Where is sinharaja forest reserve

An additional 2, hectares is considered Proposed Forest Reserve. There are endemic species in Sri Lanka, and many of these can be found in Sinharaja Forest Reserve. Sinharaja is translated to mean lion Sinha and king raja , a name chosen because of a legend involving a princess and lion king. The forest was originally declared a royal reserve and in all logging was halted and the rainforest gained protection to preserve its ecosystem. Interesting Sinharaja Forest Reserve Facts: Sinharaja Forest Reserve is considered to be an internationally important region of great biodiversity.

Sinharaja Forest Reserve is made up of ridges in east-west direction and bordered by rivers. The highest peak in Sinharaja Forest Reserve is Hinipitigala at a height of meters. When selective logging took place in the s native hardwood trees were replaced with mahogany but this was not a tree natural to the region.

The roads originally built for logging purposes were allowed to grow over and are no longer there, making the reserve only accessible by foot. We generally send two to three e-newsletters per month. First name. Last name. Travel, experience, conserve with. Pretty bamboo orchids grow beside the trails, and many trees are adorned with epiphytes A wonderful diversity of butterflies occurs in the forest, including spectacular blue morphos and bird-wings, dancing like windblown paper through the high canopy.

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Discover Brochure Blog Why us Contact. A total of 00 such Mocks were systematically observed, and studies have revealed that some [locks contained 48 species including 12 endemic species, There are endemic birds to be seen in Sinharaja are the Red-faced malkoha, the Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, the Ashy-headed Babbler, the White-headed Starling and the Green-billed Coucal the rarest of Sri Lankan birds.

The agamids are the best represented group of reptiles, the most common being the Green Garden Lizard. Of special significance are the sightings of Calotes liolipis an arboreal species, the rarest of all agamids found in the island.

The only tortoise recorded in the reserve is the Hard- shelled Terrapin, while of the species of skins, the spotted skink can be seen often. Urocisa ornata — Sri Lanka Blue magpie he amphibians fairly well represented in the reserve and ine endemic species have been identified. Ramanella palmata a rare ndemic species is the only microhylid recorded so far while ie yellow-banded Caecilian is the only spodan recorded. Poeple Sinharaja is surrounded by 22 villages with population of approximately people.

Most of the ancient harmless are sund along the southern boundary of the reserve on the ank of Gin Ganga with a few located on the North-Western ide. Numerous ancient footpaths exist on the periphery of 1e reserve while there are three footpaths that run across ye interior of the forest. The family structure is that of an extended family with parents, children and grand parents living together.

The roof is thatched with 2aves of a forest Lreelet called Beru or with Bamboo Icaves. The staple food of the villagers is rice, yams such s sweet potato and manioe Cassawa , breaclfruit and jak fruit, gown in home gardens are often used as substitutes for rice plants commonly found in home gardens are vines of betel Piper betel black peppers and passion fruit.

Fruit trees such as papaya and banana are also grown. For most of their other needs the villagers depend on plants often found in the forest. The sap needed for the manufacture of jaggery is obtained tapping the, inflorence of the Kitul palin Caryota urens. Another source of income the manufacture of baskets and mats from rattan or wewal.

The villagers also exploit other plant products such as wild gardamon ; resinuous exudates used as fumigating agents from Nawada Shorea stipularis and other shorea species.

The exudate from Kekuna Canariunt zevlanicum is used as a caulk for damaged boats and as a glue for domestic purposes. Boraliy: 1 - Shorea megistophylla provides a fruit which is often used as a bstitute for flour. Although recent studies indicate that villagers do not depend in Sinharaja 3 as a primary source of income, the fact remains that, to the villager the forest is an easily accessible store house of wealth awaiting exploitation.

Most of the people living in the region are poor and often have large families. Their level of education is low. In addition, employment opportunities like industrial enterprises in the region are very limited. It is therefore not surprising that belongs to them and as a place which could give some sort of livelihood. Maha Hedaya — A medicinal Plant The outstanding feature of Sinharaja stated above shows that conservation of its biological diversity and genepool is of Vital necessity.

Another aspect closely linked with conservation of Sinharaja is the importance of this area as an invaluable watershed. Conservation of Sinharaja would not only ensure the maintenance of water resources and reduce the intensity of floods which is a constant threat in this part of the island, characterized by heavy rainfall.

The Forest Department of Sri Lanka is directly responsible for the management of the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, it is managed primarily as a unique genepool and as a watershed, hence totally protected. It is desirable that you, who visit the forest, be sensitive to the need to conserve forests such as Sinharaja. Contrary to the chaos and congestion prevailing in urban areas, it is in forests that the quality of life is best expressed.

In addition man finds peace and tranquility in forest. The Senkanda Cave A hermit by the name Senkanda lived in this rock cave.