TERN conducts research in Sri Lanka’s protected areas to support evidence-based conservation. Using tools like camera traps, threat assessments, and visitor surveys, we study wildlife populations, habitat use, human impacts, and ecosystem pressures. Our work informs sustainable management and helps safeguard the country’s rich biodiversity for future generations.

Protected areas are critical refuges for threatened species and natural ecosystem processes, yet they face increasing pressures from human activities. Sri Lanka, one of the world’s 34 biodiversity hotspots, hosts rich biodiversity but also faces high conservation threats. Its 501 protected areas  including World Heritage Sites like Sinharaja Forest Reserve, conservation forests such as the Knuckles Mountain Range, national parks, sanctuaries, and strict nature reserves are managed by the Department of Forest Conservation and the Department of Wildlife Conservation. These areas contribute not only to biodiversity protection but also to recreation, ecotourism, education, and scientific research.
However, effective management is challenged by resource limitations, inadequate knowledge transfer, unplanned land use, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict. At TERN, we support the conservation of protected areas by conducting and facilitating research within the legal framework and with permission from the relevant authorities. Our work includes:

• Wildlife ecology and monitoring: Conducting studies to understand species populations, distributions, habitat use, and interspecies associations, including ongoing camera-trapping projects on leopards, sloth bears, elephants, and other key species.
• Threat assessment: Documenting, quantifying, and synthesizing pressures on protected areas, such as wildlife crimes, invasive species, and resource deficiencies.
• Visitor and resource use studies: Researching human interactions with protected areas through surveys and perception studies to inform sustainable management.
• Through these efforts, TERN provides the scientific basis needed for evidence-driven management and the long-term safeguarding of Sri Lanka’s protected areas.