What is Sinharaja famous for?
Located in south-west Sri Lanka, Sinharaja is the country’s last viable area of primary tropical rainforest. More than 60% of the trees are endemic and many of them are considered rare.
How old is the Sinharaja rainforest?
The rainforest likely formed during the Jurassic era (from 200 million years to 145 million years ago). This forest encompasses an area of 36,000 hectares (88,960 acres/360 km²).
What type of forest is Sinharaja?
primary tropical rain forest
Sinharaja is a Rain Forest and a biodiversity hotspot which is located in south west lowland wet zone within Sabaragamu and Southern provinces of Sri Lanka. Sinharaja rain forest is the country’s last viable area of primary tropical rain forest.
How many trees are there in Sinharaja forest?
The untapped genetic potential of Sinharaja flora is enormous. Out of the 211 woody trees and lianas so far identified within the reserve 139 (66%) are endemic. Similarly, high levels of endemism are perhaps true for the lower plants like ferns and epiphytes.
What are the trees in Sinharaja forest?
Sinharaja has two main forest types. One is the Dipterocarpus forests that occur in the valleys and on their lower slopes. Here almost pure stands of Hora (Dipterocarpus. Zeylanicus) and Bu Hora (Dipterocarpus.
How many waterfalls are there in Sinharaja?
There are 8 very beautiful waterfalls and unlimited waterways at Pitadeniya entrance to Sinharaja forest. Those are Kekuna falls, Pathanoya falls, Malmora falls, Brahmana falls, Galdoru falls, Uran Wetuna falls, Thattu falls and Duwili falls.
What are the trees in Sinharaja?
Which district is Sinharaja?
Sinharaja is a tropical rain forest encircled by Ratnapura, Galle and Matara districts. This evergreen land is the home for many endemic trees and rare species and indeed a World Heritage site.
What are the plants in the Sinharaja forest?
These include Depterocarpus zeylanicus, D. hispidus, Shore asp., Garcinia hermonii, xylopia championii, Mesua nagassarium, Loxococcus rupicola, Atalantia rotundifolia, Caryota urens), Calamus sp., Kokoona zeylanica, Elattaria, Coscinium fenestratum.
What are the waterfalls in Sinharaja forest?
How can we protect Sinharaja forest?
To protect the virgin Sinharaja Rainforest, we have carried out many campaigns to stop encroachment as well as destruction of its streams for mini-hydro projects. Further, we intend to setup a Conservation Centre on the way to the main entrance in Kudawa where future conservation work can be carried out effectively.
What are the boundaries of Sinharaja forest?
Boundaries of Sinharaja rain forest is as follows.
- Southwest – Low and wet zone, Sabaragamuwa and southern province.
- North – Nspolagamuwa, Koskulana Ganga.
- South – South West – Gin Ganga.
- West – Kalukanduwawa Ganga.
- East – Barley Tea Estate.