Trash clean-up at Hora Kele

A trash clean-up project was successfully carried out at Hora Kele Forest Reservation in Ingiriya recently by the association, Rainforest Protectors of Sri Lanka.

Ten volunteers from the association helped clean up non-biodegradable plastic, glass and metal thrown alongside the forest boundary up to several metres.

During the project, the volunteers noticed several threats facing the forest, especially evidence of illegal activity such as poaching within the reserve. It was evident that some of the undergrowth had been cleared by poachers to create temporary paths. Rainforest Protectors had informed the local Grama Niladhari about the project and assistance from some villagers was requested to keep the area clean in the future. Some locals informed them about the traps set up to capture wild animals such as mouse deer, wild boar and porcupine.

Rainforest Protectors have requested the authorities to take immediate steps to prevent the illegal activities within the forest reserve to ensure that its flora and fauna are protected for future generations.

The Hora Kele is a small forest reserve along the Ingiriya-Meepe road, which, despite its small size, has a high density of the endangered native rainforest tree Hora.