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OUR VISION
OUR STRATEGY
1. Protect forests under threat
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Monitor high biodiversity areas at risk of deforestation
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Proactively engage with landowners and community to design optimum conservation solution
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Build alliance with likeminded initiatives to generate additional financial incentives for preventing deforestation
2. Plant and rewild degrading land
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Identify opportunities to regenerate degraded areas
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Work with partners to develop planting programmes for forest restoration
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Train local teams to enable project handover for community management
3. Advocate for the value of forests
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Deliver educational programmes about the environmental and wellbeing benefits of trees and forests
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Encourage a feeling of connectedness with and stewardship of forests in stakeholders from near and afar
OUR PRINCIPLES
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Place community engagement at the heart of all our projects;
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Promote human-animal cohabitation opportunities;
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Use the best available research to inform decision-making;
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Act with pace to address conservation issues;
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Invest funding carefully for maximum impact;
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Design for the long-term viability and sustainability of the projects;
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Prioritise conservation solutions with existing landowners and communities, purchasing land on behalf of the Foundation as a last resort;
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Challenge ourselves to innovate and think differently to develop creative conservation solutions;
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Hold ourselves to account and continuously review our approaches to ensure we always meet the highest standards.
PROGRESS SO FAR
3ha
restored
of degraded high biodiversity value forest
550
trees planted
primarily species endemic to Sri Lanka
70%
survival rate
through effective sapling care by our team
$4K
donations
to the Forest Healing Foundation in 2019
30+
local families
supported by community shop initiative
OUR HISTORY
2017
2ha of degraded forest is purchased for restoration, called the Bululand project, and planting begins
2019
Forest Healing Foundation established as a registered non-profit organisation in Sri Lanka
2020
Urgent need identified to protect adjacent forest and fundraising/awareness raising campaign launched
2010
Tree planting program initiated in Polwaththa
2018
Bululand project continues and species growth is carefully monitored
2019
Community shop and yoga retreats set up to help fund ongoing forest regeneration work in Bululand
OUR FOUNDERS
Henk Kieft
Co-founder
Henk is a technical expert in sustainable agriculture and rural development with a special focus on soil and water conservation
Nihal Ellegala
Co-founder
Nihal is an experienced sustainable tourism specialist with a passion for conservation and community development
OUR BOARD
The Forest Healing Foundation is governed by a Board who’s members also include key figures in the local community, such as the village officer Grama Niladhari and the local Buddhist priest.
The team are also supported by an advisory group of professionals in the fields of agronomy, forestry and project management.