Protecting Sri Lanka’s Forests - Understanding and Combating Deforestation

Join the Movement to Preserve Our Natural Heritage

Sri Lanka’s forests are more than just a collection of trees they are vibrant ecosystems, rich in biodiversity, and essential to the balance of our environment. These forests are home to some of the world’s rarest and most unique flora and fauna, providing critical habitats that sustain life in all its forms. They are also deeply intertwined with the livelihoods, culture, and heritage of local communities.

However, this invaluable natural heritage is under severe threat. Rapid deforestation, driven by illegal logging, agricultural expansion, and unsustainable development, is leading to the devastating loss of forest cover. As the forests disappear, so do the species that call them home, the climate regulation they provide, and the countless benefits they offer to humanity.

We cannot stand by and watch as Sri Lanka’s forests vanish. This is a call to action for all who value our planet and its future!

Key Statistics 

• Sri Lanka has lost approximately 30% of its forest cover in the past few decades.
  
  
• Over 60 species of animals and plants in Sri Lanka are currently classified as endangered due to habitat loss.
  
  
• Illegal logging and land conversion for agriculture are the primary drivers of deforestation, affecting over 1.5 million hectares of forest land.
  
  
• Sri Lanka’s Forest coverage has declined from 44% in 1956 to just 29% in 2023.
  
  
• The country loses an average of 15,000 hectares of forest annually, impacting climate regulation and biodiversity.

Deforestation in Sri Lanka 

Let’s unite to protect our forests, our wildlife, and our future!