CIFOR-ICRAF’s work in Sri Lanka focuses on identifying and overcoming barriers to agroforestry development, as well as capacity building through national and regional partnerships. On 14 September 2022, World Agroforestry (ICRAF) and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka signed a Host Country Agreement formalizing over two decades of collaboration and their shared commitment to green growth.

ICRAF is a delivery partner in the development of Sri Lanka’s ‘readiness duties’ for the Green Climate Fund, and is supporting the implementation of the National Adaptation Plan and its Nationally Determined Contribution.

Research areas include blending agroecological approaches and ecosystem-based adaptation to meet national commitments on climate, biodiversity and sustainable development; strengthening climate resilience among the subsistence farmers and agricultural plantation communities living in vulnerable downstream areas; pioneering highland restoration to protect water reservoirs through payments for environmental services; improved management of traditional agroforestry systems with high value trees and crops; identification of policy barriers to upscaling agroforestry; assessment of the contributions of agroforestry systems to environmental security; and knowledge sharing and technology transfer.