WNPS acquires sensitive lands for conservation

The Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) recently acquired three parcels of adjoining lands in the ecologically sensitive Peak Wilderness area off Erathna with funding from two conservation partners from the USA –  Rainforest Trust, and The Quick Response Fund for Nature, through the Preventing Extinction Fund.

In 2020, WNPS established a land Trust called Plant Preserving and Land and Nature (Guarantee) Ltd to operate under the auspices of the WNPS with the aim of acquiring privately owned lands for the purpose of conservation (outright or on a long-term lease) and to collect funds through the Trust, and the WNPS, to purchase lands for the purpose of conservation.

PLANT through its efforts, hopes to protect lands in their existing natural states, extend protected areas by converting more private land to conservation areas where possible, and focusing scientific rehabilitation efforts on any degraded land brought into the Trust. 

Former President of WNPS and Chairman of PLANT, Sriyan de Silva Wijeyeratne said the three properties ensure around 44 acres of refuge to a very diverse range of species.  This combined block has two streams on either side of the property, some small waterfalls, and previous studies done show that the property is home to an astonishing 145 endemic species.

The location is adjacent to a tea plantation and forest clearing for cinnamon and thus provides critical connectivity for species movement along streams and ridges, plus important undisturbed breeding grounds for many of them. 

PLANT hopes to help create almost uninterrupted or reasonably connected corridors of protected natural spaces and forest ecosystems within the southwestern quarter of the island.