Sri Lanka, though small in size, has a varied climate and topography which has resulted in a rich biodiversity, distributed within a wide range of ecosystems. Within this broad differentiation of climate types, there is a multitude of ecosystems.
Ecosystem Diversity in Sri Lanka
Ecosystems in Sri Lanka
| Ecosystems | Provisional extent (ha) |
|---|---|
| Forest and related ecosystems | |
| • tropical wet lowland evergreen forest (includes lowland and mid elevation rain forests) | 124340.8 |
| • tropical sub-montane forest | 65792.3 |
| • tropical montane forest | 3099.5 |
| • tropical moist monsoon forest | 221977 |
| • tropical dry monsoon (mixed evergreen) forest | 1027544.1 |
| • tropical thorn forest (Arid Zone) | NA |
| • riverine dry forest | 18352.1 |
| · grasslands (wet pathana, dry pathana, savannah, etc) | >75,000.0 |
| Inland wetland ecosystems | |
| • flood plains | NA |
| • swamps | NA |
| • lentic waters (tanks/reservoirs and ponds) | 169941 |
| • river basins | 5924500 |
| • wet villu grasslands | 12500 |
| Coastal and marine ecosystems | |
| • mangroves | 6080 |
| • salt marshes | 23819 |
| • sand dunes and beaches | 19394 |
| • mud flats | 9754 |
| • sea grass beds | NA |
| • lagoons and estuaries | 129075 |
| • coral reefs | 68000 |
| Agricultural ecosystems | |
| • paddy lands | 977561 |
| • fruit cultivations | 85066 |
| • small crop holdings or other field crops (pulses, sesame etc) | 130297 |
| • vegetables (including, root and tuber crops) | 85, 663 |
| • crop plantations (major export crops) | 716320 |
| • minor export crops | 119862 |
| • home gardens (cultivated) | 76483.2 |
| • chena lands (slash and burn cultivation) | NA |