Journeys With Purpose invites guests to connect with the conservation initiatives working to preserve Sri Lanka for future generations
Journeys With Purpose launched their first journey to Sri Lanka this year in partnership with Conservation Collective (CC) and Lanka Environment Fund (LEF). The journey will introduce guests to the outstanding conservation projects that ensure the long-term survival of one of the world’s favourite destinations. Guests will have unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to three distinct environmental programmes spanning marine preservation, habitat restoration and wildlife corridor implementation. The small group will be hosted by Sri Lankan conservationist and Executive Director of Lanka Environment Fund, Vinod Malwatte, for the duration of their journey. Guests will have a series of encounters with the extraordinary stewards conducting this critical work across the island and the magnificent wildlife they protect.
“Sri Lanka is a treasured destination, known to most for its beautiful stretches of tropical beach and fascinating culture, but there is much more to learn from this small island,” said Duncan Grossart, Founder of Journeys With Purpose. “We’re determined to shine a light on the extraordinary projects, places and pioneers, whose work demonstrates real positive impact on our world and its inhabitants. Sri Lanka is a remarkable example of how small passionate organisations can work together to influence a whole nation.”
Guests will meet Hafsa Jamel and Dinithi Samaratunga, Project Leads at the MARESSOL project on Mannar Island to see firsthand the startling volume of fishing debris that is washed ashore on the coastlines of the Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka, and discover the impact this has on the native wildlife including the critically endangered dugong, hawksbill turtle, and finless porpoise. Hafsa and Dinithi will introduce the group to the community initiatives that work to protect this crucial nutrient-rich ecosystem, recognised as one of the world’s most productive fisheries.
“If Sri Lanka, one of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots, is to prosper in the long-term as a wildlife tourism destination, the natural resources that draw travellers around the world need to be protected and preserved,” said Jade Brudenell, Executive Director of Conservation Collective. “Charismatic megafauna, such as elephants and leopards, are subject to human-wildlife conflict and habitat loss, and their delicate populations are gradually decreasing. We’re so delighted to showcase the inspirational work of dedicated local heroes restoring nature thanks to funds and hands-on support from the Lanka Environment Fund.”
Visit Project Wasgamuwa, a Habitat Restoration Project working to remove two species of invasive aquatic alien species (IAAS) within Wasgamuwa National Park, one of the island’s most underrated yet picturesque National Parks. The extensive spread of IAAS within reservoirs negatively affects these aquatic habitats and inhibits the ability for wildlife to access sources of water, thereby potentially pushing them to venture outside the jurisdiction of the National Park, increasing the human-wildlife interactions. Guests will accompany IAAS expert and Project Lead, Yohan Weerasuriya, to conduct a wildlife survey at one of the reservoirs restored through this project and meet the rural communities who are restoring this environment.
“By creating optimal habitats for wildlife to thrive within National Parks, we hope to reduce the need for animals to roam outside the Protected Area network, which can potentially lead to negative human-wildlife interactions,” said Executive Director of Lanka Environment Fund, Vinod Malwatte. “Through engaging the local community, we are not only offering livelihood support but also fostering a deeper sense of environmental stewardship amongst these populations.”
Land use change, development and human encroachment have drastically reduced wilderness areas in Sri Lanka, especially within the Central Highlands. The Corridors For Conservation Project is working to restore vital networks to ensure the long-term survival of ecosystems and wildlife that relies on it, in particular the island's highland leopard population. Guests will join Conservation Biologists and Project Leads, Anjali Watson and Dr Andrew Kittle, as they move through Sri Lanka’s lesser-trodden highlands to check the remote cameras and scan the landscapes for scat samples. Community engagement is a key factor in the success of these projects and guests will be introduced to the tea estate communities, including the 'Forest Guardians', a group of ambitious school children, to learn how community engagement and education programmes can reduce human-wildlife conflict and establish local guardians of this globally-important ecosystem.
Throughout their visit, guests will spend time with and learn from the stewards working to preserve the island on the ground. Guests will share lunch with biodiversity conservationist, Dr Jinie Dela, and learn about her latest project to protect the critically endangered western, purple-faced langur endemic to Sri Lanka, and its habitats. Over an insightful dinner, Environmental Architect, Sunela Jayewardene, will share how conscious use of materials by upcycling can profoundly impact the environments we inhabit and the importance of sustainable development, particularly in such a fragile ecosystem.
Guests will visit Sri Lanka’s many historic sites alongside these remarkable encounters with conservationists, including private tours of Anuradhapura Heritage Site, the ancient Sinhalese city, and The Temple of the Tooth Relic in the hill capital, Kandy. There will be time in the walking trails of the tea country and among the tropical wilderness of Sri Lanka’s varied ecosystems.
The exclusive 8-day all-inclusive journey through three diverse landscapes in Sri Lanka is charged at $15,597 USD per person based on two sharing. This includes full board accommodation and all ground arrangements and activities per the itinerary. Vinod Malwatte of Lanka Environment Fund, Conservation Collective and Journeys With Purpose will host guests throughout. The price includes a 25% Impact Pledge to the hosting organisations. The price excludes international flights.
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