The project will render operational a new land use governance framework known as Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) as a vehicle for safeguarding globally significant biodiversity on production lands of high interest for conservation. This is important as PAs alone will not be able to secure the effective conservation of globally significant biodiversity, due in part to the high beta and gamma diversity of the country, and the fact that the PA system is not wholly representative of the country bio-geography. Moreover, the loss of habitat on production lands adjacent to PAs is leading to their progressive insularisation. Using the land use planning and management framework as the entry point, the project aims to optimize land management and ensure the compatibility of multiple land uses across landscapes designated as ESAs with biodiversity needs. Government legislation provides for the creation of ESAs but there is an unmet need (addressed through this project) to operationalise them. The project will put in place the necessary land use planning and governance frameworks, and establish compliance monitoring and enforcement systems to ensure that mechanisms for land use permitting and allocation in ESAs are configured to balance conservation and development objectives, to protect major habitat blocks and ensure structural and functional connectivity across the landscape. In this regard, it will ensure that the indirect impacts of development (e.g. impacts of roads and other infrastructure) are adequately understood and factored into decision making. ESAs will be comprise a mosaic of land uses, the most sensitive areas within which will be established as no- go areas for development. While setting up the systemic capacities to manage ESAs (plan, regulate, and enforce management prescriptions), the project will also operationalise Sri Lanka first ESA in the Kala Oya basin. Thus it will deliver immediate global benefits, while improving long term conservation prospects across the country.