John Keells commemorates World Environment Day with reforestation project

Friday, 6 June 2014 03:12 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

John Keells Foundation and Tea Smallholder Factories PLC (TSF) – both subsidiaries of John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH), Sri Lanka’s largest conglomerate, together with the Carbon Consulting Company Ltd. (CCC) initiated a community-based reforestation project. This project is in line with the triple-bottom line commitment of JKH and aligned with the environment focus area of the Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. The project which is planned to cover an extent exceeding 15 acres of land, will focus on site specific restoration and replanting, and is expected to enhance the microclimate of the identified areas while resultant habitat restoration will enhance biodiversity, protect core forest reserves and enhance soil quality, soil conservation and prevent soil erosion. In addition, members of the community involved with the project will directly be benefited through community engagement whilst improving livelihoods through the monthly allowance paid to them for the maintenance of the plants in the short term as well as the commercial value of cash crops in the longer term.

Tea smallholders living in the vicinity of Hingalgoda, Neluwa, Kurupanawa and Halwitigala tea factories located in the Udugama and Hiniduma areas were appraised on current global warming issues and the benefits of the tree planting project by the staff of CCC and TSF. Prior to planting the saplings, CCC conducted a further awareness session in March at the Halvitigala Tea Factory. The consultants and smallholders had a detailed discussion on good farming practices and aspects pertaining chosen plant varieties. Under the initial phase of the project 3,000 saplings were distributed to 32 smallholders of the Halwitigala Hingalgoda, Neluwa and Kurupanawa in May. For more information on the JKH CSR initiatives please refer www.keells.com