2023 Year-End Update from Rainforest Protectors Trust
In 2023, Rainforest Protectors Trust purchased and permanently protected an additional 6 acres of privately held primary forest adjoining Sinharaja World Heritage Rainforest in Sri Lanka as part of its long-term project to create a "Protected Buffer Zone". Having raised only 10% of the required funds and time running out, an individual donor came forward to contribute the balance and save the forest from being clearcut. With this acquisition and conversion of private forest land into conservation forest, Rainforest Protectors Trust has added a total of 30 acres of primary forest to the Protected Buffer Zone. Through the creation of the Protected Buffer Zone, we will be able to significantly reduce encroachment and illegal activities including poaching and deforestation within Sinharaja World Heritage Rainforest.
Acquisition and conservation of unprotected primary forest land such as above is the single most effective method of preventing extinction of the endemic and endangered birds and freshwater fish found here such as the Sri Lanka Blue Magpie (Urocissa ornata), Sri Lanka Red Faced Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus Pyrrhocephalus), Sri Lanka Cuming's Barb (Pethia cumingii), Sri Lanka Black Ruby Barb (Pethia nigrofasciata), Sri Lanka Lipstick Goby (Sicyopus jonklaasi) and the last 2 remaining Rainforest Elephants in Sinharaja as well as a small and elusive population of the endangered Sri Lankan Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya). Looking forward to 2024 and beyond, we have 3 major initiatives.
1. Purchase of a suitable property to establish a Rainforest Conservation and Education Center.
2. Monitoring and safeguarding the Protected Buffer Zone.
3. Expanding the conservation of additional unprotected forest lands bordering Sinharaja Rainforest.
We wish to thank all our donors and supporters for your contributions. With several thousand acres of primary forest in the area still remaining unprotected, we are just at the begining stages of this conservation initiative. As we progress on protecting threatened rainforests, we are also taking steps to ensure these habitats stay protected in perpetuity through frequent monitoring. "Rainforest Guardians" are at the heart of this vital effort, hired from the surrounding community and trained to monitor the protected area. We hope you will continue to support us in 2024 and help recruit your friends and family join and be part of this conservation story.
