Community Awareness Program
‘Regreen Hantana: Restoration of Degraded Lands’

The 'Regreen Hantana Project' was initiated in January 2022 with the aim of restoring the degraded sites in Hantana Mountain Range to reinstate ecosystem services for the future. The community awareness program of the project was conducted on the 4th of October 2022 by the Regreen Hantana Team at the Uda Peradeniya Temple. Seventy people representing various ethnic groups in the area participated for this event. During the program discussions were conducted on significance of the project, vegetation types and fauna of Hantana, ecosystem services provided by Hantana, and the importance of community participation in the project. The university students conducted an activity to encourage community participation, where the local community was given an opportunity to suggest their visions for the restoration site. Moreover, a social survey was conducted using questionnaires prepared in Sinhala and Tamil. The event was organized by the Faculty of Science in collaboration with the Center for Environmental Studies (CES), University of Peradeniya. The media coverage for the event was provided by the 'Perabeats'.

Before Begin ...

Ms. Dinushika Yapa Abeywardhana explaining the role of community in restoration

Mr. Saumya Bandara Intoduing the objectives of the awareness program

Community activity

Community activity on their vision for restoration site

Community activity

Ms. Chinthani Malsha explaining flora of Hantana

Community activity

Discussion ...

Mr. Chandula Idirisinghe explaining about ecosystem services

Mr. Ranjith Pushpakumara (Grama Niladari) addressing the gathering

Mr. Kumudu Wijesooriya talking on fauna of Hantana

Mr. Kumudu Wijesooriya talking on fauna of Hantana

Regreen Hantana Team