 | Introduction |
| | The most sensitive and species rich forests in Sri Lanka are scattered in the south-western wet lowland region of the island. These forests are highly fragmented and degraded due to human population pressure of the heavily populated western province. Human settlements, Plantations, Industries and various small and large scale water harvesting projects have created very severe effects on the wet lowland vegetation shrinking it to 9% of the total land area of that province.
It is our experience that the majority of the endemic flora are highly sensitive and very difficult to grow elsewhere in the island successfully.
Therefore it is very essential to establish a rescue centre within the wet lowland region where threatened and vulnerable flora could be conserved satisfactorily for the future.
There is a fast growing floriculture industry in Sri Lanka and the country is earning foreign exchange worth of over 1 billion rupees per year from floriculture. The botanic gardens are conducting training programs for the people interested in floriculture and this site will be used as a model farm and training centre for export oriented floriculture. | | Objectives |
| The main objective of the project is the ex-situ conservation of wet lowland plants. The garden will also provide opportunities for ecotourism and economic development in this area and to model wet zone landscape improvement. These objectives will be achieved when the garden opens officially to the public.
In the longer term, within the first 3-5 years, the garden will feature those plants that are lesser known and under utilized in the wet zone; promote the export floriculture, herbal industry; and provide education and training on botany and floriculture in the wet zone.
| | The main objectives of the new botanic gardens are: |  | Ex-situ Conservation of wet lowland zone flora; | | | Studies on lesser known and under utilized plants in the wet lowland zone; | | | Export Floriculture Promotion | | | Herbal Industry Promotion | | | Education and training on botany and floriculture | | | Eco tourism promotion |
| | | | Specific problem to be addressed by project |
| Biological diversity is known to have declined at an unprecedented rate due to of habitat loss, fragmentation, invasive alien species, over-exploitations/over-harvesting, pollution of soil, water and atmosphere, desertification, global warming and climate change, industrialization and economic development.
The benefits of conserving wet lowland zone habitat and its distinctive vegetation are largely long term, though no less significant for that. The rich agro-biodiversity in the Island’s farming systems is experiencing many threats due to unplanned land use, pollution, fragmentation and alteration of farming systems. The garden can play a role in ex-situ conservation of some of the more important components of agro biodiversity found in the wet lowland zone.
| | Relationship of project to national priorities |
| Any new public amenity creates direct and indirect economic benefits at local level. Local employment and training opportunities will be created at a local level. The demand for both products and services will increase, some to meet the needs of a growing garden amenity and others as a result of the increased public traffic created by the garden over time.
The Government Policy also emphasizes conservation of biodiversity and sustainable policy for environment conservation which are directly related to this project.
| | |  | Improved economy in Avissawella area. | | | Recovery of endangered Wet Lowland Plant species. | | | Renewed interest on and development of export floriculture industry in the area. | | | Upgraded landscape features. | | | Improved floriculture and herbal industries using native wet lowland zone plants. | | | |
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