The Department of Forest Conservation has officially gazetted an extended 1,200-hectare multi-tiered ecological buffer zone enveloping the northern periphery of the Knuckles Conservation Forest in Matale today, September 30, 2026.

The conservation decree follows rigorous satellite ecological mapping conducted with the University of Peradeniya, which detected encroaching commercial cardamom nurseries and soil erosion along fragile montane cloud forest watersheds in Rattota and Laggala. Under the newly enacted preservation framework, eco-guards equipped with geo-tagged aerial drones will maintain 24-hour patrols across the pristine ridge corridors that shelter endangered endemic species, including the Knuckles pygmy lizard and the purple-faced langur. Forestry officers confirmed that sustainable community bee-keeping and organic vanilla cultivation will be introduced for peripheral buffer villages to foster green conservation livelihoods.