Securing and permanently protecting 34 acres of pristine lowland rainforest within Sri Lanka’s Sinharaja Forest Complex that was at risk of conversion to agriculture and tourism development.
The project will safeguard habitat for numerous endemic and threatened species, strengthen connectivity between forest areas, and prevent further fragmentation within one of the world’s most important tropical rainforest landscapes. It also represents the starting point of PLANT’s long-term vision to establish a network of protected forest sites around Sinharaja.
Acres Saved
“This area supports exceptionally high levels of endemism, including more than 30% endemicity amongst animals and over 75% endemicity amongst larger flowering plants. Puro’s funding will enable the acquisition of one forest property and contribute towards securing a second adjacent property.”
NGO:
Preserving Land and Nature (Guarantee) Ltd (PLANT)
Reserve name:
Species One Thousand Initiative in Sinharaja, Sri Lanka
We have saved:
34 acres
Total reserve size:
49 acres
Biodiversity:
No studies have been carried out within the target properties. However, the nearby Sinharaja Forest Reserve (also located within the Sinharaja Forest Complex) is one of Sri Lanka’s premier biodiversity refuge, recognised as both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve.
The forest provides habitat for numerous threatened and endemic species, including the Red Slender Loris (Loris tardigradus, EN), Sri Lanka Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya, VU), Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata, EN), Serendib Scops Owl (Otus thilohoffmani, EN), Sri Lanka Blue Magpie (Urocissa ornata, VU) and the Critically Endangered Ceylon Rose Butterfly (Pachliopta jophon). The rainforest also supports endemic canopy tree species such as Dipterocarpus hispidus, Dipterocarpus zeylanicus and Diospyros quaesita.
Habitat type:
Pristine tropical lowland rainforest. Unlike many surrounding forests, the project area has remained uncultivated and retains the complex, multi-layered structure typical of intact rainforest ecosystems.
Elevation:
Ranges from 300-450 meters a.s.l.
Location:
Located within the Sinharaja Forest Complex in south-west Sri Lanka, within the Sri Lanka Lowland Rain Forests ecoregion. The forest lies adjacent to important conservation areas including the Delgoda Important Bird Areas.
Saving the Rainforest
We have been buying and protecting rainforest in partnership with World Land Trust, since 2005. Take a look at all the Puro Rainforest Reserves we have created together so far.
