Long before we heard that Jane Goodall was busy saving chimpanzees from extinction and much before we were given her message that life is not only about making money, we decided to set up a project that would add meaning to our lives.

With the turn of the century we had to take a decision on the best possible use of a 40 acre patch of neglected rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) in the Sabaragamuwa Province. This was a time when the clichŽ "climate change and global warming" was not yet in vogue. Everyone was busy planting tea and cutting down the remaining patches of rain forest in the area.

The project Mahausakande took off during his lifetime and he was gone before he could appreciate the fruits of his vision. He visited the site when he was inspired to make the recommendations and thereafter during the many discussions we had with him we understood that regeneration would be of real value only if we took the following into account:

¥ The need to re-introduce the endemic woody species and more especially those that were indigenous to the Sabaragamuwa, Province.

¥ The activity to have a close partnership with the neighbouring village.

¥ The quality of life in the village to be targeted through the project.

¥ The project to have as its focal Point, the youth of the province so that they could be stimulated to bring about "change" over a period of time.

¥ To make the place visitor friendly, easily accessible for those who were genuine nature lovers and make a visit affordable by providing facilities that would be within their means.

¥ To introduce a mechanism that would include environmental conservation as a part of personal growth and not a thing apart.

¥ To take steps to protect the endangered species e.g. Stemnopethicus, vetulus (The purple faced leaf monkey) and other mammals now rarely seen.

Each year we bring in small groups of students from the Sabaragamuwa Province to share his vision that "life is not only about making-money" We promote conservation ideals coupled with health promotion by setting up small discussion groups in the Lyn de Alwis Discovery Centre. The Youth of the Sabaragamuwa Province are being awakened to their responsible role in mitigating the harmful effects of climate change and global warming. The residential programme introduces them to the concept of health promotion which includes sensitivity to the environment.

Since January 2008 the HSBC has supported the project, making it possible to place it on a truly scientific footing. For the true nature lover, Mahausakande presents an unforgettable experience because it combines the regeneration of a forest with the regeneration of the human spirit.

Today the plants we have introduced since 2005 are well established with more than 10,000 indigenous species growing vigorously. This is in addition to the plants that are growing naturally as a result of the seedfall from the abutting nature reserve.

The women of the village are busy supplementing their income through self-employment, utilising waste materials. There is a constant flow of small groups of nature lovers who are introduced to the memory of the man who showed us the way; the man who truly appreciated the value of nature and our responsibility to save our environment.

Mahausakande is a small project but intent on preserving the memory of a man who lived the life of the environmental conservationist. This was perhaps the last of his many contributions to environmental protection. But perhaps this might be considered as the most meaningful and most unlikely to be forgotten contribution.