A
world heritage site in Sri Lanka
Our
little island Sri Lanka is blessed with many forests. Among those Sinharaja is considered
as the largest tropical rainforest which is home to many rare animals, birds,
insects and reptiles. It is the only undisturbed forest, about 9000 hectares in
extent. This contains many rivers and streams. It also contains a large number
of plants used for Ayurvedic medicine. In addition 60% of trees found here are
endemic to Sri Lanka.
In
1840 Sinharaja become a crown property. It was made a National Wilderness area
in 1988. Eventually, Sinharaja was included in the world heritage list by “UNESCO”
in 1989 as the first national heritage of Sri Lanka.
Sinharaja
provides a habitat for thousands of animals. Plants provide them with food. There
are herbivores, carnivores and mix feeders. It is a forest with a high degree
of biodiversity. Every scrap of island is hated with vegetation of some sort. Trees
have slender trunks which break out in a cluster of branches near the top. Also
they are enveloped wonderfully with variety of climbing plants and rope like
thick creepers. The earth of the forest is very dark and silent.
Unfortunately
this National heritage has faced a threat today, due to merciless collectors of
wild life specimens. Some valuable plants and animal species are being smuggled
under hand. But this is legally protected and no one can cut down the trees or
destroy it in anyway. It is truly a national treasure.
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