Campbell's Lane Forest Reserve

Campbell's Lane Forest Reserve is a significant forest reserve located in the Matale District of the Central Province, Sri Lanka, near the town of Elkaduwa. It is situated adjacent to the popular tourist attraction, Sembuwatta Lake, and is an isolated part of the larger Knuckles Environmental Protection Area. The reserve falls within a Tropical rainforest climate ($Af$ in Köppen classification) and contributes to the region's overall biodiversity, often associated with the cool, misty environment of the surrounding hill country.

The area, including the reserve and its buffer zones, is important for its faunal diversity. Surveys have recorded numerous species, including 85 butterfly, 16 amphibian, 27 reptile, 78 bird, and 19 mammal species. Notable mammals recorded include the Sri Lankan Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya), Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus), and Purple-faced Langur (Semnopithecus vetulus monticola). The forest habitat itself has been found to have high species diversity and evenness.

However, the reserve and its surrounding areas, which include tea gardens and pine forests, face conservation challenges. Anthropogenic disturbances, such as man-made fires leading to the expansion of pine forest, and the presence of economic crops in buffer zones, are noted concerns. The movement of wildlife into cultivated lands has also led to human-wildlife conflicts, including livestock predation by Fishing Cats and langurs entering settlements. Protecting these marginal forests and buffer zones is crucial for enhancing natural connectivity and minimizing these conflicts.