Bio Diversity in Hunuwela Estate
Let’s Protect Biodiversity in Streams & Stream Bank Vegetation
Let’s Protect Biodiversity in Streams & Stream Bank
Vegetation
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<strong>Bio</strong>diversity<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>Hunuwela</strong><br />
What is Watershed<br />
Management?<br />
A large variety of plants and<br />
animals can be found <strong>in</strong> <strong>Hunuwela</strong><br />
<strong>Estate</strong>. So far, 440 species of plants<br />
and 224 species of animals have<br />
been found here. This <strong>in</strong>cludes<br />
35 dragonfly species, 94 butterfly<br />
species, eight freshwater fish<br />
species, 14 amphibian species, 22<br />
reptile species, and 51 bird species.<br />
Brook Hooktail<br />
Wijaya’s Scissortail<br />
A watershed is an area conta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />
streams that flow <strong>in</strong>to the same river.<br />
Watershed management is the management<br />
of a watershed to keep its streams healthy<br />
and water quality high. <strong>Hunuwela</strong> <strong>Estate</strong> is<br />
a watershed for numerous streams.<br />
Out of the animals, 45 species<br />
are endemic and out of the plants, 106<br />
species are endemic. ‘Endemic’ means<br />
that the species can only be found <strong>in</strong><br />
Sri Lanka. Two very rare species of<br />
reptiles, which are critically endangered,<br />
can also be found here. These are<br />
Munidradasa’s Lanka sk<strong>in</strong>k and the<br />
Peak Wilderness day-gecko. <strong>Hunuwela</strong><br />
is also home to four globally critically<br />
endangered and threatened dragonfly<br />
species. These are the Rivulet Tiger<br />
and Wijaya’s Scissortail (both pictured<br />
below doesn’t look appropriate.),<br />
Sri Lankan Lyrate Grappletail and<br />
Sri Lankan Nietner’s Grappletail.<br />
Why is <strong>Hunuwela</strong>’s<br />
<strong>Bio</strong>diversity<br />
Important?<br />
<strong>Hunuwela</strong>’s biodiversity provides<br />
food, protection from storms and landslides,<br />
pest control, clean water, medic<strong>in</strong>e, cultural<br />
and emotional well-be<strong>in</strong>g and many other<br />
th<strong>in</strong>gs. All species have a role to play <strong>in</strong> our<br />
ecosystem, so if one is lost, the ecosystem<br />
goes out of balance. For example, bats<br />
eat thousands of mosquitoes every<br />
night. If there is a decrease <strong>in</strong> bats, there<br />
will be many more <strong>in</strong> mosquitoes. The<br />
same would apply to frogs and <strong>in</strong>sects,<br />
as well many other plants and animals.