ACTIVE PROJECTGCF Knuckles Project
GCF Knuckles Project
Strengthening climate resilience of subsistence farmers and agricultural plantation communities residing in the vulnerable river basins, watershed areas, and downstream catchments of the Knuckles Mountain Range, Sri Lanka
ACTIVE PROJECTGCF Knuckles Project
GCF Knuckles Project
Strengthening climate resilience of subsistence farmers and agricultural plantation communities residing in the vulnerable river basins, watershed areas, and downstream catchments of the Knuckles Mountain Range, Sri Lanka
ACTIVE PROJECTGCF Knuckles Project
GCF Knuckles Project
Strengthening climate resilience of subsistence farmers and agricultural plantation communities residing in the vulnerable river basins, watershed areas, and downstream catchments of the Knuckles Mountain Range, Sri Lanka
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Component 3: Strengthening institutional capacity
Governance mechanisms for Sustainable Land Management (SLM) and productivity enhancement in the upstream catchment area
Activity 3.1.1 – Develop an integrated land use policy and planning mechanism at sub-basin scale (Managed by PMU of MoALLI)
- Setting up the soil spectroscopy laboratory at Department of Export Agriculture (DEA) in support of LDSF (https://www.cifor-icraf.org/knowledge/news/89230/)
Sri Lanka’s first soil spectroscopy laboratory was established at the Department of Export Agriculture (DEA), enabling fast, high-throughput soil analyses and enhancing national capacity for evidence-based land-use planning. - LDSF survey to collect baseline information at ground level.
Baseline data collection using the Land Degradation Surveillance Framework (LDSF) captured soil conditions, vegetation structure, and land health indicators, providing foundational datasets for long-term monitoring. - Development of prototype dashboard for land use decision making and performance monitoring.
A prototype digital dashboard was developed to consolidate project data into a decision-support platform, enabling real-time visualisation of land health, intervention performance, and priority restoration areas. - Capacitate stakeholder institutions to use LDSF sampling framework and in soil spectroscopy.
Training sessions strengthened partner institutions’ capacity in LDSF sampling, soil analysis, and data interpretation to ensure long-term national ownership of evidence-based land management.
- Stakeholder participation in developing decision making for priority area identification; Focused Group Discussions (FDGs) in Matale and Anuradhapura.
Focused group discussions with communities and agencies in Matale and Anuradhapura supported co-design of decision-making tools for identifying priority areas for SLM interventions. - Priority area maps for different types of interventions.
Spatial maps were developed to support decisions across seven types of interventions, including streamside protection, road drainage management, irrigation network rehabilitation, irrigated rice intensification, and agroforestry for smallholder land and plantations.
Integrated rural advisory capacity is responsive to developing knowledge base, real time weather and market information
Activity 3.2.1 – Establishment of nested-scale multi-stakeholder innovation platforms from sub-basin to GN scale (Managed by PMU of MoALLI)
- Integrated capacity development programme.
An integrated capacity-development programme was implemented, with a schematic illustrating linkages among different training activities. - Training-of-Trainers (ToT) program on agroforestry for smallholder lands and plantations for stakeholder institutions.
A Training-of-Trainers programme on agroforestry for smallholder lands and plantations strengthened technical knowledge across government, semi-government, and private stakeholder institutions.
- Collating local knowledge in support of developing guidelines for intensification of rice.
Local agronomic knowledge and farmer experiences were compiled to inform practical guidelines for sustainable rice intensification. This ensures that the final tools are grounded in real field conditions and suitable for both upstream and downstream areas. - Review on literature and global best practices
A literature review on global best practices - Integrating Nature-Based Solutions to Improve Land and Water Management Infrastructure in the GCF-Knuckles Project Area. The findings guide the design of context-specific manuals and interventions suited with local systems. - Agroforestry guidelines for smallholdings and plantations.
Agroforestry guidelines were developed to enhance land productivity through efficient resource capture while aligning with socioeconomic and cultural contexts at grower level.
