Bio-diversity

Ruk Rakaganno will focus their project on creating a resource centre in the IFS-Popham Dambulla Arboretum. The Arboretum is situated in Dambulla, which is located in the dry heartland of Sri Lanka. After Sri Lanka reached independence in 1948, much of the area s forest was cleared for rice and chena cultivation. The Arboretum was then established and Sam Popham, the initial owner, had begun to reinstate the original dry zone forest after he acquired the property. This was done by clearing the scrub jungle and then protecting the seedlings that still exist from the former semi-evergreen forests so that they may grow and flourish. The Arboretum is unique as it is the only one of its kind in a dry zone and protects valuable wildlife. However, the Arboretum has faced some issues with villagers coming to the Arboretum in order to collect firewood. A community-based conservation strategy has become necessary to overcome this problem. Ruk Rakaganno plans to protect the Arboretum and its rare dry zone biodiversity by creating an education and resource centre, in order to improve the knowledge of the community on the value of the Arboretum. The resource centre will also be used for the benefit of school children, educating them on tree conservation. Additionally, the project intends to regenerate the woodlands and will also establish a nursery. The project is tourism to increase tourism, both local and foreign, to its Arboretum in order to create a sustainable source of income. The project not only hopes to succeed in preserving the Arboretum as a unique example of dry zone biodiversity, they also hope to increase the community s knowledge of its value and the benefits they can receive from protecting the Arboretum.

Sri lanka