Twenty-seven estates spanning 13,000 hectares of land, spread over the three agro-climatic regions of Nuwara Eliya/Dickoya and Yatiyantota/Bulathkohupitiya, under almost equal extents of tea and rubber – this constitutes the Kelani Valley Plantations (KVPL) portfolio.
Of this land extent, over 1,000 hectares comprise natural forest reserve. The portfolio spans properties situated from low country elevations of 30 m to 460 m to up country high elevations of between 1,200 m and 1,700 m, above mean sea level. Biodiversity is rich across all elevations, with a high proportion of endemic flora and fauna.KVP PLC has a range of initiatives in force, to protect the environment.
Good agricultural practices are in place, which often exceed the stipulations of the Tea and Rubber Research Institutes. All KVPL tea plantations are certified for GLOBAL G.A.P whilst all its rubber plantations are certified for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), both affirming the operation of the company’s business in an environmentally friendly manner.
Employing buffer zones near waterways, avoiding the use of agro chemicals where possible, carrying out bush to bush fertilising systems to avoid washed off fertiliser acting adversely on the eutrophication of catchment areas, terracing, growing cover crops and employing field banks to prevent soil erosion are some of the many initiatives we take.
Wewalthalawa Conservation forest is an un-explored biodiversity hot spot & is home for more than a hundred different vascular plants, birds, reptiles & mammals. Recent studies have revealed that there are un-identified plant species also. It has magnificent sightseeing places such as Dipping rock, Worlds end, Waul Lena, Olu Ella & natural swimming pools.
Situated in the Yatiyantota area, Halgolle Estate is home to exotic flora and fauna and its topography consists of natural hill crest formations within its 1,196 hectare extent, which have been preserved by the Company in their natural state.
The initial session of the forest replanting program (FRP) was held at Halgolla estate Yatiyantota and was conducted in collaboration with Deutsche Bank. KVPL is a signatory to CEO Water Mandate and Caring for Climate and these are examples of how that endorsement and relationship is translated into action.
FRP is one of the key aspects of the KVPL environmental initiatives which also include study & assessment of flora, fauna & bio-diversity carried out by the team of environmental scientists. This team was led by the specialist in the field attached to the UN. Forest Replanting Programme involves the planting of 7,000 plants over a 7ha, at Wewalthalawa conservation forest.
