Atalugama, Kanangama
Kanangama, a 19-acre property in Dehiowita, Kegalle District, marks the 30th site under the PLANT initiative. Located in Sri Lanka’s wet zone, this site lies within the Indian Tropical Coastal Forest Bioregion (IM2)- a globally significant ecological zone that includes the Sri Lanka Lowland and Montane Rainforests.
These forests are part of the Western Ghats–Sri Lanka Biodiversity Hotspot, known for exceptional levels of endemism and ecological richness.
The site is situated near the village of Atulugama and close to notable natural landmarks such as the Timbiripola Forest Reserve, Handamona Mountain, and Boralankanda, placing it within a mosaic of forested and freshwater habitats. It also lies within the Kelani River Basin, a biodiversity-rich watershed that supports over 60 freshwater fish species, including 30 endemics. The basin is ecologically vital but faces threats from pollution, habitat fragmentation, and invasive species, making conservation efforts here especially urgent.
This newly protected site strengthens the PLANT network in the region, complementing nearby conservation efforts at Minuwan Ella, Deraniyagala, where biodiversity surveys have recorded 145 endemic species. The Kanangama site is also recognized as a High Biodiversity Area under the Global Safety Net, a global blueprint for protecting critical ecosystems and stabilizing Earth’s climate.
The land was connected to PLANT through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Mr. Premal De Mel, joining a growing community of landowners committed to ecological restoration. The site will focus on freshwater ecosystem protection, native forest regeneration, and biodiversity monitoring, with potential to serve as a refuge for range-restricted species and contribute to long-term landscape connectivity.
