NDB in mission to help reduce deforestation

The simplest way to combat deforestation is by planting trees, and it is with this objective that NDB Bank has partnered with the ‘Department of Forest -Conservation’ as a new initiative to carry out a reforestation programme. The mission of the bank is to combat deforestation and protect our biodiversity which is vital for the existence of all forms of life.

The selected site for this project, the ‘Hibiliyakada Forest’ is located in the Wilgamuwa Beat of the Laggala Range in Matale District, six kilometres away from Hettipola - Wasgamuwa road, in the vicinity of the ‘Naminioya Forest’ and the ‘Knuckles World Heritage Forest’. The ‘Hibiliyakada Forest’ is a lowland rain forest with an extent of 1,800 hectares. Around 85 hectares of the forest has degraded due to the spreading of ‘Gini’ grass and forest fire. Furthermore, there is a threat of encroachment from the villagers in the vicinity, for the purpose of Chena cultivation, the bank said in a media release.

The project will span a period of 5 years since this is the period required for the plants to grow and mature. The project was launched in 2020 under the leadership of Director/GCEO Dimantha Seneviratne, joined by members of the ‘The Leadership Team’, ‘Corporate Sustainability Committee’ and staff volunteers from the ‘Head Office’ and the ‘Central’ and ‘North Central’ Regions, for the initial planting. The planting has been completed with the assistance of the Department of Forest Conservation and 3,000 plants have been planted to date, covering a land extent of 05 hectares (approx. 12.5 acres). The plants include a variety of plants native to the natural eco system in the area and once grown will contribute to climate change mitigation.

The bank has also identified another issue that is degrading the plains at ‘Pitawala Pathana’, where invasive species are growing rampantly. Invasive species are detrimental to a forest and they change the character of the forest, threatening its biodiversity, overwhelming endemic species, and impacting soil quality among other concerns. Therefore the bank also volunteered and assisted the ‘Department of Forest Conservation’ to remove the invasive plants at Pitawalapathana.

As the project progresses, the proposed plan is to expand the project to include the border villages where assistance would be given to uplift the villages and also to give possible assistance in protecting them from wild elephants.