KVPL pioneers collaborative approach to safeguard vital Weoya watershed

Kelani Valley Plantations PLC (KVPL) recently announced a significant expansion of its Kelani Valley Protectors Initiative (KVPI), a ground-breaking environmental conservation program aimed at safeguarding the vital Weoya catchment area of the Kelani River, marking a pivotal step in KVPL’s commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship.

As part of an expansion to the initiative that began in 2022 in support of the government’s “Surakimu Ganga” program, KVPI has now introduced a novel green investment model, inviting external parties to sponsor native tree species. The project is carried out in partnership with several notable stakeholders, including the IUCN, the Divisional Secretariats, Forest Department, Department of Wildlife Conservation, health-related agencies, and the Central Environmental Authority. 

KVPL has gone beyond the initial objectives of protecting the water source by ensuring the key three parameters such as drinking water, bathing water and aquatic water quality, and to upscale the initiative for protecting sensitive catchment areas by planting native tree species. In addition to the above key objectives, the initiative has moved beyond the boundaries to represent it’s impact on social and community empowerment, especially in to a sustainable knowledge management model, by introducing ‘Green Clubs’ in the school network in the area. The members of these ‘Green Clubs’ are the children from this own community, and they are actively transforming the science based new knowledge in the catchment conservation and water stewardship in to the community who are living and depend on this water sources. 

The initiative has taking forward with sustainable partnerships with various state, private, NGOs/ INGOs sector organisations such as UN volunteers, Central Environmental Authority, Forest Department, Advantis 3PL, Control Union Inspections Ltd., Hirdaramani International Exports Ltd., as few examples. These partnerships extend beyond financial support for restoring biodiversity in Weoya catchment, with volunteers actively cleaning the Weoya catchment and strengthening local Green Clubs.

As part of the reforestation and conservation efforts within this program, as at now, successfully planted 6,500 native trees, including a diverse mix of species such as Kumbuk, Ma Dan, Mee, Waa, Kohomba, Naimbul, and Kaduru. This initiative has been made possible through the dedication of volunteers, who have contributed over 2,000 hours across seven programs.

These collective efforts underline the initiative’s role in combating deforestation and enhancing the region’s ecological resilience.

“We are expanding upon and improving the traditional scope of corporate social responsibility, and the Kelani Valley Protectors Initiative embodies our commitment to collaborative action. By inviting stakeholders to participate in safeguarding the Weoya catchment area, we’re fostering a shared commitment to our planet’s future and the communities reliant on these crucial water resources. We believe the path to a sustainable Sri Lanka is one we must walk together, and KVPI represents our first steps towards this greener future,” said Hayleys Plantations Managing Director Dr. Roshan Rajadurai.

Under the new model, sponsors can contribute financially for Rs. 850 per plant basis, including cost of the native plant and maintenance cost for first three years native plant, with KVPL taking full responsibility for the procurement, planting, and three-year nurturing of native species, ensuring the long-term viability of the reforestation efforts while providing partners with a tangible way to fulfil their corporate social responsibility goals while contributing to global reforestation efforts.

KVPI’s holistic approach to conservation encompasses several vital objectives, focusing on adopting nature-based solutions to address environmental challenges and enhance the area’s health and resilience. The approach also supports Public-Private-People Partnerships in establishing a replicable model for sustainable catchment protection in alignment with the broader objectives of the initiative. Additionally, to ensure the long-term sustainable growth of the project, KVPL’s approach also includes implementing a robust Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) system to ensure continuous improvement and adaptation of conservation strategies.

A cornerstone of KVPI’s community engagement efforts is the establishment of Green Clubs in schools within the Weoya and Kelani River areas. These clubs, created in partnership with the Central Environmental Authority, the Forest Department, and IUCN, serve as vital platforms for environmental education and youth engagement. Through awareness campaigns and interactive activities, students are empowered to become advocates for environmental and social change within their communities.

“Our expanded KVPI model strategically incorporates several key components such as industry partnerships, tree planting initiatives, and the formation of Green Clubs. These clubs are more than extracurricular activities; they’re nurturing grounds for tomorrow’s environmental leaders – through engaging youth in critical issues of water quality and ecosystem health, we’re not only ensuring the longevity of our conservation efforts but also instilling vital values of sustainability and environmental stewardship in the next generation. This approach equips them with the knowledge and passion needed to drive Sri Lanka’s sustainable development forward,” said KVPL Director/CEO Anura Weerakoon.

The KVPI’s focus on the Weoya catchment is particularly significant given the Kelani River’s crucial role in sustaining life throughout the region. By improving water quality and raising awareness about pollution prevention, the initiative directly benefits local villagers while contributing to broader environmental goals.

“Kelani Valley Protectors Initiative (KVPI), identified now as KVPLs flagship environmental sustainability initiative and this multi-stakeholder initiative is a key contributor for achieving water conservation and water stewardship related goals in our EESG- Sustainability framework, ‘The KVPLs Corporate DNA,’ which is the dynamic strategic framework towards our 2030 agenda on UNSDGs,” added KVPL General Manager – HR and Corporate Sustainability Dr. Anuruddha Gamage.

In addition, KVPL recently became the first tea estate in the world to achieve the highly prestigious ‘regenagri’ certificate for Regenerative Agriculture certification for their Halgolla estate, where they also notably established the world’s first biodiversity conservation and knowledge sustainability centre and proposed a ground-breaking intellectual tourism model, in alignment with the Central Environmental Authority, Forestry Department, and Department of Wildlife partnership with Sri Lankan and foreign stakeholders including best ranked universities and well-renewed scientists.