The Tank Cascade Systems (TCSs) of Sri Lanka, over 2000 years old, are vital for life, livelihood, and nature in the country’s arid regions, covering 22.5% of the land. The GEF-funded Healthy Landscapes Project, in collaboration with UNEP and other partners, has successfully restored these systems, enhancing biodiversity and providing alternative livelihoods such as fishing, beekeeping, and ecotourism. This project has also reduced human-wildlife conflicts and improved farmers’ incomes through initiatives like seed banks. Despite significant progress, ongoing efforts are needed to strengthen policies and governance to ensure the sustainability of TCSs and their contributions to global biodiversity goals.
Tank Cascade Systems of Sri Lanka: Resilient Rural Landscapes for People, Food and Nature
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is a multilateral fund dedicated to confronting biodiversity loss, climate change, pollution, and strains on land and ocean health. Over the past three decades, the GEF has provided more than $22 billion in financing and mobilized another $120 billion for more than 5,000 national and regional projects.