Sinharaja Forest Reserve

Sinharaja Forest Reserve
IUCN category II (national park)
View from the Blue Magpie Lodge
Location	Sabaragamuwa and Southern Provinces, Sri Lanka
Coordinates	6°25′00″N 80°30′00″E / 6.41667°N 80.50000°E / 6.41667; 80.50000Coordinates: 6°25′00″N 80°30′00″E / 6.41667°N 80.50000°E / 6.41667; 80.50000
Area	88.64 km² (34.22 sq mi)
Established	April, 1978
Governing body	Department of Forest Conservation

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Criteria	Natural: (ix), (x) ^[1]
Reference	405
Inscription	1988 (12th Session)
[edit on Wikidata]

Sinharaja Forest Reserve is a national park and a biodiversity hotspot in Sri Lanka. It is of international significance and has been designated a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The hilly virgin rainforest, part of the Sri Lanka lowland rain forests ecoregion, was saved from the worst of commercial logging by its inaccessibility, and was designated a World Biosphere Reserve in 1978 and a World Heritage Site in 1988. The reserve's name translates as Lion Kingdom.

The reserve is only 21 km (13 mi) from east to west, and a maximum of 7 km (4.3 mi) from north to south, but it is a treasure trove of endemic species, including trees, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

Because of the dense vegetation, wildlife is not as easily seen as at dry-zone national parks such as Yala. There are about 3 elephants, and 15 or so leopards. The most common larger mammal is the endemic purple-faced langur.

Birds tend to move in mixed feeding flocks, invariably led by the fearless greater racket-tailed drongo and the noisy orange-billed babbler. Of Sri Lanka's 26 endemic birds, the 20 rainforest species all occur here, including the elusive red-faced malkoha, green-billed coucal and Sri Lanka blue magpie.

Reptiles include the endemic green pit viper and hump-nosed vipers, and there are a large variety of amphibians, especially tree frogs. Invertebrates include the endemic common birdwing, butterfly and leeches.

Flora

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Fauna

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Social Integration

The reserve is well-integrated with the local population that are living in some dozens of villages dotted along the border. The villages are more in number along the southern border whilst the presence of some large estates along the northern border has resulted in only a few villages there. The locals collect herbal medicine, edible fruits, nuts, mushrooms, other non-timber forest products including bees honey and a sugary sap collected from a local palm species of the genus Caryota. The sap is converted into jaggery, a local brew and vinegar. Local people walk in the forest to collect above items when they are not busy with their other agricultural pursuits. In addition, the crystal-clear water coming from dozens of streams is the main water source for all people living around the reserve. For generations, local people trekked through the forest from south to north to make their annual pilgrimage to the Adams Peak.

Staying

There are several bungalows to stay on the border of the reserve. Morning Side bungalow, Pitadeniya rough accommodation, Kudawa dormitory accommodation. It is also possible to stay in several village houses practically along the southern border of the reserve from Beverly Estate all the way to Warukandeniya. All government accommodation has to be booked with the Forest Department. It may be possible to book estate bungalows also located along the boundary of the reserve. Staying in village houses is fun and exciting though the facilities are minimal. One may have to work through a local guide to arrange a suitable village/house for accommodation.

Gallery

A waterfall in Sinharaja Rainforest
Rainforest vegetation
Common Birdwing
Vegetation of the Sinharaja
A stream in the reserve
A waterfall in Sinharaja
The high tree canopy in the reserve
Xenochrophis asperrimus

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sinharaja Forest Reserve.