Senior British diplomat takes part in Rainforest Restoration

On the 29th of November, we had the honor of Dr. and Mrs. Peter Hayes, British High Commissioner for Sri Lanka and wife visiting our rainforest plant nursery situated in Baddegama.

The High Commissioner and his wife visited our rescue nursery and got to know some of the special plants that will be used to restore the rainforest. Dr and Mrs. Hayes then walked the 8 acre restoration site owned by the Rainforest Trust of Sri Lanka and Planted two endemic rainforest plants to help the regeneration of the site.

The British High commission and RRI hope to work on promoting the importance of endemic tree species that provide essential habitat for Sri Lanka’s Biodiversity

For more information on Dr. Hayes’ visit to Galle visit:
http://ukinsrilanka.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=PressR&id=346200682

Plant a mangrove for the future

On the 15th of November, a National Tree Planting Day was organized by the Ministry of Environment named “Deyata sevana”.

In order to communicate the need to restore the highly threatened Mangrove coastal forests. RRI provided 1000 Mangrove Seedlings, planted by 50 students from Kathaluwa Central College and Martin Wickramasinghe Vidyalaya, Koggala.

The planting took place on the Koggala Lagoon system and the program was attended by representative of the Marine Environment Protection Authority; Mrs. Tharanga Wickramarathne, District Secretary Habaraduwa; Mr.Channa Dasanayake, Commanding Officer Air force Based Koggala. RRI assisted the Sri Lanka Navy Officers of the Nilaveli camp by donating an additional 2500 plants which were to help restore the green belt in the Trincomalee area.

For more information on the Navy planting please visit
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20101116_05

Mangrove and coastal forest restoration is vital, given that Sri Lanka has lost over 99% of it’s mangrove coverage in the past decades due to urbanization pressures and a lack of management. This ecosystems importance in coastal protection was highlighted during the tsunami and will play an important role in the mitigation of climate change related impacts. Coastal livlihoods such as fisheries rely on the mangrove to provide essential breeding grounds for fish.

French tourists are helping to regrow the Rainforest

Travel Development Lanka Pvt. Ltd. (TDL) A Sri Lanka based tour operator is pioneering a truly green partnership with RRI. We are honored to partner TDL and the people of France who have joined together on a program to help reestablish the lost rainforests of Sri Lanka.

In November RRI was proud to launch the program by planting a Rainforest Tree for the Minister of Economic Development Hon. Basil Rajapaksa.
TDL expects approximately 5000 French tourists to visit Sri Lanka annually and RRI will plant a threatened rainforest tree for each tourist arriving in the country. In order to commemorate their visit to Sri Lanka each visitor will receive a planting certificate from RRI along with the name of the tree we have planted .

Planting will take place twice a year on rainforest restoration lands In the Galle district

RRI is very grateful to Travel Development as well as the people of France who are participating in this program to help us in our important work. And help protect the biological diversity of Sri Lanka's precious rainforests and the livelihoods of the people that depend on it.

For information please visit
http://traveldevelopment.asia/news.php?id=13