Conservation
Conservation of Sinharaja Forest Reserve
- The Sinharaja forest reserve is composed of a Core zone and a Buffer zone. The core zone is composed of Tropical rain forest means wet tropical evergreen forest. But the buffer zone shows a diversity of forest types since it extends along a large sector of land.
- The Sinharaja rain forest is gradients over to the south-western slope of central hills. Thus, the intermediate zone between the two zones composed of Wet, Lowland Montanez forests. Conservation current status of Sinharaja is in satisfied level.
- Conservation status of Sinharaja is some what better than other forests of Sri Lanka. Sinharaja allocated to two zones like follows. 1. Buffer Zone 2. Core protected Zone
- Buffer zone is at the border of Sinharaja forest and about 3.2km wide. Because of buffer zone contiguous human associated with only buffer zone and then core protected zone is secured.
- In Kudawa Waddagala entrance Information center is available. Before the enter to core protected zone of the Sinharaja forest we have to request a guided man from information center. And also any student or any person can get more information of Sinharaja forest from Sinharaja Information center.
Core protected zones management
- In Sinharaja, Conservation Management is administered by the Forest Department under the Ministry of Lands and Land Development. Recognizing the need for maximum possible protection, it has recently been declared as a national heritage wilderness area under the National Heritage Wilderness Areas Act.
- The forest reserve area is also partially protected under the provisions of the Forest Ordinance.
- A conservation plan has been officially approved, implementation of which is being carried out under a cooperative agreement between IUCN and the Sri Lankan government, with additional funding from the Norwegian government.
- In order to ensure the strict protection of the reserve for scientific and aesthetic reasons, a scheme of zoning and management is proposed for areas outside the reserve.
- The creation and propagation of essential forest products, for sustained utilization, in areas outside the reserve is intended to meet local needs and thereby eliminate former dependence on resources within the reserve.
- Alternative strategies are either to establish a 3.2km-wide buffer zone round the reserve or to enlarge the area protected to about 47,380ha, with the reserve forming a strictly protected core area and surrounding areas set aside as buffers for various uses.
- Because of those types of conservation and management schemes Sinharaja is much secure from external human beings.
- Not only the conservation schemes started in such forests but also monitoring its situation, identifying the difficulties and continue its processes is required.
Human enrollement
- Sinharaja is surrounded by 22 villages with a population of approximately 5000 people. Only two villages, Warukandeniya and Kolonthotuwa are located within the reserve. The long history of human habitation in and around today's reserve, in fact compounds the problem of managing and conserving the forest. Most of the ancient harmless are found along the southern boundary of the reserve on the bank of Gin Ganga with a few located on the north- western side. Numerous ancient footpaths exist on the periphery of the reserve while there are three footpaths that run across the interior of the forest.
- The family structure is that of an extended family with parents, children and grand parents living together. The houses have small floor area, averaging 25 sq. meters and are constructed if wattle and daub. The roof is tatched with leaves of a forest treelet called Beru or with Bamboo leaves. Lately however, coconut leaves for tatching and clay tiles have begun to gain popularity as roofing materials.
- The staple food of the villagers is rice, Yams such as sweet potato and Manioc (Cassawa), Breadfruit and Jak fruit, grown in home gardens are often used as substitutes for rice. Other plants commonly found in home gardens are vines of betel (Piper betel) black pepper and passion fruit. Fruit trees such as papaya and banana are also grown. For most of their other needs the villagers depend on plants often found in the forest. The sap needed for the manufacture of Jaggery is obtained tapping the in Florence of the Kitul palm ( Caryota urens ).
- Another source of income is the manufacture of baskets and mats from rattan on 'wewal'. The villagers also exploit other plant products such as wild cardamon, resinuous exudates used as fumigating agents from Nawada ( Shorea stipularis ) and other shorea species.
- The exudates from Kekuna ( Canarium zelani-cum ) is used as a caulk for damaged boats and as glue for domestic purposes. Numerous plants used in the native 'ayurvedic'system of medicine are also collected and sold by the villagers, of particular significance being the stem of Weniwel (Coscinium fenestratum ) used by most Sri Lankan as an antidote for tetanus. Beraliya ( Shorea megistophylla ) provides a fruit which is often used as a substitute for flour.
Future affected with human constraints
- Now a days many measures taken to protect the Sinharaja, the future still holds a measure of uncertainly for this Reserve.
- Wilderness areas like the Sinharaja are often subject to the activities of those who week to exploit them on a commercial scale.
- The greatest threat, by far, to the Sinharaja is the ever-increasing demand for timber and plywood for construction and other purposes.
- As the logging project of the 1970's demonstrated, policy makers are often only too ready to take the easy way out and advocate the destruction of existing forests for development purposes.
- Further problems are posed by the demand for land by a rapidly expanding population.
- With the declaration of the Sinharaja as the first National Heritage Wilderness area grater legal security has been provide for its protection.
- Its excision is permitted only with the concurrence of the President and the Parliament of Sir Lanka.
- Meanwhile its recent declaration as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO brings it further international recognition.