Analog forest’s contribution to biodiversity conservation; a biodiversity assessment of an analog forest on a private property in south-western wet zone of Sri Lanka

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.