Regreen Hantana: A Collaborative Effort on Ecosystem Restoration

Date: 23^rd of November 2024

In alignment with the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, the ‘Regreen Hantana: Forest Restoration on Degraded Lands’ is an inspiring initiative focused on rehabilitating 2 hectares of degraded lands within the Hantana Environmental Protected Area, Sri Lanka.

This project is spearheaded by the Faculty of Science of the University of Peradeniya in collaboration with the Commercial Bank, Forest Department, and the local community. The primary goal of Regreen Hantana is to restore degraded landscapes within the Hantana Mountain Range, thereby enhancing crucial ecosystem services such as biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, watershed protection, and soil protection.

Highlights of the 2025 Annual Event

The 2025 annual event featured a variety of impactful activities, including:

• Awareness about the Regreen Hantana Project.
• Enrichment Planting: New entrants to the Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya and four undergraduate students and a lecture of School of Computer, Data and Mathematical Sciences, Western Sydney University, Australia and local community actively participated in planting native tree seedlings.
• Site Cleaning: Conducted by the University Explorer's Club, ensuring the area is conducive to restoration efforts.
• Seedling Transplantation: The Hantana Conservation Society transplanted 150 seedlings to the degraded site.
• Training undergraduates: The Department of Statistics and Computer Science, UoP trained 24 undergraduates to collect seedling establishment data.
• Removal of polythene: The Health Centre of University of Peradeniya removed all collected polythene (from potting of transplants and herbivore enclosures)

The event showcased the power of community-driven efforts in environmental restoration. Through initiatives like Regreen Hantana, the University of Peradeniya continues to exemplify leadership in addressing environmental challenges and fostering sustainable practices.

Photo credit: Mr. Kumudu Wijesooriya, Mr. Bathiya Gopallawa, Mr. Janith Pathirana and Hantana Conservation Society

Written by: Prof. Thilanka Gunaratne (Team Leader, Regreen Hantana Project)