 Nature Secret at Yagirala Forest Reserve Station
 A stunning and secret nature
haven is situated in the Kalutara district. Even though this forest is
managed by the Sri Lanka Forest Department, a block of 40 hectares was
given to the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science of the
University of Sri Jayewardenapura (USJ) for uplifting and strengthening
education in this area. Ever since then, the university was the pioneer
in maintaining a forest for education purposes in Sri lanka.
This rainforest is used for field activities of forestry students and
for research, and can be reserved for visitors and visiting foreign
students and researchers.
The Yagirala Forest Reserve is situated in the Low Country Wet Zone
of Sri Lanka, being a “true tropical rain forest”. Located quite close
to Colombo, it provides the chance of having a rain forest
expedition with less time in getting there. In addition to this, the
Yagirala Forest is the location for many sacred religious, cultural,
historical and environmental sites which give visitors a heavenly sense
of Mother Nature.
Forest inventory, Forest Management and Wildlife management
practicals are conducted in this forest for the University students and
also training and environmental education sessions are held for the
school students.
According to Sydney G. Banyard from the University of Sri
Jayewardenapura, the 40 hectares of Yagirala Forest allocated to the USJ
consists of blocks of Pinus caribaea plantation, a small stand of
Albizia falcataria, degraded Wet Zone natural forest and a small patch
of Gleichenia linearis (kekilla). This is being developed for training
and research purposes.
Initial work focused on creating access to the pine plantation
(having dense Ochlanda stridula (bata) undergrowth), and underplanting
using an intimate mix of indigenous species (mainly hora, bedidel,
Indian del, kos, nedum, sapu, pihimbiya, madan, na, batadomba, kekuna,
hedawaka, lunumidella). Over 5,000 metres of access lines and footpaths
have been established.
A 10 by 10 metre grid system, which will be used for management
purposes and which will form the basis of a Geographic Information
System (GIS) database, is being created.
All woody plants larger than 1 cm are being inventoried and entered
into a computer database. Two nature trails have been created and a
clear potential for ecotourism and recreation is recognised. The paper
done by the USJ gives background information, some interim research
results on regeneration under pine and emphasizes the potential for
training and research and future prospects for the USJ forest at
Yagirala.
-ND
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