The Central Highlands of Sri Lanka, a rich biodiversity hub and home to many unique species, is benefiting from a new $3.5 million conservation effort led by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
- Covers UNESCO-recognized biodiversity hotspot in Sri Lanka
- Expands conservation beyond national parks into private tea estates
- Uses global data and local monitoring for informed protection
What happened
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), supported by a $3.5 million grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is leading a major conservation effort in Sri Lanka’s Central Highlands. This region, standing above 900 meters in elevation, is a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its unique montane rainforests and grasslands, which host nearly 60% of the country’s species. The project partners with local governments and stakeholders to expand protection efforts across this critical ecosystem.
Conservation work now extends beyond traditional protected areas into private lands such as tea plantations, where forest patches are preserved to provide habitat for endemic species. The project also incorporates scientific data from global sources like the Red List of Threatened Species to prioritize habitats and species needing urgent attention. A centralized knowledge system shares this information with relevant agencies and communities to guide monitoring and adaptive management.
Why it feels good
This initiative represents a hopeful step forward in safeguarding one of Sri Lanka’s most precious natural treasures. By protecting the Central Highlands, it helps conserve rare wildlife such as the western purple-faced langur, Horton Plains slender loris, and Sri Lankan leopard, all species that depend entirely on these habitats. Their survival is intimately linked with the health of these highland forests.
Moreover, protecting this region benefits people, too. The highlands are the source of nine major rivers that provide drinking water, support agriculture, and generate hydropower for millions. Expanding conservation beyond park borders to include private lands demonstrates a balanced approach that respects local livelihoods while enhancing biodiversity protection.
What to enjoy or watch next
Following this project’s progress offers an inspiring example of how international partnerships and science-driven strategies can make a real difference for conservation. Watching how private landowners and local communities collaborate to conserve remnant forest patches while maintaining production could provide useful lessons for other regions facing similar challenges.
Long-term monitoring enabled by the new knowledge management system will reveal whether these efforts improve habitat quality and species populations over time. Stay tuned for updates from Sri Lanka as this endeavor moves forward toward meeting global conservation goals, including the target to preserve 30% of the world's land by 2030.