KANNELIYA RAIN FOREST

Kanneliya forest covers total of about 5305.9 ha and core unit of the Kanneliya forest reserve is about 5108.2ha. Kanneliya lies between 6° 09 - 6° 18° N and 80 19° - 80 27° E. Kanneliya is very important to biological diversity. Several waterways, waterfalls, rivers and small waterways at Kanneliya. Gin River is main and biggest water way of Kanneliya forest reserve. The forest has been subjected to selective logging from 1940 to 0987. Therefore, the forest department has developed a plan to management and develops the forest.

There are high proportions of endemism among the 234 identified woody tree spaces, with 141 being endemic to Sri Lanka. Totally there are 301 plant types can be found at Kanneliya forest reserve. Some 133 faunal species with 59 birds. 14 amphibians 32 butterflies, 7 snakes, 10 mammals. Several conservation programs held in Kanneliya for project this forest. Along with the new conse 

rvation initiative this forest seems to have got a reasonable regeneration and rich bio diversity as mentioned above. 

The biosphere consists series of parallel mountain ranges and valleys. The elevation ranges from 60 m to 425 m above sea level. Mean annual temperature is 27.0°C while annual temperature variation is 4°C-5°C. The forest receives a substantial rainfall of 3,750 mm. Many ancient taxonimic groups of Gondwana are present in these rain forests. They also relates to Indomalayan plants and animals. The forest complex act as an important catchment area for many rivers and streams flow through the area. The forest is the source for Gin River, which flows west to the forest and for Nilwala river which flows east to the forest. Kanneli, Nanikiththa and Udugama are the smaller streams of Kanneliya while Homa dola and Gal bandi dola are sourced by Nakiyadeniya and Deiyagala.

Some 220 fauna species recorded from the Kanneliya forests and forests around the Kanneliya. This includes 41 endemic species. The forest complex is home to 86 species mammals. This includes 4 species of shrews, 5 rodents, one carnivore and 2 primates. Out 26 endemic birds of Sri Lanka 20 of them can be seen in Kanneliya forest complex. Sri Lanka Spurfowl, Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Red-faced Malkoha, Orange-billed Babbler, Sri Lanka Blue Magpie are some of them. 20 percent of Sri Lanka's endemic freshwater fishes inhabit in the waters of Gin River and Nilwala River, which sourced by the springs of Kanneliya-Dediyagala-Nakiyadeniya. Among the forests' herpetofauna are 36 species of snakes, 17 endemic species belonging to 6 families. A total of 23 species of Lizards recorded in these rain forests.

A total of 36 species of snakes, including 17 endemic forms, belongings to six families have been recorded at Kanneliya since now. The recorded species include representatives of all venomous categories and species dwelling all habitat types. Within the reserve, a higher diversity of reptile fauna is found in the Kospalaketiya west side of Kanneliya Forest reserve.

 A total of 38 species of fishes, including 14 endemic forms, 20 fishes types out of them are endemic to Sri Lanka. Gin Ganga, Udugam Ela, Kanneliya Ela are most popular and suitable places to ground water fishes in Kanneliya forest reserve. Apacheilidae, Anguilidae, Belonidae, Channidae, Matacembelidae, Hetaropneustidae, Siluridae, Bagagridae and Gobilidae are most famous families of fishes.