Rainforest Alliance for top two Agarapatana Plantations estates

Sri Lanka is an island, 65,610 km2 in area, situated close to the southeast extremity of the Indian peninsula. Despite its relatively small size, Sri Lanka possesses a high level of biodiversity.

Biological diversity or ‘biodiversity’ is a term used to describe the variety of life on earth. It refers to the wide variety of ecosystems and living organisms: animals, plants, their habitats and their genes (Anon, 2011a).

Sri Lanka has a wide range of topographic and climatic variation and this contributes to the special features of its biodiversity.

A feature of Sri Lanka’s biodiversity is the remarkably high proportion of endemic species among its flora and fauna. Among the indigenous inland vertebrate fauna and flowering plants documented to date, nearly 40% and 30% respectively are endemic to the island (Bambaradeniya, 2004).

The region, including the Western Ghats of India and Sri Lanka, is considered one of the world’s 34 identified biodiversity ‘hot spots’ (Mittermeier et al., 2005). These ‘hot spots’ are areas that harbour an exceptionally high concentration of endemic species, but have already lost more than 75% of their primary vegetation.

Sri Lanka’s tropical rain forest ecosystem is considered as an area which is disturbed by human activity, but still exceptionally rich in animal and plant species found nowhere else. Biodiversity is extremely complex, dynamic and varied, like no other feature of the Earth. At the same time, no other feature of the Earth has been so dramatically influenced by man’s activities. By changing biodiversity, we strongly affect human well-being and the well-being of every other living creature.

The growing of tea invariably replaces biodiversity-rich tropical forests with a beautiful, but single species (monoculture). Soil erosion, competition for water, pollution from fertilisers and the requirement of firewood to fuel tea driers, are some of the main environmental concerns that accompany commercial tea cultivation.

By following the Sustainable Agriculture Network Standard, tea growers can pro-actively address social and environmental challenges. By complying with the requirements of this standard, tea estates can obtain ‘Rainforest Alliance Certification’.

Certified estates protect natural areas that contain food for wild animals or habitats for their reproduction and nurturing of offspring. These estates, their owners and inhabitants, also carry out special programs and activities for regenerating and restoring ecosystems important to wildlife.

Concurrently, the estates take measures to reduce, and eventually eliminate, the number of animals in captivity, despite traditional practices of keeping wildlife as pets in many regions of the world. Therefore, this certification is important for high quality production as well as for the conservation of biodiversity.  The process of obtaining Rainforest Certification has indeed been a very demanding exercise. The most significant outcome is the great awareness that has been created, amongst those living on the plantation, to care for and look after the valuable fauna/flora/water resources available and the environment as a whole. This has only been made possible by ongoing dialogue that has been maintained at all levels.

The establishment of buffer zones throughout the plantations, the aftercare of workers who undertake spraying, fertiliser, application, etc. and the systematic disposal of waste, have certainly enhanced the civic consciousness of all.

Dambatenne Estate

Dambatenne Estate is situated in the Badulla District in the Uva province of Sri Lanka and ranges in elevation from 1509 m to 1936 m AMSL. In terms of its elevation and   topography, Dambatenne Estate and its surrounding regions are covered with sub montane vegetation and dry patnas.

Dambatenne is indelibly etched in the history of Ceylon Tea. Thomas Lipton (later Sir Thomas) purchased the property in the 1890s and continued to own it until he passed away in the early 1930’s. Dambatenne, therefore, contributed in great measure to the building of the Lipton Tea empire and, by association, the popularity of Ceylon Tea.Today, the Dambatenne factory manufactures nearly 1.5 million kgs of Black Tea per year, which is the largest quantity  produced by any tea factory in Uva.

The teas, which sell under the ‘Bandara Eliya’ garden mark, are as much sought after as they were in the days of Sir Thomas Lipton, the prices amply testifying to this fact.

Dambatenne Estate has a total extent of 873 ha and is comprised of Bandara Eliya, Dambatenne, Deaculla, Mousakellie and Mahakanda Divisions. The Total Revenue Tea extent is 364.95ha. Besides Tea, Fuel wood (202.2ha), Thatch banks (1.00ha), Jungle/Patna (107.6ha), Water-sheds(29.1ha) and Buildings/Roads(134.8ha) make up the Total Extent. Secondary forests are observed in scattered areas. Lipton’s Seat on Dambatenne’s Bandara Eliya Division is the highest point in the Badulla district.

Dambatenne Estate is influenced by two distinct climates, which are the Uva and Wellawaya climates. Accordingly, the topographical and climatic variations of this estate make it rich in biodiversity.

Pita Ratmalie and Beauvais Estates

Pita Ratmalie and Beauvais Estates regularly supply their green leaf to the Dambatenne factory for manufacture. Accordingly, these two estates successfully participated in the certification process and duly received Rainforest Alliance Group Certification, along with Dambatenne.

Fauna and flora on Dambatenne

A recent scientific study of the fauna inhabiting Dambatenne revealed that as many as 55 species of birds, 16 species of mammals and 10 species of reptiles reside there.

Similarly, there is a variety of flora on Dambatenne’; 30 species of trees, 36 species of shrubs, 38 species of herbs, 11 species of vines and 11 species of flowers are found growing there. Many of these species are endemic to Sri Lanka. It is, therefore, seen that although the land has been under tea cultivation for more than 100 years, biodiversity has been maintained to a great extent. Rainforest Alliance Certification and its attendant educational and awareness programmes will certainly assist in sustaining and strengthening the non-negotiable bond that is required between man and nature if the environment is to be preserved for our future generations to enjoy.