Mountain peaks blanketed by clouds, cascading waterfalls, symphonies of forest sounds, hundreds of unique species of flora and fauna, enchanting landscapes; the knuckles mountain range has it all. Named for its famed peaks that resemble a clenched fist, the knuckles or Dumbara mountains form one of the most prominent, and important montane ecosystems of Sri Lanka. The UNDP’s Small Grants Programhas helped empower local communities spread throughout the Knuckles range to pioneer solutions thathelp conserve the area’s ecology and natural resources while introducing opportunities to developsustainable livelihoods in the region.

The Knuckles mountain range spreads over 18,500 hectares in the districts of Kandy and Matale in the central mountains of Sri Lanka. Its densely forested domain is home to 34 mountain peaks, critical watersheds, sources of many rivers in Sri Lanka, and a high-level of biodiversity that is considered globally significant. In the fringes of its lush forests, small communities have lived for centuries, exercising a balanced coexistence with their natural surroundings. But looming risks from poorly- planned developmental activities and the influx of increasing numbers of tourists threaten to upset the delicate balance that has held the ecological and social integrity of the region together.

Through the Small Grants Program, the UNDP has helped support several initiatives by local volunteer organizations and individuals who have been at the forefront of environmental conservation and vocational development for small communities spread throughout the area. In this particular feature, we focus on two local organizations; Dumbara Mithuro (Friends of Dumbara) and Rathna Ella Soba Mithuro (Eco-Friends of Rathna Ella) the and one of Sri Lanka’s preeminent herpetologists, Mendis Wickremasinghe; who have benefitted from the support of the Small Grants Program to advance their work in the Knuckles mountain range.

Since 1987, Dumbara Mithuro (Friends of Dumbara), a local voluntary organization, have been one of the most committed advocates of protecting the Knuckles and spreading awareness about the ecological importance of its ecosystems. Today, the organization has more than 10,000 members spread throughout Sri Lanka and internationally as well. Its Secretary, Indika Arunakumara, is a media presenterby profession and is one of the organization’s key figures. “Dumbara Mithuro is not merely an environmental organization,” he explains animatedly. “It’s a league of volunteers who care aboutprotecting this amazing natural landscape and work to preserve the rich cultural heritage of the region also. We also work closely with empowering communities, and implementing sustainable solutions for challenges faced by them.”

Mr. Arunakumara works closely with community leaders, individuals, and external parties to support a wide range of initiatives that come under the oversight of Dumbara Mithuro. As a beneficiary of the Small Grants Program, Dumbara Mithuro have implemented a number of projects from conservation initiatives to awareness and community development programs in areas such as Pitawala Pathana, Ranamure, and Laggala.

In the popular tourist attraction of Pitawala Pathana, Dumbara Mithuro have set up developments such as an eco-friendly rest area for visitors, information boards, and a 50m stone barrier that has helpedpreserve the habitat of the endemic Kirthisinghe’s marble frog (nannophyrys mamorata), a rare amphibian that is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN and is found only in Pitawala Pathana.Dumbara Mithuro have also intervened in the prevailing issue of heavy pesticide use in farming in the region with orientation programs that have helped convert many farmers in villages such as Ranamure to practicing organic agriculture.

Furthermore, they assist a community of more than 50 traditional doctors in the village of Ranamure with micro infrastructure projects to preserve the ancient practices that have survived in this region for centuries. Several natural watersheds and natural springs in the area have also been protected from over exploitation and contamination thanks to Dumbara Mithuro projects funded through the Small Grants Program. Mr. Arunakumara is as appreciative as he is enthusiastic. “The UNDP Small Grants fundshave really helped us reach out and intervene in critical areas that needed urgent attention. Today, we can be proud that we have helped create the sustainable solutions that these places always needed, andgiven the means for these communities to continue this in the future.”

The magnificent Rathna Ella in Hasalaka is an awe-inspiring sight. At 114 meters, it is the 14th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka, and is a water source that sustains more than 5,000 families as well as many farming communities living in the outskirts of Hasalaka. For the residents of the village of Rathna Ella, the waterfall is a precious asset which provides for their sustenance. It has also, in recent years, become a popular tourist attraction that has brought in new opportunities for the village community.

The Soba Mithuro Rathna Ella (Eco-Friends of Rathna Ella) is a small community organization made up of the villagers of Rathna Ella. Since their inception in 2016, the group have helped protect the falls from pollution with regular cleanups. They also actively inform visitors on ensuring no waste is left behind at

the falls and in the 2 and a half kilometer path that leads to it. Soba Mithuro have taken their community impact a step further by using funds from the Small Grants Program to empower local entrepreneurs to take advantage of the economic opportunities that have sprung with the influx of tourists to the falls.

“The funds have really helped bring the community together,” says Amila Krishantha, the Chairman ofSoba Mithuro. “We have used them to help support more than 40 local entrepreneurs and craftsmen who produce many types of products such as food products, garments, reed ornaments, and pottery. The community is very committed to protecting the waterfall and the surrounding environment becausemore visitors to the falls brings everyone more benefits.”

Credited with the discovery of more than 25 new species of reptiles and amphibians, and also the rediscovery of several species believed to be extinct for more than a century, Mendis Wickremasinghe is one of the most foremost herpetologists in Sri Lanka. While he conducts research all around Sri Lanka, the biodiversity of Knuckles has led him to remarkable discoveries that have earned him a reputation among the international zoological community.

“The Knuckles range is a very special place. It is home to many types of creatures that can be foundnowhere else in the world, but there hasn’t been proper research into it. This is why we have been focusing on it by conducting more research.” A beneficiary of the Small Grants Program, Mendisproposed to use the funds to launch investigations into discovering and categorizing two new species of amphibians in the Knuckles range.

The process of officially declaring a species is a lengthy one which involves many hours of work both in the field and in the laboratory, in addition to the stringent procedures of peer reviews and publication in international scientific journals. With the support of the Small Grants Program, Mendis exceeded his initial projections and even discovered more species than anticipated.

“We have already discovered and published one new species: aspidura ravanai, a type of rough-sided snake. I initially set out to find two species, but we ended up discovering 10 new species, and we arecurrently in the process of publishing them.” Mendis firmly believes that his work can create greater pressure on authorities to implement greater protections for the Knuckles mountain range and help preserve its pristine state for the future.