Abstract:
Most natural ecosystems in the wet zone are severely fragmented and interspersed between human
managed agro ecosystems and home gardens. There is growing evidence that traditional
agro-ecosystems contribute to sustain the regional biodiversity of many invertebrate and vertebrate
species. Analog forests, as a concept, is accepted by agronomists and conservationists, bringing
profits on a long-term, sustainable basis. Bangamukanda Estate is an example of an 18 hectares
plantation (tea, rubber and cinnamon) that has been converted into an analog forest. The objective of
the study was in assessing the current biodiversity in this 30-year-old analog forest with special
reference to vertebrate species and major plants. A total of 197 plants species were recorded of which
63 were endemic to Sri Lanka. A sum of 207 vertebrates species belonging to 79 families were
observed during the study period. From those, 48 species were endemic to Sri Lanka. The findings of
the survey clearly highlight the contribution of analog forest systems towards sustaining a rich
biodiversity. In addition, analog forest systems can be used to link the forest patches in the wet zone.
