Kelani Valley Plantations and IUCN Sri Lanka Forge Landmark Partnership for Biodiversity Conservation

KVP, a key private sector partner of IUCN SL since 2009, collaborated with IUCN SL in 2023 to develop the Halgolla Estate Biodiversity Conservation Plan: Establishing a Privately Managed Landscape to Conserve Globally Threatened Species Outside the Protected Area Network, funded by Hong Kong's Ocean Park Conservation Foundation.

The current partnership centres on KVP's Halgolla Estate in Kegalle District, which spans 1,944 hectares across four divisions at elevations between 200 -1,143 meters. The estate serves as a refugium for diverse species and recognised as Sri Lanka’s first privately owned site to implement Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) outside the protected area network.

OECMs represent a revolutionary conservation approach. While traditional protected areas are established primarily for conservation, OECMs achieve effective long-term biodiversity conservation in areas originally designated for other purposes. Together, protected areas and OECMs create comprehensive, connected conservation networks that complement each other.

With its designation as an OECM, Halgolla Estate will serve as a model to promote responsible land use, scale up sustainable practices, mitigate risks linked to plantation management, and enhance both long-term growth and market reputation. 

The new MoU broadens this collaboration across KVP's operations and establishes a framework for ongoing partnership. Key initiatives include:

• Biodiversity Assessment and Planning: IUCN will help identify species and ecosystems across KVP's estates, developing comprehensive conservation management plans including critical species recovery plans and restoration opportunities.
• Sustainable Tourism Development: The partnership will explore ecotourism potential creating new revenue streams while protecting natural habitats.
• Capacity Building: KVP staff and youth in plantation communities will receive training on biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services and nature interpretation-led sustainable business practices, leading to forest certification and biodiversity indicators.
• Estate-Wide Implementation: Conservation strategies will extend beyond Halgolla to KVP's other Upcountry and Low Country estates, multiplying the environmental impact.

By establishing privately managed conservation areas, the partnership aims to protect globally threatened species while demonstrating that environmental stewardship and business success can go hand in hand.

This collaboration illustrates how private sector can complement national conservation efforts, aligning with  IUCN's mission to preserve nature and KVP's commitment to sustainable business practices.