Natural forests in Sri Lanka

Natural forests in Sri Lanka
Ecology
RealmIndomalayan
BiomeTropical forest
BordersIndian Ocean
Geography
Area10,825 km2 (4,180 sq mi)
CountrySri Lanka
Climate typeTropical climate

Sri Lanka exhibits a remarkable biological diversity[1] and is considered to be the richest country in Asia in terms of species concentration.[1]

In 2019 a total area of 16.5%[2] of Sri Lanka was forested. In 2010, it was 28.8%[3] (and 32.2% in 1995.[4])

9.0%[5] of Sri Lanka's forests are classified as primary forest (the most biodiverse form of forest and the biggest carbon sinks on Earth).

Sri Lanka's forests contain 61 million metric tons of carbon in living forest biomass (in 2010[5]).

Between 1990 and 2005 alone, Sri Lanka lost 17.7% of its forest cover.[2]

  1. ^ a b Convention on Biological Diversity (a part of the UN environment programme)
  2. ^ a b thediplomat.com
  3. ^ According to the U.N. FAO : https://rainforests.mongabay.com/deforestation/2000/Sri_Lanka.htm
  4. ^ "FRA 2000 – Forest resources of Sri Lanka – Country report". www.fao.org. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Sri Lanka Forest Information and Data".