The Environment Ministry has launched the ‘Vanaspathi’ national programme with the goal of increasing Sri Lanka’s forest cover and strengthening environmental protection. As part of its first phase, 20 forests located on state lands in the Moneragala and Ampara districts will be declared as forest reserves.
Deputy Environment Minister Anton Jayakody announced that the initiative involves identifying forest areas of five hectares or more in every district, with particular focus on mountain peak regions due to their ecological importance.
Sri Lanka’s forest cover, which ideally should be 32% of the total land area, has dropped to 28%, according to figures from the Forest Conservation Department. The Vanaspathi programme aims to restore and expand forest coverage to meet the recommended target through strategic conservation measures and the formal designation of reserves.
