Where science meets regeneration
LIFE to Our Forests is a long-term restoration initiative working to revive 12 hectares of degraded land within the Kanneliya–Dediyagala–Nakiyadeniya Forest Complex, a UNESCO-designated biosphere reserve in Sri Lanka. Now in its Phase III sustenance stage, the program continues to advance ecological recovery through targeted, science-based restoration that strengthens one of the country’s most important natural ecosystems.
Restoring what nature once knew
During FY25, project teams executed carefully planned ecological interventions to build long-term forest health. These included removing dense Kekilla fern invasions, replanting native tree species in areas with plant mortality, conducting essential soil nutrient management, and maintaining maturing plots to support canopy development. These actions were supported by continuous monitoring and community-integrated restoration approaches.
Growing biodiversity, one tree at a time
The initiative has achieved an over 80% survival rate of planted trees, enabling improved canopy cover and the return of native pollinator species such as birds and butterflies. In FY25, the program also advanced Sri Lanka’s first biodiversity credit accrual system, establishing a measurable framework for recognizing ecological restoration benefits. These outcomes contribute directly to global and national goals under the UN SDGs, the Bonn Challenge, the UNFCCC, and Sri Lanka’s biodiversity strategy.