Serukele

The rehabilitation model on Munamal Estate at Serukele is located in the Rathabala Oya catchment (Fig. 1) of the Puttalam District. This rehabilitation model that is situated in an ancient elephant corridor was once a degraded coconut estate with a large area under wetland conditions. Today, this land is the only space where forest is being recreated using mainly native species (see example, in Fig. 2), and also has the coolest  ambient temperature in these largely open and hot environs.

Fig. 1 Hydrology of Rathabalaoya Catchment
Fig. 2: Ashoka or Saraca indica at Munamal Estate

Work involves riparian ecosystem restoration, forest rehabilitation, analog forestry and regenerative agriculture, including livestock (cattle) management.

Riparian ecosystem restoration involves digging small reservoirs (wewas) and ponds (pathahas) along the natural flow pathways of the rehabilitation model at Serukele for water storage and infiltration (Fig. 3). Several native species were planted along these water bodies (Fig. 4) and canals (Fig. 5), while invasive species such as Acacia mangeum removed.

This wetland rehabilitation model ensures surface water for domestic use and agriculture especially during the dry season, conserves aquatic habitat, and preserves the integrity of elephant corridor through this catchment.

Fig. 3. Drone image taken in 2024 of the rehabilitation model at Munamal Estate in Serukele which includes new forests, paddy fields, cultivation areas, small and large earthen reservoirs, canals and wetlands.
Fig. 4: Planting around wewa
Fig. 5: Planting along canals

Forest rehabilitation was undertaken around the old growth forest area using only indigenous and endemic species in the landscape design. Fig. 6 depicts this section of the land in 2013, while Fig. 7 describes its condition in 2025.

Fig. 6: Area in the buffer zone of the old growth forest in 2013
Fig. 7: Area in the buffer zone of the old growth forest in 2025, thirteen years later

Alternately, analog forestry is practiced in and around the paddy fields, and adjacent to the home. The landscape design includes several native and exotic utility species for food, medicine, timber, and firewood. Vegetables, medicinal plants, diverse native yams, and tubers, fodder grass, and paddy are cultivated around the homestead area and in paddy fields using regenerative methods. Vegetables (Fig. 8) and some fruits (e.g., banana and passion fruit, Fig. 9) are grown under netted conditions to protect them from attacks by monkeys and giant squirrels. Fig. 10 shows turmeric (Cucurma longa) cultivated as an understorey crop.

Fig. 8. Vegetable cultivation under netted conditions
Fig. 9. Banana below, and passionfruit above in a monkey-proof, netted enclosure
Fig. 10: Turmeric (Cucurma longa) cultivated as an understorey crop

Livestock, only cattle (Fig. 11) are bred for their dung and urine, which products are essential for regenerative agriculture. We breed mainly native cattle that are more resilient to pests, diseases, and heat than purely foreign breeds. Fodder grass is cultivated as a crop.

Fig. 11. Our native stud bull feeding in the paddy fields

We monitor planting performance across time by mapping vegetation. A map of the species planted from 2019 to 2023 is described in Fig. 12.  These vegetation maps help us to identify gap areas for future planting.

Fig. 12 Green dots in map depict species planted at Munamal Estate, Serukele from 2019 to 2023

Ecosystem services

We assess rehabilitation efficacy by the ecosystem services these new forests generate. One service is the provision of diverse forest garden products harvested through time, including annual crops such as vegetable and leafy vegetables (Fig. 13).

Fig. 13. Forest garden products from Munamal Estate, Serukele

The re-emergence of biodiversity on the land is also a critical indicator of rehabilitation success evident here in Serukele by the re-appearance of the Ceylon slender grey loris (Loris lydekkerianus, Fig. 14) and various fungi (Fig. 15).

Fig. 14. The return of the Ceylon slender grey loris (Loris lydekkerianus) to the rehabilitated forest at Serukele
Fig. 15. Ganoderma fungi on a daminiya (Grewia damineae) at Serukele

The success of our work is attributed to staff including Muditha, Gamini and Ratne (Fig. 16, 17 and 18, respectively).

Fig. 16. Muditha
Fig. 17. Gamini
Fig. 18. Ratne