Abstract:
This study identifies land use changes in the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, located in the Kalawana
Region of Sri Lanka (Irakkuwanai), a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its
biodiversity. The main objective of the study is to assess the extent, causes, and consequences
of land usechanges in the Sinharaja region over the past 10 years. Data have been obtained
using a combination of remote sensing technologies, GIS analyses, secondary data, and field
surveys to achieve the objectives of the study. The study examines land use changes in the
study area due to population growth, the expansion of agricultural lands, and infrastructure
construction under socio- economic factors, including the expansion of agricultural areas,
transportation networks, waste management, deforestation, and increasing human settlements.
The study concludes by highlighting how the loss of habitat, biodiversity loss, and
deforestation are impacting sustainable development. It also emphasizes the critical need for
coordinated action between government agencies, conservationists, and local stakeholders to
mitigate the negative impacts of land use changes and preserve the ecological balance of the
Sinharaja Forest Reserve.
