Valuation of Ecosystem Services for Driving Community-assisted Forest Landscape Restoration in Endane Biodiversity Corridor, Sri Lanka

In the human-dominated southwest Sri Lanka, a forest landscape restoration project linking a peripheral forest reserve to Sinharaja Rainforest Complex was established. The study found that the Endane Biodiversity Corridor provides ecosystem services valued at 6,465 USD per hectare annually in 2021, totaling 382,362 USD for its 59.3 hectares. This value includes provisioning (1,950 USD/ha), supporting (645 USD/ha), regulating (3,807 USD/ha), and cultural services (38.8 USD/ha). Species-rich home gardens were found to generate significantly higher provisioning services compared to tea monocultures. The study highlights the potential for enhancing biodiversity in monoculture tea gardens and home gardens through agroforestry and enrichment planting, offering a strategy for community-assisted forest restoration. This approach is crucial for financing and encouraging local participation in conservation efforts.

Madawala M.M.G.I.N.M.B., Rajasooriya P.G.C.L., Fernando A.P.S., Perera A., Gunatilleke I.A.U.N., Nanayakkara S., & Geekiyanage N. (2024). Valuation of Ecosystem Services for Driving Community-assisted Forest Landscape Restoration in Endane Biodiversity Corridor, Sri Lanka. Proceedings of International Forestry and Environment Symposium, 27. https://doi.org/10.31357/fesympo.v27.6955