Sinharaja Rain Forest – By Thilanka Ranathunga
Source : Thilanka Ranathunga linkedin
Sinharaja World Heritage Forest, Man, and Biosphere (MAB) Reserve is the largest remaining undisturbed southwestern lowland rainforest in Sri Lanka, categorized as a tropical wet evergreen forest. Dense and mysterious Sinharaja is a forest for many activities: photography, leisure, and scientific exploration It is Sri Lanka’s greatest natural heritage.
It spans the districts of Ratnapura, Galle, and Matara. The altitudinal range of 210 to 1180 m. Sinharaja forests cover receives 3750-5000mm of rain throughout the year. The Plant density inside the forest is 240,000 plants per hectare. Sinharaja forest is highly recognized as a biologically unique ecosystem because of its endemic tree species (More than 60%) and many of them are considered rare. It does not stop from that. It is also home to over 50% of Sri Lanka’s endemic species of birds, mammals, butterflies, and many kinds of insects, reptiles, and rare amphibians. It was declared as an International Man and Biosphere Reserve (MAB) and a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1978 and 1988.
Sri Lanka is a continental island. Although the island has been connected with the mainland from time to time by land bridges since the initial separation, forests have been identified as being ecologically isolated. Western Ghats in India are the closest other moist forests to Sri Lanka. The Western Ghats of India and Southwestern Sri Lanka comprise one of the 34 biodiversity hotspots of the world. This shows the exceptionally high level of endemism and diversity. Also, the threat it faces.
The best period to visit the forest is between December and early April or between August and September.
