Sinharaja Rainforest

......The Sinharaja rainforest is the only undisturbed rainforest left in Sri Lanka. It is about 9000 hectares in extent. Many of the plants are very rare. Over 60% of the tree species are found only in the lowland wet zone of Sri Lanka. If these species of trees are allowed to get destroyed, the world would lose them altogether. So it is important that much effort is made to conserve this rich, valuable and fragile habitat.

......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.

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The importance of rainforests

Tropical rain forests are located around the equator. The temperature around the equator is high. Hence the rate of water evaporation is high. As a result there is frequent rain in rain forests. They are found in South and Central America, Africa, in the is lands around Australia and Asia. The rain forests are importance to human existence and the surroundings. Rain forests are a rich source of medicinal plants, food and useful forests 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 buffer against floods, droughts and erosion. These forests produce a significant amount of the world’s oxygen.