Addressing conservation challenges through female entrepreneurship: Paradigm shift

The selected nursery managers  Samindhika,  Chandanie Devi, Anoja Kumari, A.G. Anoja and Rasika 

WNPS PLANT, Otter Fonds from Netherland and the Lanka Environment Fund (LEF) have joined hands to empower female entrepreneurs to commence their own forest plant nurseries through a powerful groundbreaking initiative. 

The awarding was held with the recipients, the WNPS and PLANT teams, along with the donor representatives, recently. The WNPS is once again pioneered a fresh thought process by making major infusions into Community aspects and entrepreneurship as a conservation bridge.

With a vision to develop forest corridors and unify fragmented forests through private sector engagement, the WNPS set up Preserving Land and Nature (Guarantee) Ltd., (PLANT) a few years ago. The initiative gained rapid momentum but soon hit a massive roadblock. The long forest corridors being created needed way more montane plants than were available. Species are carefully selected and with no precedence of large-scale reforesting in the hills, the existing few nurseries were struggling. The slow growth rate of montane plants provided yet another challenge. The leadership went for a bold plan for which it sought willing donors. 

The idea was multi-dimensional: seek out female talent who would be passionate about conservation, fund them and train them extensively in forest nursery management and entrepreneurship, ensure that the returns would be faster and provide a safety net by purchasing the output. The projects will accelerate several successful ventures which would also bring a financial infusion into multiple families.

Otter Fonds and the LEF both lent tremendous support and willingly agreed to fund 3 and 2 entrepreneurs respectively. A wide-ranging search, a robust application process, multiple days of visiting prospects, meticulous marking and a rigorous final interview, resulted in the ultimate choices. WNPS President Graham Marshall said: “This project by WNPS PLANT resonates with what the WNPS as a Society would want to achieve as outcomes of conservation initiatives. Livelihood enhancement is critical in any conservation effort. This project is special because it is about empowerment, creating leaders, and independence of women in conservation.”

The personal stories the ladies are inspirational. A.G.Anoja from Ginigathhena, is a housewife and motivated community member with a strong interest in home gardening and native plant restoration. At 63, she brings both life experience and genuine enthusiasm. Her determination stemmed from a comment made by her son, where he was encouraging her to “try and earn her own income.”

 She says she became determined to carve out a path towards financial independence. Chandanie Devi, a 60-year-old from Divithotawela near Welimada, had her husband passing away a few years ago. Her life had been a challenging journey of dependency, living with her daughter and grandchild whom she cares for, while her son-in-law acted as the income earner. Her extended family is engaged in plant propagation, and she mentioned that, “a stable income will uplift her entire family circle and give her confidence and positivity for the future.”

M.G.K. Samandhika, a 55-year-old from Diganatenna near Bandarawela, brings hands-on experience to restoration. Already involved in agriculture and nursery work from her home garden, she has extended family in this field. Her husband is paralysed, they have three children, and this initiative provides financial stability and releases her from having to search daily for gainful labour work to keep the home fires burning. Anoja Kumari, from Marakkayakumbura, near Nawalapitiya, is an experienced community member with a strong interest in cultivation and plant restoration. She brings valuable agricultural knowledge and practical skills. Her husband is engaged in vegetable farming, and she has three children. 

R.M. Rasika Priyanthi, a 44-year-old from Pebotuwa, in the Ratnapura District, is an experienced nursery grower with a strong grounding in both fruit propagation and plant restoration. The family’s longstanding involvement in plant propagation has ensured strong practical expertise. The small margins on some of the fruit and other trees they sell would often mean limited income streams for them. This will now be a new lifeline for her.

Otter Fonds Grants Manager Amy McCulla was very positive. “The Otter Fonds is proud to collaborate with PLANT on this innovative project to empower local women to become entrepreneurs and start their own nurseries. PLANT will teach these women how to start and run their own businesses, leading to increased income in the community. These nurseries will provide the montane plants that are necessary for PLANT to continue to create connected corridors of protected forest ecosystems within the south-western quarter of Sri Lanka. The Otter Fonds looks forward to watching these nurseries, and these recipients, develop and thrive,” she said.

“We are extremely excited to support this landmark initiative by WNPS PLANT, which we know will signal a shift in how restoration is carried out on our island. Although there is an appetite for reforestation, there is a dearth of endemic and native species saplings available to supply this demand. Our hope is that these female-led native species nurseries can fill that void, while also supporting local female entrepreneurs and enriching local communities. The Lanka Environment Fund believes in investing in long-term holistic projects, such as this, that will serve as a catalyst within this conservation niche,” said LEF in support Director Vinod Malwatte.

PLANT makes community bigger stakeholders, since plant damage is often caused by human intervention. WNPS felt that women would be better custodians with the opportunity to create home-based employment and uplift their social standards. The recipients now head into intense residential training phases with different experts. The initiative is already proving to be far more than a conservation step, and becoming a beacon of Hope, Dignity and Economic empowerment. These women may very well be the torchbearers for a new breed of conservationists from among those who live in the frontlines of our last remnant forests. The strength of WNPS and the vision of PLANT, along with Otter Fonds and the Lanka Environment Fund will certainly be their foundation for growth. 

WNPS PLANT team meeting Anoja Kumari, during Initial site inspections in Nawalapitiya

WNPS PLANT team meeting Samindhika, during Initial site inspections

The selected nursery managers and WNPS PLANT team exchanging the signed agreements