Our field courses are immersive, hands-on experiences designed for local and international students, researchers, and professionals. Each program is developed in consultation with the requesting institution, ensuring that learning outcomes, locations, budgets, and logistics are carefully aligned with expectations. TERN manages all aspects of field training, including travel planning, site access, permits, accommodation, and securing expert resource persons. Importantly, every program also provides opportunities for Sri Lankan students and conservation practitioners, ensuring long-term local benefits.

1. Annual Field Course: Ecology, Conservation and Management of Sri Lankan Ecosystems

Partner: National University of Singapore, Department of Biological Sciences (2014–2018)
Duration: 3–4 weeks

This flagship program introduced undergraduate students to the ecological richness and conservation challenges of Sri Lanka. Focusing on the southern lowlands, central montane zones, and dry zone ecosystems, the course explored a range of landscapes — from rainforests and cloud forests to dry forests and human-modified environments.

Locations included:
•    Yala and Udawalawe National Parks – dry zone ecosystems and large mammal conservation.
•    Horton Plains National Park – montane grasslands and cloud forests.
•    Sinharaja World Heritage Rainforest – lowland biodiversity hotspots.
•    Agricultural and village landscapes – understanding people–nature linkages.

Learning outcomes:
•    Hands-on training in biodiversity monitoring (birds, mammals, amphibians, butterflies, plants, dung beetles).
•    Conservation tools such as camera trapping, drone surveys, and quantitative ecological sampling.
•    Insights into forest management, ecotourism, human–wildlife conflict, and protected area governance.
•    Cross-cultural exchange between Sri Lankan experts and Singaporean students, often resulting in long-term academic collaborations.

This course became a transformative experience for many participants, offering both scientific training and cultural immersion.

2. Human–Wildlife Conflict and Ecology in Sri Lanka

Partner: University of Western Australia (2017–2018)
Course Code: ANIM2297

This program immersed UWA undergraduates in the ecological and socio-cultural dimensions of Sri Lanka’s conservation landscape, with a particular focus on human–wildlife conflict. Students engaged directly with Sri Lankan peers, researchers, and local communities, creating opportunities for collaborative fieldwork and cultural exchange.

Locations included:
•    Kalpitiya and Trincomalee – coastal ecosystems, eco-tourism, and marine biodiversity.
•    Minneriya, Girithale, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, and Yala – dry zone protected areas, cultural landscapes, and human–elephant conflict mitigation strategies.
•    Kandy and Nuwara Eliya – montane habitats, tea landscapes, and agro-biodiversity.
•    Sabaragamuwa University – student-led seminars and knowledge-sharing sessions.
Learning outcomes:
•    Understanding ecological drivers of conflict and conservation in mixed-use landscapes.
•    Exposure to community-based conservation and participatory research methods.
•    Appreciation of cultural, religious, and historical dimensions that shape conservation decisions in Sri Lanka.
•    Practical training in social surveys, biodiversity assessments, and interdisciplinary conservation approaches.

For many students, this course fostered a deeper appreciation of global conservation challenges, while strengthening ties between Australian and Sri Lankan universities.

3. Study Tour on Wildlife Management and Human–Elephant Conflict

Partner: West Bengal Forest Department, India (2019)
Program: JICA-Assisted West Bengal Forest and Biodiversity Conservation Project (WBFBCP)
Duration: 15 days

This professional training program was designed for forest officers from West Bengal to gain exposure to Sri Lanka’s approaches to wildlife management, human–elephant conflict mitigation, and biodiversity conservation.
Locations included:
•    Minneriya, Udawalawe, Yala, and Bundala National Parks – protected area management and human–elephant conflict hotspots.
•    Horowupathana Elephant Holding Ground – conflict mitigation infrastructure.
•    Girithale Wildlife Training Centre – conservation training and workshops.
•    Ampara, Hambantota, and Polonnaruwa – village-level engagement, community conflict experiences, and conservation challenges in rapidly developing landscapes.
•    Horton Plains and Nuwara Eliya – highland ecosystems and impacts of plantation agriculture.
•    Mirissa and southern coast – marine conservation, turtle hatcheries, and whale-watching-based eco-tourism.
Learning outcomes:
•    Comparative understanding of HEC mitigation between India and Sri Lanka.
•    Field-based exposure to conflict-prone communities, protected area strategies, and infrastructure solutions.
•    Direct engagement with Sri Lankan conservation officers, researchers, and NGOs.
•    Broad appreciation of integrated conservation challenges — from forests to marine ecosystems.

This study tour provided participants with actionable insights and cross-border knowledge exchange, strengthening regional collaboration in biodiversity management.