In a major step along its ambitious path of forest corridor creation and endemic protection, WNPS PLANT has acquired a total of 50 acres of pristine rainforest lands on the borders of the Sinharaja Forest Complex, securing the properties for long-term conservation.
A rainforest’s future can be decided long before the first tree is cut; when the land beneath it changes hands. For a tract of forest buffering Sri Lanka’s Sinharaja Forest Complex, that moment has become an opportunity for protection.
Made possible through the support of two visionary partners, the acquisitions mark a major step within the PLANT Species One Thousand Initiative, also known as S 1000.
The initiative aims to initially own and protect 100 acres of strategically selected forest lands around the Sinharaja Complex, to buffer small patches of the precious world heritage from encroachment, illegal felling and poaching. PLANT, through this initiative, hopes to safeguard habitats supporting more than 1,000 species, including hundreds of species endemic to Sri Lanka.
The World Land Trust works with local partner organisations across the world to protect and restore some of the planet’s most threatened habitats. For more than three decades, securing land for nature has been central to their mission, whether through purchase, lease, or community led agreements that support long term stewardship.
IUCN NL is a non-governmental international nature organisation that operates from Amsterdam. As a National Committee, they unite the Dutch members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the world’s largest union for nature conservation. The collaborative efforts of these partners coupled with the deep local domain insights and vision of WNPS PLANT, are creating lasting impacts on local species.
Protecting the forests that connect Sinharaja
Sinharaja’s biodiversity depends not just on the combination of multiple forest reserves like Delgoda within the extended complex, but also on more than the forests within its protected boundaries. Surrounding private forested lands provide additional habitat, protect waterways and help wildlife move through the landscape.
When these lands are cleared, the remaining forests become increasingly fragmented. The acquisition responds to growing pressure on privately owned forests around the complex, including conversion to agriculture, development, mining and illegal tree felling.
“Numerous research has demonstrated that protecting existing forest where possible, is easily the best conservation strategy. By securing land for conservation, WNPS PLANT seeks to mobilise private sector partners and strengthen the protection of the wider rainforest landscape and complement State-led efforts within Government-managed reserves. We are big believers in the value of small forest patch conservation. The newly acquired property will be managed exclusively for conservation, with biodiversity assessments and species inventories guiding its protection under expert advice. Engagement with local communities will also play a key role and future partners will fund the next phases of our work here,” said Sriyan de Silva Wijeyeratne, former President of WNPS and Chairman of PLANT.
Restoration will be undertaken where necessary, while scientific studies will help build understanding of the forest and the species it supports.
A partnership with lasting impact
The support of these global partners has helped turn a conservation ambition into a tangible outcome: forest land secured for its ecological value and protected for future generations.
Strengthened by the WNPS credentials and resources, PLANT has been supported by over 45 Partners and now operates conservation initiatives in over 41 locations and is already building over 60 kilometres of forest corridor. The acquisition demonstrates how private sector and philanthropic support can contribute directly to habitat conservation.
It also provides a foundation for further partnerships under the S One Thousand Initiative, through which donors can support individual properties or contribute to pooled land acquisition funding.
Established in 2020 by the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka (WNPS), PLANT – Preserving Land and Nature (Guarantee) Limited – is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to protecting and restoring privately owned lands and transforming them into conservation spaces.
Its wider vision is to create connected forest corridors, known as the Emerald Trails, across Sri Lanka’s endemic-rich wet zone ( www.plantsl.org ).
This acquisition is another milestone in that work. Future generations and Endangered species will be the ultimate beneficiaries. Its lasting impact will come from keeping the forest standing, protecting its biodiversity and ensuring that its conservation continues well beyond the day the land changes hands.
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