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in Sri Lanka - Ministry of Environment

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- Taxonomic research on closely related and problematic plant taxa us<strong>in</strong>g molecularmarkers- Population studies on threaten plant species- Phenology and reproductive biology <strong>of</strong> plants- Research on natural compounds obta<strong>in</strong>ed from lowland wet zone flora- Ethnobotanical researchConclusionsLowland wet zone flora <strong>of</strong> <strong>Sri</strong> <strong>Lanka</strong> are extraord<strong>in</strong>ary <strong>in</strong> terms <strong>of</strong> species richness, distribution,high degree <strong>of</strong> endemism and their biogeographic history. Dipterocarpaceae, Clusiaceae,Myrtaceae, Bombacaceae, Dilleniaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Sapotaceae are some <strong>of</strong>the dom<strong>in</strong>ant plant families <strong>in</strong> lowland wet zone <strong>of</strong> <strong>Sri</strong> <strong>Lanka</strong>. They dom<strong>in</strong>ate the lowlandra<strong>in</strong>forests that are fragmented, degraded and isolated throughout the lowland wet zone <strong>in</strong> <strong>Sri</strong><strong>Lanka</strong>. Habitat destruction, fragmentation <strong>of</strong> natural habitats, <strong>in</strong>troduction <strong>of</strong> exotic or <strong>in</strong>vasivespecies, and over exploitation <strong>of</strong> forest resources are some <strong>of</strong> the direct threats to the lowlandwet zone ecosystem.Conservation <strong>of</strong> nationally and globally threatened endemic plant species with special emphasison their population sizes is an urgent need. Multiple-use forest management systems canbe successfully applied to manage these ecosystem <strong>in</strong> a susta<strong>in</strong>able manner. Research onlowland wet zone flora has substantially <strong>in</strong>creased our understand<strong>in</strong>g on the value and theimportance this ecosystem. However, research has to be more strengthened and extended t<strong>of</strong>ully appreciate and implement mean<strong>in</strong>gful conservation strategies for this precious ecosystem.ReferencesAnon. (1995). <strong>Sri</strong> <strong>Lanka</strong> Forestry Sector Master Plan. Forestry plann<strong>in</strong>g unit, M<strong>in</strong>istry <strong>of</strong> agriculture, land andforestry, Colombo.Ashton, P.M., Gunatilleke, C.V.S., Zoyza, N., Dassanayake, M.D., Gunatilleke, I.A.U.N., & Wijesundara, S. (1997).A field guide to the common Trees and Shrubs <strong>of</strong> <strong>Sri</strong> <strong>Lanka</strong>. WHT Publications (Pvt) Ltd., <strong>Sri</strong> <strong>Lanka</strong>.De Rosayro, R.A. (1942). The soils and ecology <strong>of</strong> the wet evergreen forests <strong>of</strong> Ceylon. The Tropical agriculturist,98:4–35.De Rosayro, R.A. (1950). Ecological conceptions and vegetational types with special reference to Ceylon. TheTropical agriculturist, 56:108–121.Gunatilleke, C.V.S & Ashton P.S. (1987a). New light on the plant geography <strong>of</strong> Ceylon I. Historical plant geography.Journal <strong>of</strong> Biogeography, 14: 249–285.Gunatilleke, C.V.S & Ashton P.S. (1987b). New light on the plant geography <strong>of</strong> Ceylon II. The ecological biogeography<strong>of</strong> the lowland endemic tree flora. Journal <strong>of</strong> Biogeography, 14: 295–327.Gunatilleke, I.A.U.N. & Gunatilleke, C.V.S. (1990). Distribution <strong>of</strong> floristic richness and its conservation <strong>in</strong> <strong>Sri</strong> <strong>Lanka</strong>.Conservation Biology, 4: 21-31.Gunatilleke, I.A.U.N. & Gunatilleke, C.V.S. (1991). Threatened woody endemics <strong>of</strong> the wet lowlands <strong>of</strong> <strong>Sri</strong> <strong>Lanka</strong>and their conservation. Conservation Biology, 55: 17-36.Gunatilleke, C.V.S., Gunatilleke, I.A.U.N. & Abeygunawardena, P. (1994). An <strong>in</strong>terdiscipl<strong>in</strong>ary research <strong>in</strong>itiativetowards susta<strong>in</strong>able management <strong>of</strong> forest resources <strong>in</strong> lowlands ra<strong>in</strong> forest <strong>of</strong> <strong>Sri</strong> <strong>Lanka</strong>. Journal <strong>of</strong> Susta<strong>in</strong>ableForestry, 4: 95-114.Gunatilleke, C.V.S., Gunatilleke, I. A.U.N. & Ashton, P.M.S. (1995). Ra<strong>in</strong> forest reseach and conservation: theS<strong>in</strong>haraja experience <strong>in</strong> <strong>Sri</strong> <strong>Lanka</strong>. The <strong>Sri</strong> <strong>Lanka</strong> Forester, XXII (1&2): 49-60.Gunatilleke, C.V.S., Gunatilleke, I.A.U.N., Ethugala, A.U.K., & Esufali, E. (2004). Ecology <strong>of</strong> S<strong>in</strong>haraja ra<strong>in</strong> Forestand the Forest Dynamics Plot <strong>in</strong> <strong>Sri</strong> <strong>Lanka</strong>’s natural World Heritage Site. WHT publications (Pvt) Ltd., <strong>Sri</strong><strong>Lanka</strong>.179

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