Location of Sinharaja Rain Forest
Sinharaja Rain Forest (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the last viable remnant of state’s tropical lowland woodland spanning a vicinity of 18900 acres is found at intervals Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces of the south-west lowland wet zone of Sri Lanka. Sinharaja is delimited by rivers on 3 sides. On the north, Sinharaja is delimited by the Napola Dola and Koskulana Ganga. On the south and south-west area unit the rivers Maha Dola and Gin Ganga. On the west area unit the stream Kalukandawa foreign terrorist organization and stream Kudawa Ganga. To the east of Sinharaja is associate degree ancient pathway close to Beverley Tea Estate and by the Denuwa Kanda.
6°21′-6°26’N, 80°21′-80°34’E.
Reaching Sinharaja Rain Forest
From Northern or western elements of the country, you’ll reach Sinharaja Forest Reserve via Ratnapura, Kiriella, Kalawana, Weddala. From the South, you’ll enter Sinharaja Rain Forest from Deniyaya. coming back kind Hambantota, Udawalawe you’ll enter Sinharaja from Rakwana facet.
The total space of the Sinharaja Forest Reserve is eighteen,900 acres or seven,648 hectares. It ranges in altitude from 300m to one,170m.
Significance of Sinharaja Forest
Sinharaja Forest reserve is additionally home to over five-hundredths of Sri Lanka’s endemic species of mammals and butterflies, additionally as several styles of insects, reptiles and rare amphibians.
Establishment of Sinharaja Forest Reserve
Most of the realm of Sinharaha forest was originally declared a forest reserve underneath the Waste Lands Ordinance in 1875. In 1978, Sinharaja Rain Forest was enclosed within the international network of region reserves, established and maintained as a part of UNESCO’s Man and therefore the region (MAB) program. In October 1988, this reserve, at the side of a northeastern extension of it, was declared Sri Lanka’s 1st National wild Heritage space. In December 1988, the Sinharaja region Reserve became Sri Lanka’s 1st natural website to be added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Climate of Sinharaja Rain Forest
Meteorological records gathered from in and around Sinharaja over the last sixty years reveal the annual downfall of Sinharaja Forest has ranged between 3614mm to 5006mm and temperatures from 19°C to 34°C. The high downfall is attributable to 2 monsoons: south-west monsoons throughout May-July and therefore the north-east monsoons throughout November-January.
Physical options
Sinharaja Rain Forest could be a slim strip of an undulating piece of land consists of a series of ridges associate degreed valleys drained by a Byzantine network of streams, that flow into the Gin Ganga on the southern boundary and Kalu Ganga, via the Napola Dola, Koskulana Ganga and Kudawa Ganga, on the northern boundary.
Nature trails of Sinharaja Rain Forest
The two main nature trails of Sinharaja Rain Forest area unit those cause the height of Moulawella and therefore the peak of Sinhagala. each of those nature trails begins at Kudawa Conservation Centre (KCC) area unit equally gratifying and enlightening. The forest is densely jam-pawncked with tall trees growing in shut proximity, however, winding trails build the trekking. tiny streams of crystal-clear cool water, that’s home to a spread of fish, toads and crabs, crisscross the paths. and therefore the mixed species of birds area unit seen within the cover of woods.
Birdlife in Sinharaja Rain Forest
Sinharaja Rain Forest is home to varied autochthonic birds such as the Ceylon Hanging Parrot (Loriculus beryllinus), the Ceylon grey coraciiform bird (Ocyceros gingalensis), the Ashy-headed happy Thrush (Garrulax cinereifrons), Layard’s paroquet (Psittacula calthripae), the gallinacean (Gallus lafayetii ), the Spurfowl (Galloperdix bicalcarata), the Ceylon cushat (Columba torringtonii), the Brown-capped Babbler (Pellorneum fuscocapillum), the Red-faced Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus) and therefore the Ceylon Blue Magpie (Urocissa ornate) among others, area unit outstanding during this space.
19 of state’s twenty species of endemic bird species in Sri Lanka area unit found within the Sinharaja Reserve
Among the vulnerable bird’s area unit state cushat, Green-billed cuckoo, Sri Lankan white-headed oscine bird, Red-faced Malkoha, Green-billed Causal, state Spur fowl Sri Lankan Blue Magpie, and Ashy-headed Babbler, all of that area unit endemic.
Mammals, reptiles, amphibians and butterflies
Out of twelve endemic craniate species of the country, eight area unit found here. big squirrel, dusky-stripped jungle squirrel, badger viverrine mammal and endemic purple-faced leaf monkey and force Old World monkey area unit oftentimes seen.
Many vulnerable species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians and butterflies area unit found within the Reserve as well as the leopard. autochthony among mammals and butterflies is larger than five hundredths. Reptiles and Amphibia embody python, endemic inexperienced viper, endemic hump nosed lizard (Lyriocephalus scutatus) and rough-nose iguanid (Ceratophora Aspera).
Conservation Value Sinharaja
Conservation price Sinharaja is the last in-depth primary lowland tropical rain forest in the state. It holds an outsized variety of endemic species of plants and animals, and a spread of plants of renowned profit to man. Sinharaja Forest Reserve is that the last viable remnant of Sri Lanka’s tropical lowland rain forest; over hr of the trees area unit endemic and lots of that area unit rare; and there area unit twenty-one endemic bird species, and variety of rare insects, reptiles and amphibians (IUCN Technical Evaluation).
The semipermanent success of preserving Sinharaja depends upon the property development of its buffer and peripheral zones through a democratic approach action the involvement of native individuals. Construction of hotels on peripheral zones and constructions of roads over the protected area units are guaranteed to end in unrecoverable damages to the current world heritage website.
More : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinharaja_Forest_Reserve