Sri Lanka Montane Rainforest

 Sri Lanka Montane Rainforest

The Sri Lanka Montane Rain Forests ecoregion represents the island's montane and sub-montane wet  forests above 1,000 m. After the Miocene-era geologic upheaval over 7 million years ago that created these mountains, the forest and the species in them have been isolated from the rainforests in the Indian subcontinent. Over time, the flora and fauna evolved into new species that are now endemic to the rainforests of Sri Lanka, including to the montane rainforests.

The forest vegetation ranges from the tall sub-montane forest to cloud forests with stunted twisted tree on wind swept slopes in the upper mountains rising to over 2,500m. The  could forest are characterized by moss draped endemic Rhododendron species giant tree ferns of Cyathea species and an understory with endemic
strobilanthes species that bloom every twelve years creating a tapestry of purple yellow and orange. The could forests are interspersed with montane grasslands but have now been extripated. However the Sri Lankan leopard and their principal prey sambar deer are still abundant here.

The monsoon wind and rain along with morning fog and mist play a large part in shaping the forest communities and their structure. The strong winds restrict the trees from growing tall on the higher slopes with shallow soils. 

 

Over the past two centuries most of the montane rainforest have been cleared for large tea plantations. Although this made ' Ceylon Tea ' a famous brand worldwide .it took a heavy toll on the island's biodiversity; we will never know the full extent of the endemic  biodiversity that has been lost forever .