The plentiful isle of Sri Lanka is renowned for its natural beauty and biodiversity, and therefore, it should come as no surprise that the country has declared 501 areas as protected. Such protected areas presently come under purview of the Department of Forest Conservation and the Department of Wildlife Conservation in the country. Among such protected areas include the Knuckles Mountain Range and Sinharaja Forest Reserve, both of which are renowned destinations for both tourists and locals alike. The commitment of the Sri Lankan state to environmental management, conservation and preservation is evident in the fact that the declared number of protected areas is much higher than those in Asia.
When visiting the coastal belt, residing in Balapitiya hotels allow tourists the opportunity to visit one such protected area, the mangroves of the Maduganga River. In fact, tourists residing in resorts such as Shinagawa Beach Balapitiya will have the additional benefit of having boat rides through the mangroves organised on their behalf so that they can witness the beauty of the local mangroves for themselves. You can also plan an excursion from here to Sinharaja Forest Reserve, another major protected area in the country.
Located in the Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces of the island, the Sinharaja Forest Reserve was established in 1978. Given its national importance as a biodiversity hotspot in the island, the Forest Reserve was designated a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1978. It also enjoys the distinction of being a World Heritage Site, a title it received in 1988.
Sinharaja is also to by reptile species such as the Green Pit Viper, which is a species endemic to the island, even though there is little wildlife in the reserve due to the density of vegetation. Given that around twenty endemic bird species reside in this reserve, it is no surprise that Sinharaja is protected by concerned locals and environmentalists against commercial logging and pollution.
Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travelers.
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