PROGRESS AND PROSPECTS FOR THE USJ FOREST AND FIELDSTATION AT YAGIRALA

Sydney G Banyard
University of Sri Jayewardenapura

The 40 hectares of Yagirala Forest allocated to the Forestry Unit of the University of Sri Jayewardenapura (USJ), consisting of blocks of Pinus caribaea plantation, a small stand of Albizia falcataria, degraded Wet Zone natural forest and a small patch of Gleichenia linearis (kekilla), is currently being developed for training and research purposes. Initial work focused on creating access into the pine plantation (having dense Ochlanda stridula (bata) undergrowth), and underplanting using an intimate mix of indigenous species (mainly hora, bedidel, Indian del, kos, nedum, sapu, pihimbiya, madan, na, batadomba, kekuna, hedawaka, lunumidella). Over 5,000 meters of access lines and footpaths have been established. A 10 by 10 metre grid system, which will be used for management purposes and which will form the basis of a Geographic Information System (GIS) database, is being created.

All woody plants larger than 1 cm at dbh are being inventoried and entered into a computer database. MSc forestry course students are encouraged to carry out their research projects at Yagirala - seven have done so to date. Other activities include the creation of Permanent Sample Plots, Demonstration Plots, establishing a tree Nursery and "Arbor-gedera", and the collection of seedlings of specimen tree species for the Arboretum proper.

Two nature trails have been created and a clear potential for ecotourism and recreation is recognised. The paper gives background information, some interim research results on regeneration under pine and emphasizes the potential for training and research and future prospects for the USJ forest at Yagirala.

Department of Forestry and Environmental Science,
University of Sri Jayewardenepura,Sri Lanka. 1999. All rights reserved.