PLANT (Preserving Land and Nature (Guarantee) Ltd.), an initiative of the WNPS (The Wildlife and Nature Protection Society) recently entered into a landmark partnership with Hayleys Plantations.
Hayleys Plantations, comprising Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC, Kelani Valley Plantations PLC and Horana Plantations PLC extended over 2,500 acres of land to WNPS PLANT, with the overarching objectives of enriching forest ecosystems and biodiversity, developing forest corridors, engaging in reforestation activities, and promoting research and development, while enabling education for youth and communities in the respective regions.
Following its launch in 2020, PLANT has been tirelessly collaborating with the private sector and other local and global partners and seeks to create uninterrupted or reasonably connected corridors of protected natural spaces and forest ecosystems, that safeguard Sri Lanka’s unique biodiversity.
One such significant strategy was the notion of the Emerald Trails in the endemic rich South-Western part of Sri Lanka, which entails creating forest corridors that link larger protected areas and enable animals to move freely within their habitats.
Saving endangered species is a key priority of the WNPS and PLANT teams, as protecting wildlife is crucial to the survival of our ecosystems, in addition to contributing positively towards community welfare and sustainable economic growth.
To date, PLANT has grown in leaps and bounds, covering 16 ground locations of operation including 5 direct property ownerships and engagements.
Commenting on this initiative, the Hayleys Plantations Managing Director Dr. Roshan Rajadurai said, “This will support the company’s ESG objectives and the recently launched HayleysLifecode, which is a policy-driven blueprint to address the ESG goals critical to the business and society. Committing sensitive private lands towards critical conservation requirements is important.
We will also ensure that there will be no deforestation activities carried out purposefully across all our existing plantation properties which currently cover a footprint of over 26,000 Hectares.”
“This partnership has showcased our firm belief that Private Sector has a very strong role to play in Eco-system conservation, which has historically been a State activity, and that inspired parties are willing to do so” stated PLANT Chairperson Sriyan de Silva Wijeyeratne. He further remarked that Hayleys had raised the bar on the work needed to be done and that companies like them, and the many partners who had linked up with WNPS PLANT, were doing a great service towards the future of our national natural assets and ecosystems.
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