[caption id="attachment_113359" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
At the MOU signing (from left), Bogawantalawa Tea Estates Director of Sustainability, Research and Development Thusitha Bandara, Bogawantalawa Tea Estates Chairman Dinesh Ambani, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, Bogawantalawa Tea Estates Co-Chairman Lalith Ambani, and Bogawantalawa Tea Estates Executive Director Lalith Munasinghe.[/caption]
Bogawantalawa Tea Estates PLC recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Environment, towards protecting the biodiversity of the central hills in Sri Lanka.
The MOU was signed between Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, and Bogawantalawa Tea Estates Chairman Dinesh Ambani. This initiative was inaugurated during a recent visit by the Minister to the company’s plantations.
Speaking at the event, Minister Amaraweera said: “We understand the urgency to take action to preserve some of our most precious natural resources, to plant more trees to prevent global warming and future catastrophes. I commend Bogawantalawa’s initiative as the first company to come forward to join the National Programme and collaborate with the Ministry, significantly contributing in our efforts towards environmental conservation.”
The Minister added: “Leading the way in sustainability in the sector, Bogawantalawa has over the years implemented several conservation activities in their plantations and can be portrayed as a shining example among other entities including government organisations. The support of Bogawantalawa in our reforestation initiative is greatly appreciated.”
Bogawantalawa aims to contribute towards strengthening conservation activities in the central hills. Conducted through the “Husma Dena Thuru” (Breath for Life) National Tree Planting Programme, the activities will contribute to protect the biodiversity of the central hills and help in the conservation of threatened flora and fauna. The initiative will also support the special programme for the conservation of leopards, protecting waterfalls and catchments, and facilitating the reforestation of more than 100 hectares of barren lands with the objective of increasing forest cover.
The project also aims to support proper waste management, promote climate-smart agriculture and greenhouse gas emission reduction in the plantation sector, and promote carbon neutrality and climate-positive production.
Explaining the company’s involvement, Ambani said: “As passionate growers with sustainability at heart, we continue to relentlessly pursue our mission to raise the bar while conforming to the principles of sustainable food, to provide the ultimate value to our discerning customers and ensure sustainable management of our natural resources and ecosystems.”
He added: “Moreover, Bogawantalawa has taken it upon themselves to fund these efforts without having to utilise public money, where the Environmental Ministry will be able to redirect them to other environmental projects.”
According to the company, it became the world’s first tea growing, manufacturing, and marketing company offering “uncompensated climate-positive teas” certified for product and facility in 2019, going beyond the Carbon Neutral statutes.
At the MOU signing (from left), Bogawantalawa Tea Estates Director of Sustainability, Research and Development Thusitha Bandara, Bogawantalawa Tea Estates Chairman Dinesh Ambani, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, Bogawantalawa Tea Estates Co-Chairman Lalith Ambani, and Bogawantalawa Tea Estates Executive Director Lalith Munasinghe.[/caption]
Bogawantalawa Tea Estates PLC recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Environment, towards protecting the biodiversity of the central hills in Sri Lanka.
The MOU was signed between Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, and Bogawantalawa Tea Estates Chairman Dinesh Ambani. This initiative was inaugurated during a recent visit by the Minister to the company’s plantations.
Speaking at the event, Minister Amaraweera said: “We understand the urgency to take action to preserve some of our most precious natural resources, to plant more trees to prevent global warming and future catastrophes. I commend Bogawantalawa’s initiative as the first company to come forward to join the National Programme and collaborate with the Ministry, significantly contributing in our efforts towards environmental conservation.”
The Minister added: “Leading the way in sustainability in the sector, Bogawantalawa has over the years implemented several conservation activities in their plantations and can be portrayed as a shining example among other entities including government organisations. The support of Bogawantalawa in our reforestation initiative is greatly appreciated.”
Bogawantalawa aims to contribute towards strengthening conservation activities in the central hills. Conducted through the “Husma Dena Thuru” (Breath for Life) National Tree Planting Programme, the activities will contribute to protect the biodiversity of the central hills and help in the conservation of threatened flora and fauna. The initiative will also support the special programme for the conservation of leopards, protecting waterfalls and catchments, and facilitating the reforestation of more than 100 hectares of barren lands with the objective of increasing forest cover.
The project also aims to support proper waste management, promote climate-smart agriculture and greenhouse gas emission reduction in the plantation sector, and promote carbon neutrality and climate-positive production.
Explaining the company’s involvement, Ambani said: “As passionate growers with sustainability at heart, we continue to relentlessly pursue our mission to raise the bar while conforming to the principles of sustainable food, to provide the ultimate value to our discerning customers and ensure sustainable management of our natural resources and ecosystems.”
He added: “Moreover, Bogawantalawa has taken it upon themselves to fund these efforts without having to utilise public money, where the Environmental Ministry will be able to redirect them to other environmental projects.”
According to the company, it became the world’s first tea growing, manufacturing, and marketing company offering “uncompensated climate-positive teas” certified for product and facility in 2019, going beyond the Carbon Neutral statutes.