Meemure area developing as a tourist attraction in the recent past has caused certain changes in the ecosystems and the lives of the communities in the nearby areas. Numerous hotels & lodges have been built with the emerging tourist industry. The water requirements for these hotels are full filled by obstructing natural water ways. As a result the natural watersheds fed by the water ways starting from the mountain tops are facing a risk of drying up. This has negative effects on the flora & fauna found in the water sheds & the cultivations such as paddy are receiving limited water supply. Therefore applying a proper mechanism to mitigate the risk of drying up of watersheds and to develop community level sustainable water conservation practices in the Knuckles Conservation Forest & the buffer zone is crucial. The communities in this area has recently distracted from the cultivation of crops such as millet, Sesame etc. has been used to cultivate new varieties of rice, which yields in less time period instead of traditional indigenous rice varieties. The farmers have abandoned the use of traditional pest management practiced and are using chemical pesticides. The traditional knowledge pertaining the traditional ecofriendly farming practices should be conserved and promoted through the project. Human and animal conflicts are common in this area. Especially troops of monkeys damaging the crops are a major challenge faced by the community. The project will address this issue also. Low income communities are stressing the forest for their needs and for income generation activities resulting damaging the eco system of the conservation forest. Forest fires occurring due to natural and manmade causes are a huge threat to the forest.

The following are the main outcomes of this project:

? Possibility of occuring & spreading forest fires in 50 ha reduced by 50%.
? Five watersheds and catchment areas linked to Hasalaka canal conserved.
? Soil degradation in 60 slopping farm lands reduced by 60%.
? Damages to farmlands and general life of 300 families due to strong winds occurring in some months reduced.
? Eco tourism improved and monthly income of 5 families increased by LKR 3000.
? 70 families have improved monthly income by Rs.3000 and crop damages from animals reduced by 20%.