The Silent Guardians of Water, Wildlife and Climate | The Day 20 Sri Lankan Forests Found Protection

COLOMBO (News 1st); In what environmentalists are likely to view as one of the most significant conservation milestones in recent years, Sri Lanka today (26) granted protected status to 20 forests, strengthening the country's efforts to safeguard biodiversity, water resources, wildlife habitats and ecologically sensitive landscapes for future generations.

The latest gazette notifications cover a combined land area of 9,538.68 hectares, adding to a broader conservation initiative that has seen approximately 65,000 hectares of forest land declared as reserves over the past two years.

Among the most significant forests to receive protected status today is the Algin Forest in Talawakelle, Nuwara Eliya, which spans 1,419.45 hectares. Situated in Sri Lanka's central highlands, the forest forms part of an environmentally sensitive landscape that plays a vital role in watershed protection and biodiversity conservation.

A further nineteen forests were also gazetted as reserves across several districts, expanding the country's protected forest network.

In the Kegalle District, the Balalgala Forest covering 73.22 hectares, the Bathalegala Forest spanning 27.3 hectares, and the Rahalagala Forest covering 157.77 hectares were granted protected status.

In the Ampara District, the Lahugala Shastrawela Aliyakanda Mangrove Mixed Forest, covering 101.07 hectares, and the Lahugala Sengamuwa Forest, extending over 758.2 hectares, were also included among the newly protected forests.

In the Badulla District, protected status was granted to the Mahiyanganaya Moopalana Forest, which spans 29.79 hectares, and the Mahiyanganaya Heerussagala Forest, covering 168.09 hectares.

Several large forest blocks in the Vavuniya region were also brought under protection, including Karungalikulam 02 with 2,537.4 hectares, Nedunkeni Chamalankulam 02 with 580.28 hectares, Periyakattikulam 02 with 1,301.07 hectares, Periyamadu 02 with 800.86 hectares, Puliyankulam 02 with 135.51 hectares, Puthukulam 02 covering 186.97 hectares, and Vannivilankulam 02, which spans 922.49 hectares.

Meanwhile, in the Anuradhapura District, five forests were gazetted as reserves, including Thambuttegama Habarawatta covering 43.99 hectares, Kandulegama spanning 46.32 hectares, a 40.78-hectare forest area in Medawachchiya, Musnawa covering 17.84 hectares, and the Naegama Forest, which extends across 190.28 hectares.

Forest conservation today is about far more than protecting trees. These ecosystems serve as natural water towers, carbon sinks, climate regulators and critical habitats for countless species, while also helping reduce soil erosion and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Environment Minister Dr. Dhammika Patabendi said the declaration of these reserves is intended to deliver long-term environmental, ecological and social benefits.

"Through the declaration of these reserves, we aim to protect Sri Lanka's biodiversity, safeguard water sources and watershed areas, conserve forest cover in regions above 5,000 feet, create opportunities for eco-tourism, and preserve areas of archaeological importance found within these forests. We also seek to support elephant conservation and reduce human-elephant conflict. Our objective is to protect biodiversity, environmentally sensitive zones and wildlife habitats, including those of elephants, through active public participation and community involvement."

The conservation milestone comes at a time when ecosystems worldwide are facing increasing pressure from habitat loss, climate change and human activity. Expanding legally protected forest areas remains one of the most effective ways to preserve biodiversity while ensuring water security and environmental resilience.

Complementing the forest conservation programme, authorities also opened a Forest Conservation Museum today at the Sandathenna Forestry Institute in Nuwara Eliya, creating a new platform to promote environmental education, forest research and public awareness.

For a nation whose forests have shaped its rivers, sheltered its wildlife and sustained communities for centuries, today's gazetting of 20 new reserves represents more than a policy decision. It is a commitment to protecting some of Sri Lanka's most valuable natural treasures before they are lost forever.