Knuckles Range Sri Lanka
l Maps
of Sri Lanka
l Map
of the Knuckles Range
l Images
of Knuckle Range
l Historical
state of Knuckle Range
Knuckles Mountain Range has really important
historical value because it is one of the valuable heritages in Sri Lanka. During prehistoric periods, there is archaeological evidence show that ancient Yaksha settled
in this area. And also, people live in Knuckle Range area believe that the name ‘Lanka’ comes from folklore. The Knuckles Mountain Range is an
invariable referent in any salutary appreciation of the last kingdom of the Sinhala
Kanda Udarata.
l Human
impacts on Knuckles Range
Over grazing can clearly be seen in Pitawala patana plains in Knuckles range, and over use of agricultural chemicals by farmers for paddy cultivation is a threat to the environment. In addition to these, people who visit Knuckles Mountain Range litter the non-biodegradable materials such as glass bottles, plastic, and polythene into the environment. Hena cultivation and man-induced fires in hena
land have resulted in destruction of forest especially in the buffer
zone of the Knuckles. Spread of invasive alien species is also a threat
to the natural ecosystems, native wild plants and animals of Knuckles Mountain
Range. The common invasive alien plants in the area include lantana
(Lantana Camara), koster’s curse (Clidemia Hirta)
and wild sunflower (Tithonia Diversifolia).
Direct exploitation of Species is also a major problem in this area. Human activities such as illegal felling of timber and fuel wood
species and
illegal hunting of animals can be seen in this area. Further shooting animals or
set traps guns and noose traps to kill animals, collection of fish species from
streams for the ornamental fish trade and collecting of herbaceous plants for
ornamental plant trade are threats to the natural resources in this area. Over
collection of plants and animal species for commercial purposes and research.
/study purposes, cause a major thread, mainly to the endemic and threaded
species in the area.
l Future
prospects for Knuckles Range
I believe that the Knuckles Range can be
preserve well in the future because there are organizations like Socio
Environment Foundation already pay attention to the environment status of Knuckles
Range. The only thing I am worried about is that if Knuckles Range become a popular tourist sight, it will be hard to maintain the environment.
l Improve
Human Impacts
People should provoke the
correct use of agricultural chemical, so the instructions should be delivered
to everyone. Besides that, people should set a right amount of time for grazing
in order to slow down the destruction in Pitawala patana plains in Knuckles
range. Signs should be built to keep the tourists from littering. Finally,
government should reinforce the consequence that will do to the environment if
these illegal hunting of animal and illegal felling of timber continuous.
l Data
Reference List
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00254-006-0399-6?LI=true
http://www.knucklesrange.org/sef.html
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/lk.htm
http://flickrhivemind.net/Tags/knuckles,srilanka/Interesting
