A Silvicultural Glance at

Matara District

IntroductionMatara which is situated in the southern province

of SriLanka can be partly catogorized into Wet Zone as well on the other hand some parts of the district is belong to the Intermediate Zone.

Therefore we can notify various kind of tree species in here which are belong to both Wet and Intermediate Zones. There is a part of Sinharaja Rain forest in the Matara district. Because of this we can see a huge biodiversity among tree species in Matara District. Also there are several natural forests and silvicultural forest plantations within the district.

In this project we were asked to find out the states of permission for transporting the various kind of timber species within the district and out side of the district. Also we had to find out information about few endamic tree species that can commonly seen in Matara area.

In this case we had to deal with Matara district divisional office of Forest Department and Secretaries' Office.

This is a Project report which was prepared with contribution of all our group members .

States of Permission for TransportingThe Timber in Matara District

•The Forest Ordinance and the State Timber Corporation have marked rules, regulations, and limitations regarding transportation of timber species within, into and out of administrative districts of SriLanka. •The forest ordinance in which the above restrictions are included has been amended several times and the prevailing information was taken from the government gazettes of February and April 2005.

Timber species which are required permits to transport in

Matara District

The timber species other than following shall not be transported within, into, or out of Matara District without a permit from authorized person.(As mentioned in forest ordinance-amended 2005)

Common Name Scientific NameCoconut Cocus nusiferaAreca nut Areca catechuKadju Anacardium occidentalezCultivated Cinnamon Cinnamomum zelanicumKottamba Termanaliya katappaGadumba Trema orientaleGan Sooriya Thespesia populeneaPulun Ceiba pentandraCultivated Mango Mangifera indicaKithul Caryota urenesAlbizia Albizia molueeanaAmbaralla Spondias pinnataKatu Embul Bombax ceibaGliricidia Gliricidia sepiumHawari Nuga Alastonia marcophyllaLunumidella Melia azedarachSabukku Greville robustaRambutan Neprllium lappaceaumEpil Epil Leucaena leucocepalaKanda Marcaranga peltataWana Sapu Canana odorataGoda Kaduru Strychnos nux-vomicaDiwi Kaduru Pagiantha dichotoma

Erabadu Erithrina variegateKohomba Asardirachta indicaWeera DrypetessepiariaHalmilla Berriya cordifoliaDamaniya Grevia demineEucaliptus spp.Gini Sapu Michelia champacaTuna Toona ciliata

Inside the Matara district unmarked or unstamped timber of following species shall be deemed to be the property of the state ,unless and untill any person establishes his right as provided in chapter 6 of the ordinance.

Common Name Sciencetific NameRubber Hevea brasiliensisCoconut Cocus nusiferaArecanut Areca catechuCultivated cinnamom Cinnamomum zelanicumPulun Ceiba pentandraAmbaralla Spondias pinnataAll mango species(without Atamba)

Magifera indica

Gliricidia Gliricidia sepiumMangosteenKarabuAliperaErabudu Erithrina variegateBeliRambutaan Neprllium lappaceaumWilloSapadillaLawaluAlbizia Albizia molueeanaKottamba Termanalia katappaIpil Ipil Leucaena leucocepalaDurianKihthul Caryota urenesWeera DrypetessepiariaWana SapuGinisapu Michelia champacaGadumbaGan SooriyaKendaKatu EmbulKadju Anacardium occidentaleLunumidella

Any timber species except Kaluwara can be transported within any Municipal council areas in Srilanka, without permission.

All timber species (exported) should be given Permission to transport within Matara district other than following species.

Beets Madhuca utilisKuving Diprocarpus spp.Kempus Koompassia malaccensis

Kolimi Dipterocarpus spp.Kakatong Cynometra spp.

Tholan Scorodocarpus spp.Resak Vetica sppPinuses(except carebia and satula)

Pinnus spp.

Authorized officers who have the authority for set out Timber

Transport Permits in Matara District

•Divisional Forest Officer (DFO)•Assistant Divisional Forest Officer•Forester•Range Forest Officer (RFO)-Matara, Akkurassa, Kamburupitiya, Deniyaya•Divisional Secretaries & Assistant Divisional Secretaries-Matara, Waligama, Kamburupitiya, Hakmana, Pasgoda, Kotapola, Malimboda, Akurassa, Dikwalla, Thihagoda, Mulatiyana, Dondra, Pitabaddara Kirinda, Puhulwalla•An authorized Officer of State Timber Corporation (STC)

Endemic plant species to Srilanka

(Commonly found in Matara District)

Kekuna Canarium zeylanicum

Aridda Campnosperma zeylanicum

Kataboda Cullenia ceylanica

Atamba Mangifera Zeylanica

Heenbata Ochlandra stridula

Canarium zeylanicumKekuna

Conservation status

Scientific classification

Kingdom : Plantae(unranked) : Angiosperms(unranked) : Eudicots(unranked) : RosidsOrder : SapindalesFamily : BurseraceaeGenus : CanariumSpecies : C. zeylanicum

Binomial Name Canarium zeylanicum

•This tree is also called as “Ceylon Almond” & “Dik Kekuna”.•It can be easily identified by its smooth light coloured bark &

oval leaves with drip tips & aromatic sap.

Habitat: This endemic tree is mainly found in the low country wet zone in SriLanka.

Description: A very tall tree, about 40 m height with a buttressed trunk and smooth pale brown bark

Leaves: They are compound. About 3 or 4 pairs of leaflets and a terminal leaflet.leaflets are generally oval-shaped with distinct ‘drip tips’ pointed and extended apices-characteristic of rain forest species. Venation is noticeably yellow.

Flowers: Insignificant light creamy male & female flowers can be seen each with 3 petals. The flowering season is from May to September.

Fruits: It’s an oblong purplish drupe,with a bluish-grey “fuzz” on it.

Uses•The bark yields a clear, fragrant resin which is used for scenting and fumigating houses.

•oil was extracted from the keernal for using in small oil lamps in rural houses.

•In there past bunches of seeds were hung up & lit in rural houses.

•The bark is also used in Ayurveda for treatment of Pyorrhoea & halitosis & other aliments such as diabetes.

•The wood has been used in the match industry, with the result this species is now rare in certain areas.

Campnosperma zeylanicumAridda

Conservation status

Scientific classification

Kingdom : Plantae(unranked) : Angiosperms(unranked) : Eudicots(unranked) : RosidsOrder : SapindalesFamily : nacardiaceaeGenus : CampnospermaSpecies : C. zeylanicum

Binomialname Campnosperma

zeylanicum

Habitat: The tree can be found in canopy layer of rain forests in wet zone.

Leaves: Terminally crowded, varying in size, elliptic to oblong, base tapered as well apex is rounded to reuse lateral veins,20-25 pairs nearly at right angles to midrib, beneath refocus scaly.

Trunk: Twigs conspicuously leaf-scarred,IB-red brown layers.

Fruits: They are purple in colour,pulpy,apiculate,as well adrupe inside a low rimmed disc.

Flowers: Inflorescence -axillary, spikes

Cullenia ceylanicaKataboda

Conservation status

Scientific classification

Kingdom : Plantae(unranked) : Angiosperms(unranked) : Eudicots(unranked) : RosidsOrder : MalvalesFamily : MalvaceaeSubfamily : HelicteroideaeGenus : CulleniaSpecies Cullenia ceylanica

Habitat: The tree can be seen in rain forest canopies in wet zone.

Leaves: Leaves are deep green above & beneath golden & scarly.Leaf is narrowly elliptic & having a rounded base. Apex is acuminate. Main veins are prominent & other veins inconspicuous. petiole is swollen at apex.

Trunk: The bark is smoothly & grey. Wood is pale red & fine grained light.

Flowers: They are ramiflorous & covered by densely tawny scales which are conspicuous.

Fruits: Fruits are globular & spiny. The dehiscent capsule has a white inside. Seeds are brown with orange-brown aril.Uses: Wood of the tree is used as furniture. As well it is used for paneling & decorative work.

Mangifera ZeylanicaAtambha

Conservation status

Scientific classification

Kingdom : Plantae(unranked) : Angiosperms(unranked) : Eudicots(unranked) : RosidsOrder : SapindalesFamily : AnacardiaceaeGenus : MangiferaSpecies : M. zeylanicaBinomial name Mangifera zeylanica

•The tree, which a native plant to SriLanka is also called as ‘wild mango’.

Habitat: The tree is mostly found in in the low country both in wet & dry zones up to 1000 meters.

Description: A tall tree about 30m in height ,branching profusely towards the top. The crown is of foliage usually like a half circle. The dark brown bark is cork-like & slightly furrowed vertically.

Leaves: Impel, lance-shaped, leathery leaves arranged in spiral at the end of each stem. Venation is prominent on the under surface.

Flowers: Small inflorescences with small creamy flowers which may be male female or bisexual.

Fruits: The fruits are oval-shaped & slightly flattened side ways with characteristic beak-like tips. They are distinct from the cultivated species as they are much smaller (3-4 cm).Although these fruits are edible, they do not taste good unlike fruited of the cultivated variety, Mangifera indica.

Uses: The wood from this species is used to make chests for packing tea. Most of the plant parts have medicinal values.

Ochlandra stridulaHeenbata

Scientific classification Kingdom : Plantae(unranked) : Angiosperms(unranked) : Monocots(unranked) : CommelinidsOrder : PoalesFamily : PoaceaeSubfamily : BambusoideaeSupertribe : BambusodaeTribe : BambuseaeSubtribe : MelocanninaeGenus : OchlandraSpecies Ochlandra

stridula - Ceylon reed bamboo,

Habitat: Wet lowlans &in the row hills in the western & southern parts of the country.A bamboo native to Sri Lanka. Bamboo has many uses worldwide from building materials to paper.

Leaves: Oblong- lanceolate, apex long, rough, ending in hairs, margins stiff, Leaf sheath thickened at end, fringed with long, bristly, deciduous hairs.

Stem: Many branches from base, sometimes with purple blotches slightly zig zag, Culm Sheaths, Glabrous, apex rounded, auricles bristly, Sheath blade, reflexes at angles to Culm.

Flowers: Spike or spikes-like leafy branches.

Fruits: ovoid, large, fleshy, beaked pericarps

Uses:The bamboo (Ochlandra Stridula) craft industry is part

and parcel of the social fabric of the villages of Batuwita, Kimangoda, Batuwitta Janasaviya, Kahagala South and Urapola in the Matara district.

Basketry, Flutes, wattle, thatching-leaves

.Bamboo has many uses worldwide from building materials to paper.

•A field guide to the common trees and shrubs of Srilanka,byoAshton MarkoGunatilaka SavitrioDe Soyza NeelaoDassanayaka M.D.oGunatilaka NimaloWijesundara siril

•What tree is that? By,oMiththapala ShiryanioMiththapala P.A.

•Government Gazette-2005 Feb•www.wikipedia.com•www.biodiversityinternational.org/publications•www.backyardgardner.com

References