Why an ecotourism project in Sri Lanka? Because natural ecosystems have declined significantly, leading to a loss of biodiversity, human-caused pollution has reached unimaginable levels, and global warming has become humanity’s greatest challenge. We have a duty to protect our unique natural wealth for future generations.

“Family” projects are suitable for children from the age of 4. Our advisors will provide you with personalized recommendations based on your children’s age, the destination, and the type of mission.

This project is eligible for the tenth-grade internship.

Ecotourism mission in Sri Lanka

Volunteers take part in a series of initiatives that will have a lasting impact on the island’s natural ecosystems: mangroves, the marine environment, pollution cleanup, recycling, and permaculture.

Mangroves conservation

Mangrove ecosystems are vitally important for maintaining marine environments. They protect coastlines, regulate water quality, control flooding, provide breeding grounds for marine species, help increase biodiversity, support the livelihoods of rural populations, and combat climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide at a rate 3 to 5 times higher than most forests. Protecting, preserving, and increasing their numbers is a priority.

This part of the project takes place in the Koggala Lagoon, an important body of water in the Galle district, featuring eight small islands rich in ecological value. Volunteers will play a key role in the mangrove habitat restoration process through planting new seeds in the nursery, growing young mangrove plants, and transferring them to their natural habitat.

2) Raising awarness about upcycling

Recycling is still in its early stages in Sri Lanka, although the concept is gaining ground as the local population better understands its environmental benefits. Plastic pollution, in particular, is becoming a major problem. This part of the project involves organizing information sessions for local communities, schools, and businesses, in order to highlight plastic pollution and the importance of recycling to combat this scourge. These sessions will be led by our team, which will assist in preparing the presentation materials and translating the content for the local community.

Building EcoBricks, EcoBricks are a simple solution to plastic pollution, requiring neither machines, technical skills, nor funding. These are single-use plastic bottles that have been cleaned and packed with other pieces of plastic to be reused as building elements. Eco Bricks are sturdy and do not decompose, making them an ideal construction material. In a developing country like Sri Lanka, they are used to build walls, furniture, and even rural buildings. Volunteers will dedicate part of their time to building Eco Bricks, which will be used to construct the walls of our organic garden as well as outdoor furniture. We also plan to give large quantities of the Eco Bricks we make to our neighboring communities so that they can benefit in similar ways.

3) Organic farming

Organic farming practices reduce pollution, conserve water, increase biodiversity, enhance soil fertility, and use less energy. The use of organic fertilizers (compost, green manure, etc.) instead of synthetic pesticides is much better for the natural ecosystem and ensures the sustainability of crops. This allows for the production of fresh and healthy food, and reduces intermediaries. Volunteers will spend part of their time in our organic garden to help grow fresh fruits and vegetables in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way. Typical tasks for the ecotourism project in Sri Lanka will include planting new seeds, maintaining the nursery, making organic compost, monitoring crop growth, building organic fences, and other maintenance tasks as needed.

4) Marine environment conservation

Coral reef restoration: this is the second ecological product we are building as part of this project. Coral reefs are often called the rainforests of the ocean, both because of the large number of species they host and the high productivity they generate. In addition to the hundreds of coral species, the reefs are home to extraordinary biodiversity and a multitude of fish, invertebrates, and marine mammals. Unfortunately, like everywhere else, Sri Lanka’s coral reefs have decreased in size due to the harmful effects of climate change and human activities.

This part of the project involves building artificial coral reefs using sustainable and environmentally friendly materials to mimic the effects of natural coral reefs. These are then placed in the shallow areas of the ocean where natural reefs once thrived. Over time, research has shown that these artificial reefs are capable of providing a stable habitat for fish and all the other plant and animal organisms found on a natural reef, allowing for the large-scale restoration of this lost marine ecosystem.

5) Clean-up

a) Beach cleaning : Sri Lanka is home to some of the world’s most pristine beaches, surrounded by the warm and ecologically rich waters of the Indian Ocean. In addition to their natural beauty conducive to meditation, beaches are an environmental treasure; they preserve our coastal and ocean ecosystems, provide nesting sites for turtles and other species, offer vital feeding grounds for birds and terrestrial wildlife, mitigate the harmful effects of climate change, protect against storms, and more. Unfortunately, in recent years, the increase in pollution, particularly plastic pollution, has contributed to making beaches more unsanitary in Sri Lanka and around the world.

Volunteers dedicate part of their time to cleaning the beaches in groups, carefully separating plastic, glass, and organic waste, which is then handed over to local authorities for disposal or recycling. This project takes place on various beaches around the Galle and Unawatuna areas, which increases the reach and scope of this initiative.

b) River cleaning: Being a tropical island, water cleanliness is just as important for Sri Lanka’s ecosystem as the cleanliness of the island itself. The Gin Ganga River is an important watercourse 116 km long that originates in the virgin rainforest of Sinharaja, passes through several villages on its way to Galle, and ends in the Indian Ocean. Maintaining the cleanliness of the river is essential for local communities, the surrounding flora and fauna, and, ultimately, the ocean. This part of the project involves volunteers traveling by canoe (2 per canoe) and cleaning up small tributaries of the river, removing plastic waste that threatens the ecosystem. Life jackets, canoes, paddles, nets, and garbage bags are provided. This mission requires teamwork and a sense of adventure, all set in a beautiful rural natural environment surrounded by rice fields.

The frequency of activities during a given week or month will depend on local conditions at that time (for example, river cleaning is not possible during the heavy monsoon due to flooding or high tides). This will also depend on the needs/priorities of the various associations at different times of the year.

In general, however, volunteers can expect to participate in the majority of these activities during their stay, if not all of them. We also expect this ecotourism project in Sri Lanka to evolve over time with the introduction of new initiatives to broaden the scope of our environmental conservation efforts within our community.

Options and additional activities

In addition to your project, those who wish can choose to take a one-week tour to explore the best of Sri Lanka’s beauty and diversity. From Galle to Sigiriya, passing through Kandy and Ella, you will set out to explore the southern, central, and western regions of this beautiful tropical island.

Please contact us to know price and availability

Price of the tour: 810 euros.