Floristic Diversity Assessment In Salgala Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Sri Lanka is relatively a small island in size with only 65,610 km2 of land and its Physical Geography is highly varied, resulting in a unique and very significant diversity in faunal and floral species. Vegetation analyses have recognized fifteen different floristic regions (Figure-1) within the country (Aston and Gunathilleke, 1987) having 3360 plants species belonging to 1070 genera and 180 families (Peeris, 1975). A remarkable feature in floristic diversity seen in Sri Lanka is that, 90% of its endemic species are confined to the rain forests found in the west zone, having a land area of 15000km2 . It is a reflection of the island's separation from the Indian subcontinent. Although, the south western part of the island represents a significant diversity in flora, a large proportion is also found in that region in wet zone of the island. Thus, human activities altered the areas covered by forests since historic periods through their multiple activities, include agriculture, livestock, industry, living space and recreation etc. The human activities and practices undertaken in converting natural forests exert a definite impact on the fragmentation of large forest areas and it has been decreased significantly in last few decades. Transformation into secondary forests and isolated plots duly has raised an adverse impact on the floristic richness in the island to a grater degree. Especially the extensive deforestation in the wet zone has put most of endemic species top in the extinction list. Therefore, an assessment floristic diversity and analysis of vegetation of these isolated forests found in the wet zone has been identified as a fact of great importance and a needy investigation. Exploration of Salgala forest reserve, which is in fact an isolated floristic patch, would be of great help to disclose the phytosociological information and phytogeographical distribution, which were never been explored and made known so far. The richness of information and understanding of a particular ecosystem helps to extend innovative and environmental friendly planning and development strategies.