Herbarium Reserve

Land plot in Belihuloya dedicated for propagation of herbal plants. Developing and maintaining herbarium forest to conserve indigenous medicinal plants and biodiversity. Provided the green houses with misting system & drip hoses to control heat, moisture and shade for protect and perfect growth for nursery herb plants. In 2018 More than 2500 herb plants varieties were successfully established in field. Along with the herbarium forest reserve, exhibition plots of various rare and useful medicinal plants are established for visitors to gain valuable awareness and knowledge.

Objectives - Forest herbarium reserve

  • To take the necessary step to protect, conserve and replant Indigenous and rare Medicinal Plants
  • Propagate medicinal plants, increase availability and freely distribute herbs to patients.
  • To increase awareness about medicinal plants and identification.
  • “Belihuloya Vedawatta” as a study and research center for medicinal plants and biodiversity.
  • Developing and maintain for forest bathing.

Expected Outcome

  • An improve supply of medicinal plants for traditional practitioners and patients.
  • Increase skills and awareness on the importance of conserving medicinal plants.
  • Increase establishment of selected rare medicinal plants in the field.
  • Promoting medicinal plants cultivation as a tool for biodiversity conservation.
  • Preservation of indigenous information on medicinal plants
  • Reduce pollution, protect Environment and soil.
  • Increase the quality of water.

Organic Farming

Belihuloya to facilitate and experiment various methods of sustainable agricultural practices while completely deviating from contemporary chemical based farming. Our agricultural practice is traditional natural farming. Using Organic liquid fertilizer and maintains zero hazards methods to protect air, soil, water and bio diversity. We provide knowledge and awareness to our visitors on the use of Jeewa Moortha, Fish Tonic, Fruit Tonic, Traditional Agricultural Methods (Kem Krama) and Universal Energy.

  • To produce chemical free healthy food.
  • Improve awareness on “How to use Universal Energy for Cultivation”.
  • To maintain the genetic diversity of agricultural system.
  • Re-introduce best Natural/ Traditional Organic farming practices
  • Improve awareness on “Mushroom Cultivation” and “Bee Keeping”.

Expected outcomes

  • To promote and increase the awareness of Natural Farming.
  • To avoid pollution and protect water and soil.
  • To develop a sustainable agriculture system and alternative strategy over chemical farming.
  • To recycle agricultural waste products and preserve traditional knowledge in farming system.
  • To study productivity, profitability and quality organic farming practices.
  • To review the comparison of organic farming and non- organic farming.

Traditional Varieties & Seed Conservation

With the introduction of hybrid and GMO varieties, the green revolution has victimized many species varieties and reduced biodiversity drastically. Therefore a significant effort need to be made to conserve the existing seeds and plant propagation. Some of the traditional varieties hidden away in the rural communities is required to be found and conserved for future propagation. There have been traditional techniques in Sri Lanka for the preservation of seeds.

GOALS

  • Identify rare species of medicinal plants, vegetables and fruits.
  • Find and collect rare seeds which has threaten to extinct
  • Facilitate to spread rare species of plants through growing seeds which are available.
  • Increase availability of important seeds conserve for future.