Vertebrate diversity in a thirty year old analogue forest in Pitigala, Elpitiya, in the Galle District of Southern Sri Lanka

Most of the natural ecosystems in the wet zone are severely fragmented and interspersed between human managed agro ecosystems and home gardens. There is growing evidence that traditional agro-ecosystems contribute to sustain the regional biodiversity of many invertebrate and vertebrate species. Analogue forest as a concept is accepted by agronomists and conservationists, which would bring profits in the long-term sustainable basis. The Bangamukanda Estate is an example of a 18 hectares plantation (tea, rubber and cinnamon) that has been converted into an analogue forest. Objective of the study was to assess the current vertebrate diversity in this 30-year-old analogue forest. Total of 206 species of vertebrates belonging to 74 families were observed during the study period, out of that 58 species were endemic to Sri Lanka. The findings of the survey clearly high- lighted the contribution of analogue forest systems towards sustaining a rich biodiversity. In addition analogue forest systems can be used to link the forest patches in the wet zone.