Kodigahakanda forest a wildlife paradise

Atapattu Bandara

The Kodigahakanda forest in the Olaboduwa North in Horana will be the next Sri Lankan wildlife sanctuary under the pursuit of Forest Conservation Department, Wild Life Department Natural Resources Manager Channa Suraweera said.

Kodigahakanda bio-diversity centre at Gonapola was opened by Kalutara district Parliamentarian Vidura Wickramanayake on August and financial assistance was given by the Global Environment Foundation(GEF) through United Nation's Development Programme (UNDP) at a cost of Rs 1.5 million.

Kodigahakanda is an 18 acre secondary scrub jungle on top of a granite based hill rock, 378 feet above sea-level at its highest point located in a 600 acre coconut plantation. Though the land belongs to philanthropist Rohan De Soyza, he has kept the forest without exploiting it for economic gains. He had wanted to keep the jungle unharmed for the benefit of diverse creatures living there.

According to studies, the forest has 133 varieties of flora,18 types of reptiles, four types of amphibians, 16 types of fish, 45 types of butterflies, 72 types of birds and 17 types of mammals. The amphibians, the Hourglass Tree Frog and the Lanka Bandi Madiya have been spotted here. Eighteen species of reptiles are also recorded including the Shaw's Wolf snake, the Checkered Keelback and the Rock Python.

The villagers of the region had established the Kodigahakanda Conservation Community Foundation and Mihithala Mithuro Environmental Development Foundation 16 years ago to minimize the harm caused to the forest. Parliamentarian Wickramanyaka said the Government should have a firm and clear policy on environment and a productive dialogue among the public to preserve the environment for the next generation. A memorandum will be presented to Parliament to declare Horana as a special environment region, he added.

The history of the forest is very impressive and it is believed that this has been used as a signal point for vessels which came towards the coastal lines through the sea. The view from Kodigahakanda takes in Adam's Peak, Ratnapura and Colombo. In the times of the British colonial rulers a flag had been hoisted here and villagers say it guided ships in the sea and hence, this place and the surrounding area came to be known as Kodigahakanda, an old villager D. Samarapala said.

This whole area was a thick jungle and this plot of land was secured as it was less populated. Rohan De Soyza and his family members kindness and tolerance over the nature has preserved this plot of land without being deteriorated. This land is surrounded by a large extent of coconut lands and this was also in danger as some illegal business connected with the forest have been taking place for a long period. Many businessmen break the rock hill mountain for lucrative business. It is very sad to note here that even very recently till the villagers formed the MEADF this similar devastation took place, he said.

The protected area is much larger in extent and even leopards deer and sambhur have been roaming here. Gradually as the land around was sold and commercial development took place, the number of deer and other creatures dwindled, he said. Very specific features such as Mouse Deer, the Hog Deer, the Fishing Cat and the Wild Boar were rampant in the past have not been sighted. But bird life is abundant in the forest as are the butterflies.

Some endemic birds and butterflies are still visible in the jungle and as people have started to see the natural beauty of the forest some times we have observed that some butterflies cannot be seen as they were before. But still large number of butterflies, birds and fishes can be found in the shrinking jungle.

Many rare plants and trees like Bo, Wild Breadfruit, Guru keena, Davata, Havari Nuga, Rukattana, Mango and kithul can be spotted here without any difficulties. The endangered and very rare, nocturnal Slender Loris have also been visible here. The natural and low-cost storage of underground water, air purification and conservation of bio-diversity and pure water, pure air, richness of bio-diversity and fertile soil is our real wealth and the Kodigahakanda Forest also should be protected as our lives be inherited for the next generation.

The GEF identified this forest was worth protecting and extended its helping hand to the Mihithala Mithuro Environment Development Foundation (MEDEF) which was formed to safeguard the natural forest from the possible dangers of the powerful businessmen who were engaging in unethical and destructive business ventures in the forest to gain unmatchable profits without being detected to the authorities and villagers.

"This is the first wildlife sanctuary in the Kalutara district and this will be a great heritage for the entire people in the Kalutara district" Kalutara District Parliamentarian Widura Wickramanayaka who is also the pioneer of expediting the government contribution to make this location a forest reserve, said. Kodigahakanda Conservation Society and Mihithala Mithuro Environmental Development Foundation (MEDEF) with the kind contribution of GEF through UNDP built the biodiversity centre to conserve the dynamic biodiversity features of the forest with the participation of the regional community.

The GEF through its Small Grants Programme (SGP) provided grants to Kodigahakanda bio-diversity center to improve the global environment and promote sustainable livelihoods throughout the world.

An independent financial organization, the GEF provides grants to developing countries and countries with economies in transition for projects. Going through the Kodigahakanda Forest Reserve is difficult as no routs and roads are available. Visitor can gain a 'true forest experience' close to one hour drive from Colombo, going past Polgasovita can reach to this pristine purity of environment gifted by the mother of nature.