Climate Action Sri Lanka Project #42600

Save a 10 acre Tropical Rainforest in Sri Lanka

by Rainforest Protectors Trust

Project Report | May 25, 2021
Rainforest Protectors Trust - Update May 2021

By Sriyantha Perera | Settlor, Rainforest Protectors Trust

The COVID-19 pandemic has been spreading extremely fast in Sri Lanka during the last couple of months, resulting in the country placed in lockdown and travel severely restricted. Despite these hardships, Rainforest Protectors Trust has been working towards expanding the protected area as well as securing existing protected area. During the months of February and March 2021 before current lockdowns were placed, Rainforest Protectors Trust carried out trail maintenance of forest land protected in January 2020. Several workers from the adjoining village were employed for the task thus giving back to the local community. Once the lockdown restrictions are lifted, we plan on planting native areca nut trees along the boundary to secure and create a live fence additionally benefiting wildlife.

Trustees of Rainforest Protectors Trust also visited a tract of private forest land adjoining Sinharaja World Heritage Rainforest and currently working towards acquiring it towards long-term conservation of the buffer zone. While the lockdowns have slowed the progress we are working diligently to prevent deforestation through acquisition and conservation of privately held forest land in the region.

Rainforest Protectors Trust which is currently 100% volunteer driven is also evaluating the possibility to expand our operations by obtaining services of a full-time staff member. Hundreds of acres of privately held forest land are currently under threat as well as the need to do regular patrols to secure already acquired and protected forest land. We would like to hear from protential donors towards this operations fund. Please email RainforestProtectorsTrust@gmail.com

We wish to thank all our supporters and hope more donors will join us to help protect Sri Lanka’s last remaining Wet Zone Forests, for our collective future!

Links:

Rainforest Protectors Trust (Web)

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Jan 30, 2021
Rainforest Protectors Trust - Update January 2021

By Sriyantha Perera & John Wilson | Rainforest Protectors Trust

Destruction of Elephant Corridor in Sinharaja

The past year 2020 has been extremely difficult for all of us. The COVID-19 Pandemic took toll on many people but worse so was the destruction incurred on the Environment. During the various Curfews there was a significant increase in illegal activity within Protected Areas (PAs), including deforestation, encroachment and poaching as Wildlife Officers, Forest Officers and Environmental Officers were not able to conduct field operations. To make matters worse, the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) took many harmful decisions leading to the destruction of countless Protected Areas (PAs). In addition the authority over an estimated 500,000 - 700,000 Hectares of Other State Forests (OSFs) and State Forested Lands (SFLs) was transferred from the Department of Forest Conservation (DFC), to District Secretariats (DSs) and Divisional Secretariats (DSDs), to be distributed on a priority basis for agricultural, industrial and other such "development" projects. The Sinharaja National Forest Reserve (UNESCO) in the Lowland Wet Zone and Knuckles Conservation Forest (UNESCO) in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka are both being significantly damaged due to conversion of historical foot paths and small trails into major roads, which are to be used by busses, lorries and heavy construction vehicles.

Even Wild Elephant Corridors were not spared during 2020. The Sinharaja - Walankanda Wild Elephant Corridor is the most scenic Wild Elephant Corridor in the country offering some of the best views to the human eye. Although untouched, many Private Forest Lands (PFLs) exist within the boundaries of this Wild Elephant Corridor. Sadly in 2020 one of the untouched Private Forest Lands was listed to be sold. Despite the best efforts by the Rainforest Protectors Trust (RPT), to protect this vital property situated within the Wild Elephant Corridor, a lack of enough funds prevented purchasing it in time. Due to the scenic location, the land was quickly sold and the new owner wasted no time in cutting down the Sub Montane Forest to grow tea and start construction activities for a hotel (see Photo 1). It is a stark reminder to all of us that we are fighting against time to protect these last remaining Lowland Tropical Rainforests and Sub Montane Forests, against those who only seek wealth in their life.

Despite these major setbacks in 2020, we at Rainforest Protectors Trust believe 2021 will offer hope. Special thanks goes to some of the individual donors who have supported our crowdfunding project thus far as well as our corporate sponsors. We look forward to significantly expand the protected wilderness areas within privately held forest lands (PFLs) in 2021. Seventeen acres of Private Forest Lands (PFLs) have been identified as priority conservation areas and we are currently working to secure these wilderness areas before they are lost forever. We wish to thank all our supporters and hope more donors will join us this new year to help protect Sri Lanka’s last remaining Wet Zone Forests, for our collective future!

Priority Conservation Site for 2021

Links:

Rainforest Protectors Trust (Web)

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Oct 8, 2020
Rainforest Protectors Trust - Update October 2020

By Sriyantha Perera | Settlor, Rainforest Protectors Trust

Incidents of deforestation significantly increased during the last several months throughout Sri Lanka despite the Government pledge to protect the environment. Due to protests by environmentalists and concerned citizens, the Government scrapped plans to distribute (for agri / commercial purposes) approximately 500,000 hectares of forest land belonging to the State. However, threats to the World Heritage Sinharaja Rainforest continued with the widening (upto 20 feet) and expansion (upto 18km) of a road that was once a small foot path through the forest till the early 90s. Environmentalists believe this would be the beginning of increased encroachment and conversion of forest into tea plantations and urbanization. It is clear that we cannot rely on the Government to protect the rainforests, thus the effort to purchase and permanently protect privately held forest lands bordering the World Heritage Sinharaja Rainforest is more important than ever.

Rainforest Protectors Trust has identified several parcels of unprotected forest lands suitable for conservation in the area. To date, we have protected 2 parcels of forest lands rich in biodiversity, one adjoining a river and the other adjoining a stream. However, lack of funds are preventing us from purchasing additional private forest lands that are currently on sale and in danger of being clearcut. Therefore, we urge you to consider making a monthly recurring donation to our GlobalGiving Project even if it is for a small amount. All donations go directly towards purchasing suitable lands for conservation.

Field Visit - Conservation Land #1:

https://www.facebook.com/RainforestProtectorsTrust/posts/2730973587225170

Field Visit - Conservation Land #2:

https://www.facebook.com/RainforestProtectorsTrust/posts/2731961983792997

Links:

Rainforest Protectors Trust (Web)

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