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Key people at Belipola.
Belipola is an environmental enterprise and arboretum based in Mirahawatte, Sri Lanka, that regenerates degraded lands through analog forestry to create highly biodiverse ecosystems. Operating across a 17-acre site that formerly served as a commercial tea plantation, the organization functions as a living laboratory, eco-tourism destination, and biodiversity nursery. The facility generates revenue through visitor accommodations, organic agricultural product sales, and hands-on training programs for conservation students traveling from Asia, Africa, and South America. Belipola maintains strategic partnerships with the International Analog Forestry Network and EarthRestoration, while its ongoing site operations have been supported by key figures including Lalith Chaminda Kumara and Sion Zivetz. The methodology developed at this specific demonstration site is now actively practiced across 20 different countries globally. The organization was originally founded in 1981 by pioneering ecologist Dr. Ranil Senanayake.
Key people at Belipola.
Belipola Arboretum is the world's first Analog Forest, a 17-20 acre restored habitat in Sri Lanka dedicated to reconnecting people with nature through biodiversity restoration, ecological research, and immersive experiences.[1][2][3] Located at Belipola Estate in Malpotha Village, Mirahawatte, at 1100 meters altitude, it serves eco-tourists, researchers, families, and educators via forest baths, guided walks, workshops on organic farming and Analog Forestry, camps, yoga, and mindfulness activities.[1][2][3] It solves the problem of habitat loss from colonial-era deforestation—particularly tea and coffee plantations—by demonstrating accelerated ecosystem recovery using native and exotic species, functioning as an arboretum, gene bank, and biodiversity generator while providing organic food and sustainable yields.[2][3] Growth stems from its pioneering status since the 1980s, now offering daily stays at $18 including vegetarian meals from on-site organic produce, with strong traveler reviews highlighting its healing biodiversity immersion.[3]
Belipola originated in 1982 (with Analog Forestry starting formally around 1983) on a degraded 20-acre tea plantation in Sri Lanka's Uva Province, amid the legacy of colonial deforestation that erased ancient montane forests for industrial agriculture.[2][3] Pioneered as the world's first Analog Forest demonstration, it applied 12 principles of Analog Forestry—mixing native and exotic species—to mimic natural forest architecture and functions lost over 350 years ago.[2] Key figures are not named in available records, but the project evolved from restoration efforts into a multifaceted research center, incorporating plant nurseries, seed banks, natural farming, and experiential programs to combat biodiversity loss and climate impacts.[2][3] Early traction came from proving rapid habitat maturity, transitioning into a hub for ecological assessments, composting, and community education.[2]
Belipola stands out through these key features:
While not a tech company, Belipola rides the global wave of regenerative ecology and climate tech, exemplifying bio-mimicry and nature-based solutions amid rising deforestation and biodiversity crises.[2] Its timing aligns with post-colonial restoration needs in Sri Lanka and worldwide urgency for carbon sinks—Analog Forestry accelerates maturity to counter industrial agriculture's harms, influencing ecosystem services like soil health and water cycles.[2] Market forces favoring it include eco-tourism growth, corporate sustainability demands, and policies promoting analog methods over monocultures, positioning Belipola as a model for scaling habitat recovery in montane tropics.[1][3] It shapes the ecosystem by training practitioners, sharing data, and inspiring replications, bridging conservation with human well-being in a biodiverse hotspot.[2][4]
Belipola's trajectory points to expanded research collaborations, digital tools for global Analog Forestry scaling (e.g., open databases), and hybrid eco-retreats amid climate tourism booms. Trends like net-zero mandates and biodiversity credits will amplify its influence, potentially evolving into a networked hub for tropical restoration worldwide. As the original analog forest, it remains a blueprint for sharing human spaces with thriving ecosystems—proving nature's resilience starts with deliberate design.[2]
