, weralu, nutmeg, bidi leaf tree, artocarpus (breadfruit) and erabadu.
On another front, we recently launched our new website and continue growing our social media presence to share updates and engage our global community. Volunteers, visitors, donors and partners are key to sustaining our mission to protect our native forests and restore degraded areas.
Our volunteer Karina, from Brazil, who has been with us since February, will be leaving us in a few weeks. We’re now seeking a new volunteer to support our team from July onwards. Follow us on social media and visit our new website to stay updated with our progress and support our journey!
Links:
By Remon Ellegala | Head of Operations
By Remon Ellegala | Head of Operations
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