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Central Montane Rainforests
The high elevations of Sri Lanka's mountainous regions are dotted with wet montane forests, also known as cloud forests. This rare and remote biome is typically shrouded by mist, hence its nickname. Due to its isolation and unique climate, montane forests are a unique ecosystem, hosting a wide range of flora and fauna found nowhere else in the world. These ancient habitats are known as conservation hotspots, but yet face extinction on the island.
Virgin montane forests only occur in five districts, where they are able to thrive because of higher elevations. However, today they only occupy around a quarter of those districts. This is stunningly only about 0.05% of the entire island. The biggest threats facing the imminent extinction of Sri Lanka's treasured cloud forests include deforestation, agricultural expansion, infrastructure, and the depravation of protect forest lands. These factors have consequently designated montane forests as the rarest ecosystem in Sri Lanka.
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