Uplifting an Island

The Pearl of the Indian Ocean is using travel to support crucial social and conservation projects in one of the world’s most beautiful countries.

Words: Terri Dunbar-Curran

Endless hills blanketed in lush green tea plantations, wisps of mist curling through valleys, idyllic beaches and ornate temples attracting thousands of worshippers and travellers alike… There’s no doubt that Sri Lanka will take your breath away.

Any visitor will tell you that two of the things that make this country so special are its welcoming people and stunning natural beauty. As tourism gains steam, a growing number of organisations are leveraging the power it brings in order to preserve and uplift the elements that make Sri Lanka unique.

Planting hope

When you think of Sri Lanka, images of rolling hills and verdant tea plantations may be some of the first you conjure up. But behind these picturesque scenes, there’s important work to be done. Many of the approximately 500,000 plantation workers in Sri Lanka come from families that have lived and laboured here for generations, working long days for little pay.

A legacy of immigration and marginalisation means that the living conditions for these workers have historically been very poor, and lack of access to schooling has made it difficult for them to break the cycle.

The Tea Leaf Trust works directly within these communities, helping to uplift young people by improving their access to education and employment. Supported by tourism partners, the Trust gives the younger generation fresh opportunities, opening doors to new careers – and helping to create brighter futures for their families in the process.

One of the main ways they’re helping to effect lasting change is by improving the employability of young people, through training to improve their English language skills and professionalism in business interactions. There’s also a strong focus on mental health, which includes teaching them about resilience and providing positive coping strategies.

For many participants, the benefits of this training extend beyond employment prospects. It also helps to improve their self-worth and imparts a new sense of enthusiasm for life, which works wonders for social transformation across the broader community.

Land of the leopards

Spending time with the locals of Sri Lanka makes it clear how connected they are to the land and the astounding beauty that surrounds them. The country’s people and nature are inextricably linked, and as the Sri Lankan economy has begun to benefit from tourism, efforts are being made to ensure that the same is true for its environment.

There are many organisations and projects focused on sustainability and conservation here, each doing their part to ensure that future generations will also be able to appreciate and benefit from the country’s natural beauty.

The Sri Lankan leopard is one of the largest subspecies of leopards in the world, and is now the only large mammalian predator in the country. This species has been officially protected since 1964, but the current population is estimated at only 750–1,000 adults. However, the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic have actually had some positive outcomes for the Sri Lankan leopard and other endangered species. As the pace of modern life slowed over the past two years, nature was given some space to breathe. The resulting lack of human encroachment allowed many animal and plant species to recover. It also provided the perfect opportunity for proper conservation strategies to be implemented.

Using Tourism for Good

Two of the properties that Jacada works closely with –Resplendent Ceylon’s Wild Coast Tented Lodge in Yala National Park and Ceylon Tea Trails in tea country –have set up the Leopard Research Centre to support this work. The primary objective of this non-profit is to provide funding, facilities and logistical support for researchers and research projects focusing on Sri Lankan leopards, with a particular emphasis on longterm studies.

One major goal of this partnership is to ensure that the people who live in and around these areas understand the value and importance of the forests and the animals that inhabit them. Targeted education programmes and conservation measures have led to the removal of illegal snares and a reduction in the damage done to the forests. Additionally, wild corridors between habitats are being maintained to ensure that the leopards can move freely and avoid confrontations with humans. And because Sri Lankan leopards can be found across most of the country, any work done to conserve and protect them invariably ends up benefitting other wildlife and habitats as well.

The early signs are encouraging; camera trap footage has revealed a very healthy population of leopards living in the forested areas between Ceylon Tea Trails’ Dunkeld and Norwood bungalows. With the continued work of the Leopard Research Centre the hope is that these incredible creatures will go from strength to strength, and as anyone who has been lucky enough to see one up close will attest, that is a cause well worth fighting for.

Visit the tea plantations and support leopard conservation on your trip to Sri Lanka. rachel@jacadatravel.com