Sri Lanka's Sinharaja Rainforest Corridor
Rainforest Rescue's Plant a Rainforest Project in Sri Lanka is creating rainforest corridors and buffer zones in order to protect a major rainforest remnant in Sri Lanka.
The Sinharaja Forest Reserve is situated in the south-west lowland wet zone of Sri Lanka. It was declared a biosphere reserve in April 1978, and inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1988. Sinharaja is the last extensive primary lowland tropical rainforest in Sri Lanka.
The total area of the Sinharaja Forest Reserve is 18,899 acres or 7,648 hectares. It ranges in altitude form Ranges from 300m to 1,170m. Sinharaja’s annual rainfall ranges from 3614mm to 5006mm and temperatures from 19°C to 34°C.
 Dipterocarpus (Keruing) tree |
Protection of Sinharaja and the rainforest surrounding the Reserve is subject to socioeconomic issues relating to the people living in the immediate vicinity. Encroaching cultivation and the taking of trees for timber degrade the rainforest. The most important forest produce accessed by local people is firewood, of which significant quantities are collected as well as cane for weaving baskets. There are two villages within the south-west of the Reserve, and at least 20 other settlements occur on the periphery. The extent to which local people are economically dependent on rainforest resources is variable but about 8% of households might be completely dependent. On privately owned land near the Reserve rainforest is also being cleared for tea estates and oil palm plantations.
Reducing pressures on the Sinharaja Forest Reserve and assisting the local communities to reach a sustainable livelihood is a project of Sri Lankan based organisation Rainforest Rescue International. In the past few years their project has established a community education program and a rainforest nursery that has propagated over 100,000 trees. They have also purchased several small areas of land on which to be based and that will contribute to the creation of a corridor between Sinharaja Forest Reserve and the nearby Kanneliya forest. Your support will help us to extend the important work of this project.
Click here to make a donation now.
|
Endangered and rare species
Endangered or rare birds in the project area and reserve include the Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon, Green-Billed Coucal, Sri Lankan white-headed starling, Sri Lankan Blue Magpie, and Ashy-headed Babbler, all of which are endemic. 19 of Sri Lanka’s 20 species of endemic bird species are found in the Sinharaja Reserve. Many threatened species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians and butterflies are found in the Reserve including the leopard. Endemism among mammals and butterflies is greater than 50%.
Your donation will help to:
- Secure a threatened World Heritage listed rainforest by linking the Sinharaja Reserve and adjoining Kanneliya forest.
- Create rainforest corridors between the two largest remaining rainforests in Sri Lanka.
- Replant degraded forest patches and riparian habitat by propagating endemic and threatened rainforest trees.
- Assist farmers in developing sustainable livelihoods thereby removing pressures on the rainforest.
- Educate the local community
Click here to make a donation now.
More Information
[ Back to Top ]
