Teejay reforesting continues strong momentum with WNPS PLANT

The overarching goal of this project by WNPS PLANT in partnership with Horana Plantations, is to establish a 9km forest corridor along the Maskeli Oya, enhancing habitat connectivity across the estate lands.

Teejay Lanka PLC, in collaboration with the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) through its PLANT initiative, continues to drive a significant ecological restoration project along the Maskeli Oya in Sri Lanka. This effort, part of Teejay’s ‘Abhivarah 2030’ sustainability roadmap, focuses on reforesting degraded areas to create a 9km forest corridor, restoring the riparian ecosystem and enhancing biodiversity. With 2,650 native trees already planted, the project also generates valuable carbon credits while addressing environmental challenges through community-driven efforts and scientific monitoring, highlighting the role of the private sector in advancing sustainable land management practices.

Teams from Teejay Lanka PLC and the WNPS PLANT teams recently engaged in an inspection and replanting visit to the Gouravilla Estate of the Horana Plantations Group, who are part of Hayleys Plantations. The teams added 300 new plants to the location that day and reviewed the progress of the efforts.

The overarching goal of this project by WNPS PLANT (www.plantsl.org) in partnership with Horana Plantations, is to establish a 9km forest corridor along the Maskeli Oya, enhancing habitat connectivity across the estate lands. Five estates are covered within this corridor, including the Gouravilla segment, and the banks of the Oya will be reforested with native trees sourced from selected nurseries. The reforestation is community-driven, with community people employed to carry out planting and maintenance activities. Despite the challenges posed by extreme weather conditions and pest attacks, over 2,650 trees have already been planted in the Gouravilla segment alone in less than a year. To protect young saplings from herbivory, plant guards have been installed, and regular watering during dry spells ensures their survival. The field team conducts routine monitoring to assess the health and progress of the planted trees, ensuring that the reforestation efforts are on track.

This project is dedicated to restoring the riparian ecosystem along the Maskeli Oya, an important tributary of the Kelani River, originating from the Peak Wilderness Nature Reserve. The initiative aims to improve the environmental conditions supporting the health of the Kelani Valley basin which is a key focus area for Teejay. These objectives are achieved by improving the riparian forest ecosystem by planting native montane forest species suited to the unique geoclimatic conditions of the Upcot Valley. A rapid biodiversity assessment across the entire project site revealed the presence of 70 flowering plant species and 99 faunal species, encompassing mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and more.

The flora selected for the restoration are all native species, carefully chosen to ensure ecological compatibility and success. Among these are species such as Gal Weralu (Elaeocarpus subvillosus), Thel Keena (Calophyllum tomentosum), Thiththa Weralu (Elaeocarpus montanus), Kenda (Macaranga indica), Kudu Dawula (Neolitsea fuscata). 

The Gouravilla segment sponsored by Teejay Lanka PLC, is a vital area for the preservation of this region’s unique biodiversity. This broader site is home to an array of wildlife, including records of day geckos (Cnemaspis samanalensis and Cnemaspis upendrai) from outside of their known range, two endemic fresh water fish species including one Critically Endangered (Devario monticola) and one a Near Threatened (Garra ceylonensis). The record of Devario monticola in Maskeli Oya is very important because it was recorded only from the Agra Oya river basin in the country. The record of the Spotless Grass Yellow is another important finding of this study as it has not been recorded around Maskeliya previously. These underscore the importance of this project in protecting the island’s rich biodiversity through the restoration of the degraded ecosystems along the Maskeli Oya. Progress is not easy as these plants are majorly threatened by human activity including the cutting of new saplings along with the high grass, and due to herbivore presence. Montane plants are also extremely slow growing and various added measures will be needed to complement these efforts. 

This two-year project is a significant element of Teejay’s ‘Abhivarah 2030’ sustainability roadmap and generates valuable carbon credits, while helping restore one of the country’s most scenic natural habitats to its pristine state. Teejay is also focused on initiatives to improve the environment in and around the Kelani River and its related ecosystems, and this project is an extension of that commitment. This project is not merely about planting trees; it is a scientifically driven ecological restoration effort. By carefully monitoring and nurturing these plants, the project aims to restore and expand the forested areas, creating a thriving habitat that supports a diverse array of species. This initiative by the WNPS and PLANT teams and their partners exemplifies the role that Private Sector can play to reversing ecological degradation and promote sustainable land management practices in Sri Lanka.