Deforestration
STATUS OF FOREST INVASIVE SPECIES IN SRILANKA N.D.R. Weerawardane Forest Department, Sri Lanka
Country Background Introduction
Sri Lanka is a tropical island with a land area of About 6.5 million hectares. This country lies between 50 52’ North and 79o 41’ and 81o 54’ east. The country has a tropical climate with monsoon dominated rainfall. Total land area is about 65,610 sq km. The island consists of a mountainous area in the southcentral parts and a vast coastal plain, which surrounds it.
Despite the relativity small size of the country, there is considerable variation in climate. There are three major ecological zones depending on the rainfall in the country viz: wet Zone, Intermediate Zone, Dry Zone and Arid Zone. The altitude varies from sea level to more than 2000 m. Both rainfall and altitude differences bring about a variety of climates in the country as shown in the following table.
Climatic and altitudinal zones of the country
Climatic Zone Wet zone Intermediate zone Dry zone Arid zone
Rainfall (mm) >2500 >1750- 2500 1000-1750 < 1000
Altitudinal Zone Low country Mid country Up country Montane zone
Altitude (m) 0-300 m 300-900 m > 900 m > 1500 m
The Sri Lanka’s population was around 18.1 million by mid-1998. Population growth has declined from 1.5% in during eighties to 1.2% in 2001. The population is projected to reach 23.1 million by the year 2031. The population is unevenly distributed across the country and nearly 60% is concentrated in the wet zone. Sri Lanka is one of the most densely populated countries in Asia with a density of 300 persons per square kilometer in year 2000 (Anon, 2000).
Until the 1960s the Sri Lankan economy depended heavily on the export- oriented plantation crops of tea, rubber and coconut. With the adoption of open economic policies in 1970s and the liberalization programme started in late 1980s increased the market orientation of the economy emphasizing export led growth and the development of the
Country Background Introduction
Sri Lanka is a tropical island with a land area of About 6.5 million hectares. This country lies between 50 52’ North and 79o 41’ and 81o 54’ east. The country has a tropical climate with monsoon dominated rainfall. Total land area is about 65,610 sq km. The island consists of a mountainous area in the southcentral parts and a vast coastal plain, which surrounds it.
Despite the relativity small size of the country, there is considerable variation in climate. There are three major ecological zones depending on the rainfall in the country viz: wet Zone, Intermediate Zone, Dry Zone and Arid Zone. The altitude varies from sea level to more than 2000 m. Both rainfall and altitude differences bring about a variety of climates in the country as shown in the following table.
Climatic and altitudinal zones of the country
Climatic Zone Wet zone Intermediate zone Dry zone Arid zone
Rainfall (mm) >2500 >1750- 2500 1000-1750 < 1000
Altitudinal Zone Low country Mid country Up country Montane zone
Altitude (m) 0-300 m 300-900 m > 900 m > 1500 m
The Sri Lanka’s population was around 18.1 million by mid-1998. Population growth has declined from 1.5% in during eighties to 1.2% in 2001. The population is projected to reach 23.1 million by the year 2031. The population is unevenly distributed across the country and nearly 60% is concentrated in the wet zone. Sri Lanka is one of the most densely populated countries in Asia with a density of 300 persons per square kilometer in year 2000 (Anon, 2000).
Until the 1960s the Sri Lankan economy depended heavily on the export- oriented plantation crops of tea, rubber and coconut. With the adoption of open economic policies in 1970s and the liberalization programme started in late 1980s increased the market orientation of the economy emphasizing export led growth and the development of the