Introduction
The knuckle's forest region, covering an area of approximately 21000ha, lies in the Kandy and Matle
districts of central Sri Lanka. Highest peak of the mountain range is Gombaniya (1900m). There are
group of five peaks, extending from west to south –east include Kirigalpottha, (1642M) Gombaniya
(1900m), Knuckles (1852m), Koboneelagala (1544m), and Dotugala (1546m).

Importance
The knuckles forest region is an important watershed. With streams draining east lower Mahaweli
System in to the upper Mahaweli system. The knuckles catchment area contributed about 30% of
the water in Victoria, Randenigala and Rantambe reservoirs of the river Mahaweli.

The knuckles forest was declared as a conservation forest (an extent of 17,500ha) by the Government in April 2000.subsequently, the whole area was declared as a National Man and Biosphere Reserve. The Knuckles forest reserve has also been nominated for declaration as an International Man and Biosphere Reserve and a natural World Heritage Site.
Access

1. Colombo –Kandy-Matale –Rattota -Illukumbura.
2. Colombo-Kurunegala –Galewela-Naula –Pallegama -Illukumbura.
3. Colombo –Kandy-Teldeniya-Rangala-Bambarella.
4. Colombo –Kandy-Teldeniya-Rangala-Thanhappuwa-Corbets gap-Loolwatte-Deeenstone Hunnasgiriya.

Major vegetation types

• Montane forest
• Sub montane forest
• Semi evergreen forest
• Riverine forests
• Patches of wet pathana grass lands
• Dry pathana grass lands
• Scrublands
• Home gardens
• Agricultural lands
  

Fauna and flora

Flora
A total of 1033 flowering plants belong to 141 families, have been recorded from the above vegetation
types in knuckles. Among them 255 (25%) are tree species, while balance consists of shrubs or herbs.

The entire flowering plants dominated in the knuckles 160 (15%) are endemic to Sri Lanka. While
about 3% are nationally threatened. Among the endemic plants, the herb Brachystelma lankana is restricted to knuckles forest region, Occurring in the patana grassland areas. In addition to the flowering plants species, several species of lower plants, including, ferns, mosses, bryophytes, fungi and lichens occur in the different vegetation types in Knuckles.

Montane Forest Area

Montane forests also refers to as cloud forests, mist forests or upper montane forests, are the natural climax vegetation in the mountain above 1300 mean sea level. These forests occur in the Thangappuwa, Knuckles, Kaluphana, and Gombaniya and Dotalugala hills of the Knuckles forest region.Montane forests are the primary catchment and watershed areas of the Knuckles region
providing a year round supply to sustain the ecosystems and livelihood in the downstream areas. Common species in the moantane forest area.

1. Calophyllum walkeri (Keena)
2. Syzygium umbrosum
3. Calophyllum trapezifolium (keena)
4. Semecarpus nigro-viridis (Badulla)
5. Strobilanthes pulcherrima (Nelu)
6. Freycinatia pycnophylla (Viyakeya)
   

Sub-Montane Forest Area

Submontane forests elsewhere in the knuckles region are highly fragmented, denuded and reduced in area due to the expansion of tea, cardamom and various other human pressures. Typical patches can be found in and around Kelabokka, Corbet”s gap, and riverstion estate between 600m-1300m.

Common plants species in the sub montane forests area
1. Eleocarpus gladulifer
2. Listea gardneri
3 . Myristica dactyloids
4 . Symplocos cochinchinensis

Semi Evergreen Forests

These forest types are the dominated type in the lower elevations. It contains larger trees than the above two type’s. This forest also functioning as excellent catchments of river Mahavali. Common tree species in the semi evergreen forests are
1. Dimocarpuslongan
2. Diospyros ebenoides
3. Semecarpus nigro viridis
4. Vitex altissima
5. Actinodaphnestenophylla
6. Drypetes gardenari

Riverine forests

Riverine forests flanking streams and rivers, from the interphase between stream and other terrestrial habitats. The distribution of vegetation type is can be as narrow as a few meters on the steeper terrain or over 10m wide .in the flat areas in the reaches.
This vegetation type has high floristic richness, dominated by evergreen species. Common tree species in the riverine vegetation

1. Diospyros malabarica
2. Ficus hispida
3. Ficus racemosa
4. Mangifera zelanica
5. Hydnocarpus venenata
6. Madhuka longifolia

Fauna

The variety of habitats and climate support the rich components of animals. The insect life in Knuckles is extremely diverse. Cricates large amounts of termites, colorful and shiny wings of butterflies.

Sri Lankan white eye (Zosterops ceylonensis)	Crimson Rose (Pachliopta hector)	Black napped hare (Lepus nigricollis)	Leopard (Panthera pardus)