The flora of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is one of the hot spots of biodiversity. The flora of Sri Lanka consists of 4143 species belonging to 214 families. Out of this 75% of the population is indigenous and 25% of the species are endemic to Sri Lanka. Among the 3368 flowering species found in Sri Lanka 14% is threatened with extinction. Among the 879 endemic species found here 26% is faced with extinction. About 1500 species are being used as medicinal plants in Sri Lanka and of which about 180 species are endemic to Sri Lanka. Some of the plants used extensively in traditional medicine are listed as threatened species according to red list of threatened fauna and flora published by the World Conservation Union in 1999. Natural habitats of these medicinal plants are often forests and adjacent lands. The demand for raw

material for the Ayurvedic medicine industry in Sri Lanka has been estimated to be about 3.86 million Kg and the value is about Rs million 3867. Of this approximately 68% is supplied from local sources, (Abeywardena 2001) and .30% of the material is supplied in raw form is mainly gathered from the forests. Destructive harvesting is carried out when collecting material. (Abeywardena et al 2001) Rapid deforestation has resulted in loss of natural habitats of many of the important medicinal plants.

Sustainable use and conservation of medicinal plants in Sri Lanka has become a major issue. A project on conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants funded by the World Bank has been implemented in Sri Lanka by the ministry of Indigenous medicine in 1998. This project focuses on conservation of natural habitats of medicinal plants that are important locally as well as globally. Conservation is through cultivation of medicinal plants and establishment of medicinal plant gardens with participation of the general public. (.Marasinghe !998) .