The Sinharaja forest is the only undisturbed rain forest in Sri Lanka. It is About 9000 hcctares in extent. Many of the plants are very rare. Over 60% of the tree species are found only in the lowland wet zone of the Sri Lanka If these species of trees are allowed to get destroyed, the world lose them altogether. So it is important that much effort is made to conserve this rich, valuable and fragile haditat.
The Sinharaja rainforest is the largest rainforest reserve in Sri Lanka. In 1840 Sinharaja became a crown property. In 1988 the Sinharaja was made a National wilderness area In 1989 “ UNESCO ” included the Sinharaja forest in the world Heritage list, as the first National Heritage of Sri Lanka .
The Sinharaja forest is home to many rare animals, birds, butterflies, insects, reptiles and trees. Ferns and mosses grow well as the climate is humid because of heavy rainfall.
The vegetaion
Vegetaion means treess, shrubs, herbs and woody climbers. The average height of trees in the Sinharaja varies between 35 to 40 metres.
The animals and the birds
Sinharaja provides a habitat for animals. The plants provide them with food. There are large mammals as well as small ones living there. The purple faced monkeys can be observed easily. They move about in groups. There are herbivores, carnivores as well as mixed feeders. The wild pig, the sambur, the mouse-deer and the barking deer are some that you find in the Sinharaja. There is also evidence of the presence of the leopard. Among others are the rusty spotted cat and the fishing cat . There are many other varieties of small mammals.
Studies have recorded 147 species of birds. Some threatened species of birds are found in the Sinharaja. Among them are the blue magpie, the white – headed starling and the ashheaded babbler.
Reptiles
Studies have recorded 45 varietis of reptiles. These include snakes, lizards and tortoises. The viper and the cobra are among the venomouse species. Conservation of Sinharaja is of vital necessity. It ensures the maintehance of water resoureces . It also controls floods, which is a constant threat due to heavu rainfall in the area.
THE IMPORTANCE OF RAINFOREST
Tropical rainforests are located around the equator. The temperature around the equator the rate of water evaporation is high. As a result there is frequent rain in rainforests. They are found in south and central America, Africa, in the islands around Australia and Asia The rainforests are important to human existence and the surroundings. Rainforests are a rich soures of medicinal plants, Food and useful forest products . They maintain about 50% of the plant, animal,bird, reptile and insect species of the world . These forests help to maintain a regular rainfall. They also stand as a buffur against floods, droughts and erosion .These forests produce a significant amound of the world’s Oxygen.
