(2017). Those on the eastern slopes of the central massif and around the Uva basin are called upland savannas while those in Moneragala and Bibile and in the Gal Oya basin are known as lowland savannas. The dry patana grasslands, located between 500 – 1000 m elevation, are relatively widespread, occurring in the Uva basin, and around Gampola, Nawalapitiya, Hantana and Rakwana. As the climate across the Knuckles Massif varies considerably, its associated landscape is equally as diverse. The largest single expanse occurs as a crescent extending from Siripada to Pidurutalagala (across the Nuwara, Eliya and Horton plains). Floristically they are less rich than the forests of lower altitudes, but about 50% of all their species are endemic to Sri Lanka.

However mangroves are being destroyed for the expansion of human settlement and for aquaculture. Dense strips of mangroves also occur in the southwest and southern coasts. The tree trunks branch lower down and show no buttresses, compared with those in rainforests.

These so-called pygmy rain forests can be found, for example, on Knuckles Wilderness. It is considered one of South Asia’s most important sites for the conservation of tropical montane forest habitats, and is one of the most significant of Sri Lanka’s natural heritage highlights in terms of biodiversity. More than 60% of the 306 tree species that are endemic to Sri Lanka are found only in the lowland rainforests and some more are shared with montane and dry zone forests. These forests have a relatively sparse undergrowth but are rich in epiphytes and lianas. The Rose Quartz Mountain Range has a history that spans back over 550 million years! The Sri Lanka Montane Rain Forests [IM0155] represents the montane and submontane moist forests above 1,000 m in the central massif and in the Knuckles Mountain Range to the northeast. Ecological Regions Of Sri Lanka. There are many types of fauna of which some are adapted to this specific environment. are extracted from mangroves.

Of these mammals 70 percent are smaller than a small cat. Their canopies normally reach heights of about 30 feet but on rare occasions extreme dwarf varieties of these jungles occur reaching no higher than about 3 feet.


It takes its food from the air. The The vegetation of this ecoregion is determined by the climate and the The montane forests accommodate more endemic species than the Montane rain forests harbours eight near-endemic mammals, and five are strict endemics.The near-endemic and strict endemic mammals harbours in the area listed below.Reptiles in Sri Lanka show more endemism than birds and mammals.The reason for the dying back of montane forest is attributed Invasive exotic plant species such as Mist Flower (Currently the ecoregion is being protected by five protected areas. Knuckels range, Peak wilderness, Hatton, Kotagala, Upper slopes of Sinharaja and Deniyaya, Sooriyakanda forests are examples. A catchment is where the rainwater is absorbed into the soil and released steadily throughout the year.These forests are located in the transition zone or between the tropical rain forests and dry mixed evergreen forests. Sri Lanka's montane forests are located above 1220 m.Sri Lanka detached from the Deccan peninsula during the end of the Some of the mountain peaks of the central highlands reach above 2500 m, although the average height is 1800 m. The average annual rainfall ranges from 2000–2500 mm. Epiphytes and lianas are relatively sparse in this forest type. In addition, different types of grasslands occur in the wet and dry areas, in the lowlands as well as in the hills.