Celebration of Environment Day 2025 at Yagirala Forest Reserve
On June 8, 2025, in celebration of World Environment Day, the Center for Sustainability (CFS) of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura led a major reforestation initiative at the Yagirala Forest Reserve—a flagship event underscoring the center’s continued commitment to environmental restoration and youth-led sustainability.
Over 5 acres of degraded forest land were covered with 1,500 native trees as part of the reforestation effort. The event’s primary sponsor, Commercial Bank PLC, showed their strong commitment to environmental conservation and corporate social responsibility by providing 3,500 native saplings in total. Additionally, Smart Packaging Solutions stepped forward as a co-sponsor, which helped the initiative succeed.
The Yagirala Forest Reserve, a crucial hotspot for biodiversity in Sri Lanka, was the perfect location for this project, which aims to improve carbon sequestration, restore ecological balance, and save endangered plants and animals.
The following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN are closely related to this reforestation effort:
- SDG 13: Climate Action, by mitigating the effects of climate change through carbon capture.
- SDG 15: Life on Land, by restoring degraded ecosystems and preserving biodiversity.
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, through sustainable practices promoted by the sponsors.
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, reflecting the successful collaboration between academia, private sector, and environmental agencies.
- SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation, by improving watershed health, enhancing water quality, and reducing erosion and flood risks
- SDG 14: Life below water, by minimizing sediment and nutrient runoff into rivers and oceans, thereby protecting aquatic ecosystems and marine biodiversity
This initiative demonstrates the power of youth engagement and public–private partnerships in addressing global environmental challenges through collaborative, community-driven restoration efforts
The program not only marked a significant contribution to reforestation in Sri Lanka but also served as a hands-on educational experience for the students, inspiring them to become lifelong stewards of the environment.
As the remaining saplings await planting in future efforts, this program has laid the groundwork for sustained environmental regeneration and community involvement in conservation across the region.
