Sri Lanka has globally significant biodiversity that is currently threatened by deforestation, land degradation, and unregulated exploitation of natural resources. According to estimates, the 8,220 square kilometers of protected area can support only 1600 elephants which is about 50% of the estimated population of wild elephants. The remaining elephants need land outside of the protected areas for their survival. Thus setting aside enough habitat to support a large population of elephants will depend on the tolerance of the people who will need to share their land. People will tolerate elephants in their backyards only if they can benefit from their presence, are adequately compensated for their losses, and are provided protection from the frequent elephant attacks on their crops, property and lives.

The objectives of the project, are to develop solutions at the community level to reduce conflict through a better understanding of elephant ecology, biology, human needs, and elephant management technology. Specifically, this project will erect a 15 kilometer solar-powered electric fence to protect homes and fields in four villages: Pansal Godaha, Parana Lahugala, Nawa Lahugala and Dewalagodaha situated along the southern boundary of the Lahugala Kitulana National Park from raiding wild elephants. This will also facilitate the establishment of a critical elephant corridor connecting the Yala National Park to the Lahugala Kitulana National Park. Subsequent monitoring of the effectiveness of the fence and the patterns of human-elephant conflict will be integrated into a paying volunteer program to make it sustainable over the long term.