Udawalawe area is one of the fastest developing tourist attractions in Sri Lanka, due to the recent infrastructure development of the Udawalawe National Park. Therefore it is an ideal setting for an environmental conservation programme focused on protecting the spot-billed pelican (Pelecanus philippensis). Eco Friendly Volunteers (ECO-V) aims to educate the villagers and the fishing community on pelican conservation action programmes.

The project will first identify pelican habitats. Two villages (Ekamuthugama and Maha Ara) in Udawalawe were selected as they contain fishing communities who depend on the Udawalawa reservoir for a living. Approximately 200 tanks in the area have been visited to observe pelican habitats and movements and approximately 160 tanks have been found as habitat sites with only one so far a breeding site.

ECO-V will also increase community awareness on protecting the pelicans by designing and printing 2000 posters and leaflets for distribution. ECO-V has already held two workshops at the army camp and two more workshops and ten lectures were completed at schools. They have also held an exhibition and have shown a film on pelicans and other environmental issues. This way, by relying on community support, ECO-V will succeed in conserving this species.