Regreen Hantana: A Collaborative Effort on Ecosystem Restoration
December 03, 2024
Date: 23rd 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