A $3.5 million GEF-funded project is helping protect the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Central Highlands of Sri Lanka are gaining new international backing to protect one of the island’s most biodiverse landscapes. A $3.5 million project funded by the Global Environment Facility is helping the government strengthen conservation across this UNESCO World Heritage site. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is leading the effort with local partners.
Rising above 900 meters, the highlands host montane rainforests and grasslands found nowhere else in Sri Lanka. Nearly 60% of the country’s known species live within this region. Nine major rivers originate here, supplying drinking water, supporting agriculture, and generating hydropower for millions of people.
The forests shelter rare and threatened wildlife alongside common species. The western purple-faced langur, the Horton Plains slender loris, and the Sri Lankan leopard all depend on these habitats. Protecting the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka therefore means protecting species found nowhere else on the planet.
Habitat loss, unsustainable tourism, and climate change now threaten this landscape. Conservationists also report growing conflict between wildlife and nearby communities. In 2025, assessors rated the site’s conservation outlook as of significant concern, a decline from an earlier review.
That rating now shapes how partners set priorities on the ground. Teams are targeting invasive species and habitat fragmentation in key areas. Popular sites such as Horton Plains National Park and Peak Wilderness face particular pressure from tourism.
Protected areas remain central to conservation work in the highlands. Officials are using the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool to assess how well parks are managed. Results are guiding updated management plans and stronger coordination between government agencies.
Two flagship sites, Horton Plains and Peak Wilderness, are being prepared for a global recognition called the Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas. This standard honors sites that combine effective management with fair governance. Meeting its criteria would mark a major milestone for Sri Lankan conservation.
Conservation cannot stop at official park boundaries in a landscape covered by tea estates. The project introduces measures called Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures, which recognize conservation value on private land. Remnant forest patches inside tea plantations are being protected to shelter endemic species while keeping production running.
Conservation in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka is extending beyond park boundaries into private tea estates, where remnant forest patches are being protected to shelter endemic species without halting production. Photo courtesy of UNESCO.
Working closely with plantation companies and smallholders, organizers are mapping which private lands already support healthy ecosystems. This approach expands the network of protected and conserved areas around the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka. It also contributes to a global goal of conserving 30 percent of the world’s land by 2030.
Scientists are also drawing on global data to sharpen local decisions. Information from the Red List of Threatened Species helps identify which habitats and species need attention first. Many amphibians, reptiles, and plants in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka exist nowhere else on Earth, as the UNESCO World Heritage Center confirms.
A new centralized knowledge management system now shares this research with government agencies and communities. The goal is to keep conservation decisions grounded in current evidence rather than guesswork. Long-term monitoring will track whether habitats and species respond to these interventions over time.
Supporting nature goes hand in hand with supporting people in this project. Tea plantation workers and rural families often face limited income options. New initiatives include agroforestry, sustainable farming, home gardens, and community-run ecotourism.
Cleaner cooking fuel options are also reducing pressure on nearby forests for firewood. Organizers are placing special focus on training women and young people as conservation leaders. These efforts aim to build local ownership of the highlands’ long-term future.
The Central Highlands of Sri Lanka now offer a model for blending global tools with local action. Protected areas are getting stronger, working landscapes are joining the effort, and communities are shaping their own path forward. If it succeeds, this project could show how a small island nation protects an irreplaceable heritage site while lifting the people who call it home.
