Nature corridors are connections that link habitats. The Endana Nature Corridor (ENC) is 3 km long. Its purpose is to connect the fragmented Iharakanda and Walankanda Forest Reserves. This would allow threatened endemic species of plants and trees to freely migrate between habitats leading to ecological restoration and increased biodiversity. A key strategy for building the nature corridor has been by planting endemic tree species at the chosen site. To ensure the sustainable use of the forest resources and encourage preservation of forests and home gardens we have also integrated livelihood upliftment programmes.
Land use for the Endana nature corridor has been 24.3 ha taken from the Endana Tea Estate, 0.87 ha from active tea plantations and the remainder from abandoned tea lands.
The project would serve as a model for large-scale nature corridors in future within Dilmah holdings and Sri Lanka.
2018
Dilmah Founder Merill J Fernando initiated the project by uprooting tea plant that had separated the two forest reserves for over 100 years.
