In collaboration with the MAAS Group, TERN is restoring 50 acres of degraded dry-zone forest in Suduweliara, Hambegamuwa. Located next to the Wetahirakanda Elephant Corridor, this land is a vital movement pathway for elephants and home to leopards, deer, wild boar, and many other species. The project focuses on invasive plant removal, assisted natural regeneration, and selective replanting with native species, while establishing a community-run nursery to support restoration and livelihoods. It also provides hands-on research and training opportunities for students, practitioners, and local communities. By transforming abandoned farmland into a thriving ecosystem, Suduweli Ara will serve as a biodiversity corridor, living classroom, and community conservation model for Sri Lanka’s dry zone.

Protected areas are the backbone of biodiversity conservation, yet wildlife does not recognize administrative boundaries. Animals often move in and out of reserves, relying on surrounding landscapes as corridors, feeding grounds, and refuges. Managing these human-dominated buffer landscapes is therefore critical, not only for wildlife survival, but also for reducing conflict and enhancing ecosystem services such as carbon storage, water retention, and soil fertility.
In Sri Lanka’s dry zone, vast tracts of abandoned chena (shifting cultivation) fields and degraded scrublands surround national parks. Left unmanaged, these areas become dominated by invasive plants such as Lantana and Eupatorium, losing their ecological value and leaving both wildlife and people vulnerable. But with careful restoration, these lands can be transformed into thriving habitats that support biodiversity, reduce human–wildlife conflict, and provide education and livelihood opportunities for local communities. The Suduweli Ara Forest Restoration Project, jointly implemented by TERN and the MAAS Group, is one such effort. Covering 50 acres in Hambegamuwa, just outside the Wetahirakanda Elephant Corridor and close to Lunugamwehera and Udawalawe National Parks, this site is a vital movement pathway for elephants and home to a remarkable diversity of species.

Why Suduweli Ara?

The Suduweli Ara site lies at a conservation crossroads. Surrounded on three sides by shifting agriculture and large-scale farms, it forms a narrow but essential connection to the Wetahirakanda corridor.
Biodiversity surveys and local observations reveal the land is regularly used by elephants, especially at night, as well as spotted deer, sambar, wild buffalo, wild boar, leopards, civets, mongoose, and numerous bird species. Without intervention, however, the land risked being cleared or degraded beyond recovery.
By securing, restoring, and managing this site, TERN and MAAS are ensuring it continues to function as a corridor, refuge, and study forest — protecting wildlife while benefiting people.

Project Objectives and Outcomes

Objective 1: Ecological Restoration

Restore 50 acres of degraded land to enhance habitat quality, biodiversity, and ecosystem services.

•    Outputs:
o    Invasive species cleared and controlled.
o    Native dry-zone vegetation regenerating through Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR).
o    Selected replanting with native species; grasslands opened for foraging.
o    Waterholes maintained for wildlife use.

•    Outcomes:
o    Enhanced biodiversity and improved ecosystem function.
o    Increased carbon sequestration capacity.
o    Safer wildlife movement across the corridor.

Objective 2: Education, Research, and Community Engagement

Use the site as a living laboratory for students, researchers, and local communities.

•    Outputs:
o    Individuals trained annually through field courses, workshops, and outreach.
o    Biodiversity databases generated through repeated surveys.
o    Community nursery established for native plants.

•    Outcomes:
o    Students and practitioners gain hands-on conservation experience.
o    Communities build skills in sustainable land management.
o    New scientific data informs restoration strategies in Sri Lanka.

Key Activities

Ecological Restoration
•    Boundary demarcation and baseline biodiversity surveys (using drones, GPS mapping, and camera traps).
•    Mapping and phased removal of invasive species.
•    Establishing monitoring plots and transects to track vegetation recovery.
•    Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) and selective replanting with drought-resistant native trees.
•    Establishing a community-run plant nursery for restoration and livelihood support.

Education and Research
•    Biodiversity checklists and monitoring programs co-designed with university students.
•    Capacity-building workshops for schoolchildren, undergraduates, and local community leaders.
•    Collaborative research projects on restoration ecology, invasive species management, and human–elephant coexistence.
•    Outreach campaigns to discourage illegal activities harmful to wildlife.

 

Project Phases

1.    Baseline Assessment 

o    Flora and fauna surveys, soil and hydrology studies, and community consultations.
o    Stakeholder mapping and engagement.

2.    Invasive Plant Management 

o    Removal of lantana, eupatorium, and other invasive species.
o    Protection of natural seedlings through ANR techniques.
o    Launch of the native plant nursery.
3.    Replanting and Habitat Enrichment 
o    Planting of native species in degraded patches.
o    Creation of waterholes and shelter zones for wildlife.
o    Community-led monitoring of regeneration success.

Who Benefits?

The Suduweli Ara project creates triple impact:
•    Ecological: A restored dry-zone forest that functions as a corridor for elephants and other wildlife, improves soil and water systems, and increases biodiversity resilience.
•    Educational: A field site for students, researchers, and conservation practitioners to gain practical skills in restoration ecology, biodiversity monitoring, and community-based conservation.
•    Community: Training, awareness programs, and a nursery initiative that provide sustainable livelihoods while reducing pressures on the land.

 

Looking Ahead

The restored Suduweli Ara Forest will stand as a model for community-integrated forest restoration in Sri Lanka’s dry zone. By documenting ecological change, sharing lessons through scientific publications, and training the next generation of conservationists, TERN and MAAS aim to scale this work across other degraded landscapes.
Ultimately, the project is not only about saving 50 acres of land. It is about reconnecting habitats, reducing conflict, and proving that people and wildlife can thrive together when restoration is placed at the heart of conservation.