The ambitious 3rd phase of our reforestation programme seeks to bring the ‘green’ back to Yala Buffer Zone; vast tracks of land across the river. Tell-tale signs of a great civilization remain exposed to the elements in this area as it converges with the forest cover of Yala National Park – Sri Lanka’s most famous wildlife park – known to be among the best outside of Africa.

Deforestation has cleared most of the forest, even crossing the boundaries of the Yala Reserve. Commercial vegetations spread afar, only momentarily handing the forest back to the wild during the dry season. That’s when elephants find their way back across the river in their search for food.