Projects
Scientific support for conservation
The Science Division undertakes a range of activities, including project implementation, investigations arising from public complaints and media reports, reviewing Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and relevant policy documents, providing technical support for litigation and contributes to research initiatives and publications. Link to ongoing programmes.
Overview of EFL’s ongoing work
The Environmental Foundation Limited (EFL) continues to lead some of Sri Lanka’s most impactful environmental initiatives, combining scientific research, legal advocacy, capacity building, and multi-agency collaboration. EFL’s current portfolio reflects its commitment to safeguarding biodiversity, strengthening environmental governance, and empowering institutions to address complex ecological challenges.
A major area of work focuses on combating illegal wildlife trade. Through the Combatting Wildlife Trade (CWT) ACE Program, the Illicit Wildlife Pet Trade Study, and the CARE Training Initiative, EFL strengthens every stage of the enforcement chain, from detection and investigations to prosecution, live animal handling, and cross-border cooperation. These programs have helped strengthen Sri Lanka’s first multi-agency wildlife enforcement network (SLaWEN), built specialised investigative working groups, equipped law-enforcement and legal officers with technical skills, and advanced science-based standards for wildlife rescue and care.
EFL also plays a key role in marine conservation. The Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network Mapping Project, implemented with international partners, is creating the first integrated national map of MPAs and recommending strategies to enhance ecological connectivity and resilience in Sri Lanka’s coastal waters.
In parallel, EFL is working to strengthen environmental governance. Its project on Standardizing the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Process aims to streamline approval procedures, improve transparency, and advance participatory environmental decision-making.
Long-term ecosystem protection is further supported through initiatives such as the CORALL Conservation Trust Fund, designed to secure sustainable financing for coral reef conservation, and the Value Sri Lanka’s Biodiversity project, which advances scientific approaches to identify environmentally sensitive areas and inform national planning.
Selected Publications
Evidence for a Critical Leopard Conservation Stronghold 2022:
A comprehensive study identifying key habitats that sustain leopard populations within large protected landscapes in Sri Lanka.
Read More – Wilpattu Leopard Study_Research Paper-Global Ecology and Conservation (2022)
Kalpitiya Socioeconomic and Ecological Profile 2021:
Baseline assessment integrating social and ecological data to inform community-based coastal management.
Read More – Preliminary-Socio-economic-status-of-Kalpitiya (2021)
Kalpitiya Socioeconomic and Ecological Profile 2022:
Follow-up study tracking changes in livelihoods, ecosystem health, and coastal resource use.
Read More – Socio-economic-and-Ecological-Profile-of-Kalpitiya (2022)
Tourism Opportunity Assessment, Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka (2022):
Evaluation of sustainable tourism potential and environmental carrying capacity in coastal ecosystems.
Read More – Tourism-Development-Consultancy-COLIBRI-Final-January (2022)
Guides and Toolkits
Turning knowledge into action for Sri Lanka’s environment
EFL’s Guides and Toolkits offer practical, user-friendly resources designed to strengthen conservation practice, environmental law enforcement, and the sustainable management of Sri Lanka’s natural resources.
Developed through EFL’s legal, scientific, and field expertise, these publications provide step-by-step guidance, identification aids, and reference materials for diverse users – including law enforcement officers, prosecutors, policymakers, community leaders, and practitioners.
Each guide translates complex environmental issues into actionable knowledge, equipping stakeholders to address challenges such as wildlife trafficking, watershed and forest management, pollution control, and industrial environmental compliance.
Available Materials
EFL – Identification Toolkit for the Most Trafficked Marine Species (2023)
Read More
EFL – Instruction Manual for Prosecutors to Combat Wildlife Trafficking in SL
ILO & EFL – Tools for Watershed Management – South-Western Region of SL
EFL – Quick Reference Guide to Relevant Industrial Standards of Sri Lanka (2015)
Books and Reports
EFL’s publications offer evidence-based insights and practical guidance on environmental conservation, law, and policy in Sri Lanka. Spanning technical reports, legal handbooks, policy reviews, and citizen guides, these works aim to inform and empower policymakers, professionals, students, and the public to take meaningful action for a sustainable future.
Explore our collection to discover the latest research, analyses, and tools that support the protection of Sri Lanka’s biodiversity, ecosystems, and communities.
1. Sixth National Report on the Convention on Biological Diversity (2019)
This report provides a comprehensive assessment of Sri Lanka’s biodiversity and the progress made toward national and global conservation targets. It includes updated and newly developed distribution maps for multiple taxonomic groups- ranging from butterflies, birds, and mammals to freshwater crabs, land snails, and orchids. The report also evaluates the severity and spread of key environmental threats and identifies critical landscapes requiring enhanced protection. Offering both analysis and actionable recommendations, it serves as an essential reference for policymakers, researchers, and conservationists committed to safeguarding Sri Lanka’s biodiversity.
Access the publication here – EFL – Biodiversity Profile Update 2019 EFL
2. EFL Green Book – Know Your Environmental Rights and Responsibilities (updated edition-2019)
The EFL Green Book is a practical guide to Sri Lanka’s environmental rights and responsibilities. It explains the constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment, outlines citizens’ legal obligations, and offers guidance on how to take action against illegal or harmful activities. Widely used by students, professionals, and community leaders, this updated edition empowers Sri Lankans to engage effectively in environmental protection and governance.
Access the publication here:
EFL_Environmental Hand Book_English
EFL_Environmental Hand Book_Sinhala
3. Judges and Environmental Law – A Handbook for the Sri Lankan Judiciary
Produced by EFL in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Judges and Environmental Law is a specialized handbook for Sri Lanka’s judiciary. It compiles essays and legal analyses on key aspects of environmental law, highlighting the judiciary’s vital role in upholding constitutional and statutory protections for nature. Developed through collaboration between legal and environmental experts, the publication strengthens judicial understanding and supports consistent, informed interpretation of environmental legislation across Sri Lanka.
Access the publication here – 3. EFL – Judges & Environmental Law – a Handbook for the Sri Lankan Judiciary[unrestricted]
4. Mainstreaming Disaster Resilience: Opportunities in National Policy and Law
Developed through a partnership between EFL and the International Labour Organization (ILO), this publication examines how disaster resilience can be integrated into Sri Lanka’s national policies and legal frameworks. It identifies key intervention areas, land-use and development planning, agriculture, and water resource management, and provides policy recommendations to strengthen climate resilience. The study also explores cross-cutting themes such as SMEs, insurance, and gender inclusion in resilience-building efforts.
Access the publication here – 4. EFL – Mainstreaming Disaster Resilience
5. Hakgala Under Threat: A Review of Conservation Status and Management Needs
This report consolidates EFL’s decades-long advocacy for the protection of the Hakgala Strict Natural Reserve. It traces EFL’s legal interventions, scientific studies, and community engagement efforts since 1988 to combat deforestation and illegal encroachments. The publication provides a detailed analysis of ecological threats and management gaps and proposes a strategic roadmap for the reserve’s long-term protection. Serving as both a scientific resource and policy tool, it underscores the urgent need to preserve one of Sri Lanka’s most biodiverse and fragile ecosystems.
Access the publication here – 5. EFL – Hakgala-Under-Threat-A-Review-of-Conservation-Status-and-Management-Needs
6. A Review of the Southern Border of Sinharaja: Contemporary Needs vs. Conservation
This publication presents EFL’s evaluation of the southern boundary of the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka’s only natural World Heritage Site. The review highlights the lack of a clearly defined buffer zone as a key driver of encroachment and related environmental threats. Drawing on field observations, spatial analysis, and policy review, the report outlines practical, evidence-based recommendations to strengthen the long-term protection and management of this globally significant rainforest.
The book is available at EFL for Rs. 750, with a concession offered to students.