Initiatives to increase forest cover kick off today

Tree planting initiatives to increase forest cover began today at the Mahamevnawa Gardens in Anuradhapura.

The event was headed by Environment, Wildlife, Land, and Land Development Minister S. M. Chandrasena and similar initiatives were launched simultaneously throughout the island with the support of Environment State Minister Jayantha Samaraweera and Wildlife State Minister Wimalaweera Dissanayake, as well as Local Government institutions. Forest Conversation Department, Wildlife Conservation Department, Central Environmental Authority, and Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority are among the State institutions providing the necessary plants for these initiatives.

In accordance to environment policy outlined in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s election manifesto, the forest cover of the country, which is currently at 29%, is to be increased to 32% within the year through the “Hadena Ratata – Wadena Gasak” program.