Gallpallewatta, Ratnapura District – Issengard Biosphere Reserve

A partially cultivated but largely forested 15 Acre block of land, the focus within Issengard Biosphere Reserve is on conserving and preserving existing forested areas, adding new trees and plants to enhance and expand the Forest cover over time, and to conduct biodiversity research.

Joining hands with PLANT in April 2022, the location is in the catchment of the Samanalawewa Reservoir and the forest is a disturbed, sub-montane forest, which provides a vital gateway to a much larger hillside of forested reservation. A range of species from the big cats to the smaller endemic frogs and species, all consider this property their domain. A recent project was launched where the initiative was primarily concerned with the conservation of endemic plant species that have been identified as suitable for this project in the Belihuloya area. Some villagers were selectively chosen as beneficiaries, who collect the relevant endemic plant seeds and maintain a nursery of around 800 healthy saplings. Once plants grow to a height of about two feet, they will be replanted in deforested areas and along forest roads. From this project the beneficiary species indirectly include the Golden Palm Civet, the Legge's Hawk Eagle, and the Montane Purple-face Langur, while the Haagala forest reserve will also be a reforesting location. This location receives regular visits from undergraduate study groups who focus mini research projects within the property.