Summary

Bambusa bambos is a native bamboo species spreading at alarming rates in Dry Zone forests in Sri Lanka. Invasions mainly cause ecological and socio-economical problems in local as well as regional scales. The present study is aimed at assessing the ecological and socio-economical impacts caused by this spread of B. bambos in Dry Zone forests in the Moragahakanda area in Sri Lanka. The study will assess ecological impacts on the existing vegetation and forest regeneration potential using a well-crafted vegetation survey. The study also will assess the impacts on edpahic properties as well as on some ecosystem functions including litter decomposition and litter accumulation. Such invasions not only affect the vegetation, but also can influence the faunal communities. Therefore, a tsuyd will be conducted to explore the effects of this spread on ant communities in these bamboo-dominated forests. As these forests are often used by the villagers living in nearby hamlets, the impacts of bamboo invasion on their livelihoods and other day to day activities also will be looked at with the help of a socio-economic survey.

Objectives

General objective

The main objectives of the present study are;

1. To assess the ecological impacts of bamboo spread on the existing vegetation in Dry Zone forests in the Moragahkanda area in the Matale District

2. To evaluate any alterations to the regeneration potential of these forests following the spread of Bambusa bambos.

3. To study any alterations in edaphic properties and ecosystem processes due to bamboo domination

4. To understand impacts of the bamboo spread on ant assemblages

5. To gather socio-economic perspectives of the villagers living close to these bamboo-dominated forests to understand the impacts on their livelihoods and day to day lives