High Conservation Value Forest ASSESSMENT of Lalan Rubbers Pvt. Ltd. Dr. S.P. Nissanka Department of Crop Science Faculty of Agriculture University of Peradeniya Peradeniya Acknowledgement Principal investigator wishes to thank Research Assistants of the study, Mr. Indika Kumara Peabotuwage and Mr. Pulasthi Pathirana for providing technical assistance in field sampling, tabulation of data and documentation activities. Official thank for the Lalan Rubbers Company Pvt. Ltd for providing necessary facilities during the project period. CONTENT Introduction 3 Objectives 4 Methodology 5 Result and discussions 7 Executive summary 38 Reference 42 Appendix 45 INTRODUCTION High conservation value forests (HCVF) are the forests, which are having high ecological and/or social values, such as forests that are more valuable in terms of biodiversity and ecological values, and providing numerous services for local people. Six parameters were used in identifying a HCVF. Two forest patches in estates of Lalan Rubbers Pvt. Ltd (Cinchona block in Muwankande estate and Nugahena forest of Woodend Estate) havealready been considered as HCVF.Here, high conservation values of the forest patches present in the Estates of Lalan Rubbers Pvt. Ltd were evaluated under the following six criteria. HCV 1.0 Globally, regionally or nationally significant concentrations of biodiversity values HCV 1.1 Protected Areas HCV 1.2 Threatened and endangered species HCV 1.3 Endemic species HCV 1.4 Critical temporal use HCV 2.0 Globally, regionally or nationally significant large landscape level forests HCV 3.0 Forest areas that are in or contain rare, threatened or endangered ecosystems HCV 4.0 Forest areas that provide basic services of nature in critical situations HCV 4.1 Forests critical to water catchments HCV 4.2 Forests critical to erosion control HCV 4.3 Forests providing barriers to destructive fire HCV 5.0 Forest areas fundamental to meeting basic needs of local communities HCV 6.0 Forest areas critical to local communities’ traditional cultural identity Objectives of the study were to; Identify the High Conservation Values of forest patches and Rubber fields of Lalan Rubbers Pvt. Ltd Monitor the High Conservation Values of the already identified High Conservation Value Forests METHODOLOGY Study Locations: Divisions where the permanent sampling plots (PSP) have already been established are given in the table 1. Diversity and production related assessments of all these PSP‟s were carried out during the period from 03rd October 2012 to 14th October 2012. Table1. Study locations where PSP are established Group Estate Division 1 Mahaoya Mahaoya Ernen 2 Mahaoya Densworth Densworth 3 Mahaoya Woodend Nugahena 4 Sapumalkande Sapumalkande Sapumalkande Upper 5 Sapumalkande Illuktanna Illuktanna 6 Sapumalkande Reucastle Reucastle 7 Udabage Udabage Udabage Upper 8 Udabage Eila Eila 9 Udabage Udapola Mawatanna 10 Pitiakande Muwankande Moratanna 11 Pitiakande Nottinghill Dee Ella 12 Pitiakande Pitiakande Pitiakande 13 Pitiakande Keppetigala Marlbe 14 Pitiakande Muwankande Cinchona Block Measurement of floral diversity: Measurements were taken from thirteen (13) permanent sampling plots (each with 20 m x 20 m land area) representing all estates and “Cinchona Block” high conservation value forest in Muwankande estate. GPS coordinates were recorded at the middle of the PSP. All the plant species present inside the PSP was recorded. Woody perennials having above 6cm girth (at breast height [1.3 m from the tree base]) were used to measure stem girth and total plant height values. Measuring tape was used for girth measurements and clinometer was used for tree height measurements. Total of 5 sub plots (each with 4 m x 4 m land area) were established at four corners (4) and one in the middle (1) of the each PSP (as shown underneath) and all plant species number and density inside these sub-plots were counted and identified. For the identification of unknown plant species, support was taken from the herbarium of National Botanical Garden, Peradeniya. All flora classification was done using the guidelines of IUCN, Red list 2012. (Note: Field officers of the company were educated about the importance of biodiversity conservation and got involved in field assessment activities during this study.) Measurement of faunal diversity Data were collected from the random field observations from all 13 divisions separately; making number of visits from 3rd of October 2012 to 14th of October 2012. Visual encounter survey method was used in preparing this checklist and thirteen (13) lines transects (100m×2m) and thirteen plot sampling (20m20m) were used. Surveys were conducted in both day and night and torches were used at night. The avifaunal data were collected by using a standard binocular, and also by calls / songs. Mammal fauna were documented through direct observations and indirect methods (e.g.: foot prints, dung). Amphibian and Reptile (Herpetofauna) data were collected by using evidence of road kills, killed specimens by villagers and by searching under logs, stones and boulders. Several nocturnal field visits were also made in walking through the study area. Some small butterflies were captured using a butterfly net and closely observed using a clear glass bottle. Different fish types in water bodies (flowing through respective divisions in the estate) were also captured by using a net (2m×2m trawling net) and closely observed using a small glass tank. The different species of vertebrates and invertebrates were identified and classified by using published field guides (for Amphibians – Dutta&Manamendra-Arachchi (1996), Manamendra-Arachchi&Pethiyagoda (2005), Manamendra-Arachchi&Pethiyagoda (2006); Reptiles – Das & de Silva (2005), Deraniyagala (1953; 1955), de Silva (1990), De Silva (1980), Whitaker & Captain (2004), Somaweera and Somaweera (2009); Birds – Harrison (1999), Rasmussen &Anderton (2005), S .Kotagama and G .Ratnavira (2010); Mammals – Phillips (1980); Butterflies – D‟Abrera (1998), Woodhouse (1952), Kunte (2006); Flora – Ashton (1997); Gunatilleke and Gunatilleke (1990); and Threatened category given according to IUCNSL & MENR (2012). All the data collected were tabulated and analyses were carried out using standard analytical procedures identified for ecological studies. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION High conservation values of the forest patches present in the Estates of Lalan Rubbers Pvt. Ltd were evaluated under the six criteria used in HCVF toolkit. HCV 1 Globally, regionally or nationally significant concentrations of biodiversity values This HCV has four elements, and each of which will need to be considered seperately: • HCV1.1 Protected areas • HCV1.2 Threatened and endangered species • HCV1.3 Endemic species • HCV1.4 Critical seasonal use HCV 1.1 Protected Areas A forest can be categorized under this category if a forest in the estate contains legally protected areas equivalent to IUCN categories I-Vas well as areas that have been proposed for protected area status by the relevant statutory body but have not yet been gazetted; and when the forest manager has some management responsibility for the management of the protected area. None of the forest patches in Lalan Rubbers Pvt. Ltd comes under this category. HCV 1.2 Threatened and endangered species A forest with a higher number of threatened and endangered species can be categorized as a HCVF. Species categorized as CR (Critically Endangered) and EN (Endangered) in IUCN red list are considered as threatened and endangered species for HCVF assessment. Forests with two or more species falling into above categories should be considered as HCVFs. Number of red listed species found in forest patches of Lalan Rubbers Pvt. Ltd and species that can be counted under those categories in near future are given in table 2. Different ranks were given for them considering their High Conservation Value with recommendations for each rank (table 3). Name list of red listed species found in each forest patch is given in the report of “Monitoring of floral and faunal diversity in the permanent sampling plots established in forests & rubber fields in estates of Lalan Rubbers (Pvt) Ltd.” According to the number of red listed species present in forest patches, Moratenne, Udabage and Densworth could also be categorized as HCVF‟s HCV 1.3 Rare and Endemic species A forest with a higher number of rare and endemic species can be categorized as a HCVF. Forest with a higher number of endemic and rare species has a high conservation value. Forest patches with more than 15 endemic species and/or forest patches with more than ten rare fauna species should be considered as HCVF‟s. Number of endemic and rare flora and fauna species present in forest patches is given in table 4 and 5, respectively. Different ranks were given for them considering their High Conservation Values (table 6 & 7). According to table 4, forest patches in Sap-upper, Ernan and Densworth should be categorized as HCVF‟s. According to table 5, forest patches in Sap-upper and Ernan should be categorized as HCVF‟s. Table 2. Number of red listed species present in forest patches of Lalan Rubbers Pvt. Ltd. Number of Red Listed Species High Group Site Conservation CR EN VU NT Value Rank Keppetigala 0 1 2 0 D Dee -Ella 0 0 0 1 E Pitiakande Moratenne 2 0 1 1 B Cinchona Block 0 0 1 1 A Pitiakande 0 0 1 0 E Eila 0 0 6 2 D Udabage Udabage 1 1 5 2 B Udapolla 0 1 3 1 D Sap Upper 0 0 8 4 C Sapumalkande Reucastle 0 1 8 3 C Illuktenne 0 0 1 0 E Nugahena 0 1 7 0 A Mahaoya Densworth 1 2 2 1 B Ernan 0 0 6 3 D Table 3.Ranks used to define High Conservation Values of forest patches of Lalan Rubbers Pvt. Ltd Rank High Criteria Recommendation Conservation value A Identified Site is already identified as HCVF Maintain the High Conservation Value B Present but Two or more species falling into Could be defined as a unidentified CR and/or EN categories of IUCN HCVF red list are present in forest patch C High Potential More than ten species falling into Further studies are to become a VU and/or NT categories of IUCN recommended to HCVF red list are present in forest patch identify more endangered species D Potential to a.