Poging GOUD - Vrij

HSBC leads pioneering forest restoration initiative in Sri Lanka's dry zone

The Island

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June 23, 2025

In a groundbreaking effort to advance environmental sustainability, HSBC Sri Lanka has taken a lead role in a pioneering Public-Private-People partnership to restore the Siyabalagaswewa Forest and its surrounding landscape in the Anuradhapura District. This initiative, part of Project CORE, marks the first pilot for Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) in Sri Lanka's Dry Zone, aligning with global biodiversity targets under the 30x30 framework.

- BY SANATH NANAYAKKARE

Launched in 2021, Project CORE is a collaborative effort between HSBC Sri Lanka, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the Department of Forest Conservation. The project focuses on degraded lands and community areas, aiming to enhance biodiversity, improve livelihoods, build climate resilience, and sequester carbon in one of Sri Lanka’s most climate-vulnerable regions.

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