Dilmah Conservation: Championing Sri Lanka’s Plant Biodiversity

This article was contributed by Dilmah.

Sri Lanka is a land of hidden botanical treasures, and at the heart of their discovery and protection is Dilmah Tea, through its environmental arm, Dilmah Conservation. In a country where deforestation and habitat loss continue to threaten its unique flora, Dilmah Conservation has emerged as one of the most active private-sector champions of plant biodiversity, uncovering and safeguarding species that were once thought lost forever.

Rediscovering Sri Lanka’s Hidden Flora

Recent research and publications have revealed a remarkable truth — Sri Lanka’s forests still hold astonishing secrets. The landmark book, “Discovery: Additions to the Flora of Ceylon”, authored by botanist Dr. Himesh D. Jayasinghe and published by Dilmah Conservation, documents over 210 additions to the country’s known flora, including more than 150 species new to science. Lavishly illustrated with over 4,000 colour photographs and detailed field notes, it is the first comprehensive visual catalogue of these discoveries. Many of these plants had never before been photographed in their natural habitats. The book also highlights the rediscovery of species once thought extinct, offering a fragile but hopeful glimpse into the remnants of Sri Lanka’s wet-zone forests that still harbour life thought gone forever.

Restoring Forests Through the Endane Biodiversity Corridor

These discoveries are more than academic milestones. They are directly tied to Dilmah’s reforestation and habitat restoration efforts, particularly the Endane Biodiversity Corridor in the south-western highlands. For over a century, the Iharakanda and Walankanda forest reserves were fragmented by tea cultivation. Today, they are being reconnected through the planting of thousands of native trees and understorey species. Seeds are carefully sourced from surrounding forests to maintain genetic integrity, while local communities, including schools, actively participate in nurturing and planting these young trees. This restoration work not only strengthens ecological connectivity and allows wildlife to move freely but also ensures that rare and newly described plants have a real chance to thrive.

Pini Beraliya: Extinct in the Wild No More

One of the most moving stories emerging from this work is that of Pini Beraliya, affectionately called “The Forgotten Forest Child.” Once thought extinct, this delicate forest species was rediscovered in the wild, thanks to research carried out in areas protected and restored by Dilmah Conservation. Through continued surveys, two additional plants were found in separate locations, and from these three specimens, the team was able to propagate around 200 new plants in the Endane nursery. With the support of local communities and schools, these plants are now being replanted in their original habitats, including school grounds, securing their survival for future generations.

Education and Community Engagement

Education and community engagement are central to Dilmah’s conservation mission. Nature walks, field guides, and school outreach programs aim to instil an appreciation for Sri Lanka’s natural heritage among younger generations. On its estates, biodiversity assessments help identify rare flora and fauna, ensuring that tea production and conservation go hand in hand. This approach demonstrates that sustainable agriculture must embrace the protection of native species and ecosystems.

A Model for Conservation in Sri Lanka

What makes Dilmah’s work especially significant is the light it sheds on Sri Lanka’s environment today. Even after centuries of botanical exploration, the island continues to yield new species, reminding us of how much remains unknown and how urgent it is to protect what still survives. The Discovery project fills a crucial gap in botanical literature, providing visual documentation that aids researchers and conservationists alike. It also highlights the power of public-private collaboration in environmental science, showing how corporate initiatives, when driven by genuine stewardship, can make a lasting impact.

Protecting the Future of Wet-Zone Forests

Sri Lanka’s wet-zone forests, once vast and vibrant, have been reduced to fragments. Habitat loss and fragmentation continue to threaten both newly discovered and rediscovered species. In this context, Dilmah Conservation’s work — from restoring ecological corridors to funding taxonomy — offers a model for how the private sector can help reverse biodiversity loss. The rediscovery of so many forgotten plants is both a scientific triumph and a moral challenge: proof that even in degraded landscapes, life endures if given the chance.