Introduction Biodiversity Sri Lanka

G. speciosa is rarely seen, although it had been recorded in scientific journals as far back as 1855, and surveys in 1971, 1974 and 1984 have recorded the species in Maskeliya and the Adam’s Peak wilderness. A few plants were found during a 2004/05 survey of the Ratnapura-Adam’s Peak trail and the fishing hut area of Maskeliya. Little wonder then that the discovery of a permanent colony of trees on Halgolle Estate in 2008 created much excitement, as this is a location where there are better hopes that the species can be preserved and protected.

Gordonia speciosa is an evergreen tree, with flowers of up to 15 cm in diameter. The tree clearly requires a high level of rainfall, as it has been found only in such areas. The flower contains 5 petals, as with the other species of Gordonia found in Sri Lanka. From its brilliant flower, G. speciosa produces a fruit, a little smaller than the size of a man’s hand. The tree grows up to 80 feet in height, and is scattered across the

Sri Lanka red slender loris

Loris tardigradus

Wewelthalawa Plain on the mountain top, above a height of 2,800 feet. Individual trees flower at different times of the year, which means that the flowers are never out of season, and one can find at least a few flowering trees at any given time. The flowers last about two weeks, after which the tree does not flower again for several months. A few trees are found by the side of the estate road, with many others deeper into the forest.

The Wewelthalawa Division, at 3,000-4,000 feet, is a perfect picture of virgin forest swathed in mist, brilliantly green tea fields, and marshy land, from which spring perennial streams that flow off the mountain to join the Wee Oya, a main tributary of the Kelani River which falls into the sea at Colombo. It is indeed a unique watershed containing rocky hilltops on all sides, where water runs off throughout the year creating a huge marshy area in the centre, from which the streams flow. Chief among these streams is the Olu Ela stream, which cascades from the mountain top as the breathtaking Olu Falls. Olu Falls, at 200 metres (656 feet) in height, is the 5th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka. It is the highest in the Kelani River Basin, and also in the Kegalle District.

Halfway down these hillsides lie the tea fields of Halgolle Estate, while above and all around them are thickly forested areas in which lurk leopards, sambur, jackals and many other creatures big and small.

Giant grey flying squirrel

Petaurista philippensis

Kelani Valley Plantations’ Wewelthalawa Forest Reserve directly borders a forest area in which the Department of Wildlife Conservation has proposed the creation of the AmanawalaAmpana Forest Reserve, which is a further 518 hectares in extent.

It is a region of plentiful rain, being located in the Sabaragamuwa Province, with 4,000 millimetres of annual average rainfall, lashing monsoon storms from the Southwest monsoon in May-June-July, and showers throughout the rest of the year.

Wewelthalawa and two nearby smaller mountains are somewhat isolated, which has led to it containing some very distinct species. The estate and the 3 mountains are not on a main route to any other region or town, which probably accounts for the fact that the forests on its flanks and the summit being relatively undisturbed.

The most detailed biodiversity survey, conducted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2009, documented 200 species of fauna and 199 species of flora. These included, according to the IUCN Red List of 2012, 45 endemic species, 3 classified as ‘critically endangered’ (2 butterflies and 1 amphibian), 13 ‘endangered’ (including 3 mammals – Painted bat, Sri Lanka slender loris and the Giant flying squirrel), 19 ‘vulnerable’ and a further 30 which are listed as ‘near threatened’.

The flora included 23 plant species that are endemic to Sri Lanka, and 6 that are listed as ‘threatened’. Another rare species of flora with gorgeous flowers that is found on Halgolle Estate is Helicia ceylanica, which is described by IUCN as “another scientifically interesting plant, which has evolutionary links with Australian flora and is a reminder of the land connection between Sri Lanka and Australia in the distant past of the geological time scale.”

Being situated quite close to the Kegalle district’s border with the Nuwara Eliya and Kandy districts, this is an estate with pristine views of Adam’s Peak which lies to the east. Sri Lanka’s main mountain ranges are just a short distance away, with the mountains around the towns of Nawalapitiya and Kitulgala being plainly visible.

Halgolle estate is classified as a low country tea estate due to its factory being at a lower elevation, despite the main tea fields being located between 2,800 and 4,000 feet.

Painted bat

Kerivoula picta

A cable-mounted ‘Green Leaf Carrier’

A cable-mounted ‘Green Leaf Carrier’, believed to be the only one still in regular operation in Sri Lanka, silently carries baskets of freshly plucked tea leaves, high above the jungle, suspended on a cable which winds its way for 3 kilometres, bringing the leaf in 25 minutes from the higher tea fields down to the factory area 2,000 feet below. It is powered by a truck engine especially converted for this purpose, located at the base of the cable, which means the noise of the engine is heard only at the start of the cable, and the carrier does not disturb any forest-dwellers. Each basket carries a load of up to 40 kilogrammes.

Atop Wewelthalawa is a ‘Mini World’s End’ with an astounding view where the clouds part to reveal the city of Colombo and the Indian Ocean beyond it. The view extends northwards, with the Negombo Lagoon in plain sight. Little wonder that Mount Wewelthalawa was home to a British army base and communication station during World War II, given its unfettered line of sight to Colombo and the sea.

The estate contains many other attractions such as the ‘Dripping Rock’ from which water drips off the side throughout the year, coming down from the watershed above. A Hindu shrine at the foot of this rock adds a touch of mystique. Yet another attraction is the ‘Bats’ Cave’, reached by a 100-foot suspension bridge across the Olu Ela stream, where one can sit and enjoy a magnificent view of the top of Olu Falls just 40 feet away. There is also a mountain face known as ‘J. R.’s Nose’ due to its shape which is reminiscent of the side view of the face of the former President of Sri Lanka!

Protecting the forest reserve

Protecting these rare species has become quite a task but there are other threats to the Wewelthalawa Forest Reserve as well. Although the estate road is a dead end, many outsiders from the Yatiyantota area try to travel up for enjoyment, to enjoy the wonderful view, most often on weekends and holidays. Unfortunately some are prone to alcoholism and littering the area. The estate’s management now keeps an eagle eye on the roads to ensure that such persons and such unruly behavior are kept out.

Another issue is the age-old habit of workers’ and their families collecting firewood from the forest, which can harm the ecosystem. The estate management has arranged for the workers to purchase LP gas cookers and cylinders on easy payment schemes, which has been quite successful and has led to a reduction of workers trespassing into the forest to collect firewood.

Periodic awareness creation programmes are carried out to impress upon the estate community the need for conservation of the environment, which include involving children in ecofriendly activities. The estate community itself has been clearly made aware of the importance of exotic species such as Gordonia speciosa, and there appears to be little threat to this tree from them.

Protecting Halgolle’s watershed

The estate management is currently implementing a comprehensive Watershed Management Plan that was prepared by IUCN, to enhance and protect its groundwater and streams, which is in turn providing a better environment for the hundreds of species of fauna and flora which consider Halgolle estate their home.

Another major effort that has been quite successful is Halgolle estate’s Nature Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Project which commenced as far back as 2009, with the support of Deutsche Bank AG, by which 3,000 indigenous trees were planted during a 4-year period at the top of Wewelthalawa. In a firm attempt to enhance the long term sustainability of this species, Kelani Valley Plantations and IUCN carried out a programme to propagate G. speciosa plants in Wewelthalawa. IUCN also planted some G. speciosa plants in Horton Plains.

Gordonia speciosa may have been hovering on the brink of extinction for decades or even centuries, but Kelani Valley Plantations PLC has amply demonstrated commitment to its conservation ensuring that this rare species has the best chance of surviving at Halgolle.

KAHAWATTE PLANTATIONS PLC Queensberry estate, Nuwara Eliya district

NEW SPECIES OF LICHEN AND PIONEERING CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH STATION

In a pioneering venture, Dilmah Conservation and the University of Colombo have teamed up to establish Sri Lanka’s first ever private sector led Climate Change Research Station. The station lies atop a unique mountain on Queensberry Estate, alongside a forest inhabited by a rare species of lichen that Kahawatte Plantations PLC is protecting - Heterodermia queensberryi, named after the estate itself.

Heterodermia sp.

In early 2016, Queensberry Estate will add to its fame with the commissioning of Sri Lanka’s first ever private sector led Climate Change Research Station. The estate is already well known in scientific circles with the discovery of a rare species of lichen, Heterodermia queensberryi, in 2014 and named after the estate.

The discovery of this new species shortly before construction began on the research station, is particularly interesting. Lichens are known to be extremely sensitive to changes in the environment, and act as bio-indicators of air pollution, ozone depletion and metal contamination - a living means to measure climate change. A symbiotic organism comprising a fungus, and either an algae or cyanobacterium which are capable of photosynthesis, lichens can occur in various forms and are found all across Sri Lanka from coastal rocks to peak forests. Even though they are frequently encountered, the dearth of knowledge on the subject entails that they go unnoticed.

This particular species is classified as ‘very rare’ and is endemic to Sri Lanka. It grows on the bark of trees in forests at high elevations, and has so far been found only on Queensberry Estate and on the nearby Horton Plains, and also on the Kalupahana region of the Knuckles mountain range.

Heterodermia queensberryi, discovered by Dr. Gothamie Weerakoon, is featured as the cover photograph of her 2015 book ‘Fascinating Lichens of Sri Lanka’ published by Dilmah Conservation, the first comprehensive catalogue of the country’s vast range of colourful lichens.

Merrill l J. Fernando, Founder of Dilmah, says in his foreword to the book: “Having spent many years of my life in Sri Lanka’s tea fields, I have noticed the common presence of lichens upon the tree barks and rocks and even on manmade structures. However I did not pay attention to the unassuming presence of lichens in and around our environment until a new species of lichen Heterodermia queensberryi was discovered at the Dilmah Queensbury estate in Nawalapitiya. It is through that discovery that I learnt the valuable environmental contribution of these overlooked organisms. Lichens are an essential but often unnoticed part of nature. There is a dearth of knowledge about lichens which is hampering people’s opportunities to learn more about and appreciate their important role in eco systems. I hope that ‘The Fascinating Lichens of Sri Lanka’ will stir an interest in young people to observe the world around them with keener eyes and understand the vital part played even by its ignored and seemingly insignificant constituents.”