The “Strengthening Activism for Environmental Rights (SAFER)” project, funded by the European Union, is implemented by Acted in partnership with Green Movements of Sri Lanka (GMSL), Landsea Maldives (LSM), and the 3Zero House in Sri Lanka and the Maldives. This project, which started in March 2023 and will run until August 2025, aims to strengthen local communities and civil society organizations (CSOs) to protect natural resources and promote environmental rights in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

As part of this project, the Environmental "Bio-Conservation Program" was launched to encourage community participation, support environmental action, and share lessons learned. The community-led environmental action to remove Ulex europaeus, commonly known as gorse, an alien invasive plant threatening the park’s biodiversity. Ulex is a thorny evergreen shrub native to Western Europe, which aggressively invades montane grasslands, outcompeting native flora and posing a significant fire hazard in Horton Plains National Park. Managing this invasive species is crucial to preserving the unique ecosystems and endemic species of the park. Continuous removal of the species from the field is one of the strategies to overcome the issue.

The event will take place on February 27, 2025, with the involvement of the Department of Wildlife Conservation, the Nuwara Eliya District Secretariat Office, the Green Movements Sri Lanka, Janathakshan, local activists, and the community in the areas. Approximately 120 participants, including community members and officials, will collaborate to clear 50,000 square meters of invasive plants in the National Park.

This initiative also aims to raise awareness among activists and participants about the effective management of alien invasive plants and the cleaning program. This effort highlights the importance of protecting the area’s ecosystems while promoting local leadership. It encourages communities to act on environmental issues and sets an example for collaboration among stakeholders. The activity supports SAFER’s goals of environmental conservation and empowering local communities while sharing knowledge on managing natural resources effectively.