Collaborating with the Private Sector to Achieve National Forestation Goals

The consultation was organized as a step towards realizing the Government of Sri Lanka’s National Forest Conservation Programme and Bonn Challenge Commitments. The Government has made national and international commitments to enhance Sri Lanka’s forest cover and has set an ambitious target of increasing the cover from its present 29.7% to 32% by 2030.  Furthermore, the Government of Sri Lanka has also pledged to restore 0.2 million hectares of land as a contribution towards Bonn Challenge—a global effort that seeks to restore 350 million hectares of land across the world by 2030, through various forest landscape restoration practices

In order to increase the forest cover up to 32%, at least 148,000 hectares of degraded land is required to be restored. In this context, H.E. the President has directed the MMD&E to provide leadership and to facilitate the support needed to enhance the green cover of the country. Though International donor agencies have agreed to provide funds to restore around 30,000 ha of degraded forests lands, additional support is needed to restore the balance lands and the Government expects to join hands with the private sector, who can play a major role in this initiative.

The event was graced by Hon. Ajith Manapperuma, the State Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment.  Addressing the gathering the Hon Minister stated that “the government of Sri Lanka is determined to reach the pledged target of increasing the forest cover from the present 29% to 32% by 2030 and would like the Private Sector to join hands with the government in this endeavour”. Supporting the State Minister’s statement, Mr Anura Dissanayake, Secretary to the MMD&E during his Key Note speech said “the Environment Ministry will extend its fullest corporation to the private agencies who wish to assist the government in this regard and the Ministry is already working with companies such as MAS Holdings and Bogawantalawa Group in restoration related efforts”.

Mr W. A. C. Weragoda, Conservator General of Forests welcomed the participants and Dr Ananda Mallawatantri, Country Representative, IUCN Sri Lanka made the opening remarks.  Prof. Devaka Weerakoon spoke on Forest Restoration Methods and Empirical Learnings while MAS Holdings shared a Success Story on Private Sector Participation in Forest Restoration. The mechanisms to engage and the procedure to follow in enrolling in this programme was explained by Mr Nishantha Edirisinghe, Conservator of Forests.  The consultation also included a Q&A session where the private sector was provided with the opportunity to voice their concerns and to seek clarification and more information regarding their possible involvement in the restoration efforts.

During the “Restoration Fair”, which followed the formal session, Sri Lanka’s forest land bank via maps, showing the available land for restoration around the country was made available for the private sector to explore and identify suitable sites for restoration. Presently, in line with the initiative,

The event was facilitated by IUCN Sri Lanka Country Office and was attended by more than 30 private sector agencies.