Central Highlands of Sri Lanka

Central Highlands of Sri Lanka

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Peak Wilderness encompasses the Adam's Peak
Location	Sri Lanka
Includes	Peak Wilderness Protected Area (PWPA) Horton Plains National Park (HPNP) Knuckles Conservation Forest (KCF)
Criteria	Natural: (ix), (x)
Reference	1203
Inscription	2010 (34th Session)
Area	56,844 ha (140,460 acres)
Buffer zone	72,645 ha (179,510 acres)
Coordinates	7°27′N 80°48′E / 7.450°N 80.800°E / 7.450; 80.800
Location of Central Highlands of Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka Show map of Sri Lanka Central Highlands of Sri Lanka (South Asia) Show map of South Asia

Central Highlands of Sri Lanka is a recognised World Heritage Site in Sri Lanka. The site comprises the Peak Wilderness Protected Area, the Horton Plains National Park and the Knuckles Conservation Forest. These are rain forests, where the elevation reaches 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) above sea level. The region harbors a variety of mammal species including the bear monkey, Trachypithecus vetulus monticola, (a subspecies of purple-faced langur) and the Horton Plains slender loris, Loris tardigradus nycticeboides, (a subspecies of red slender loris).^[1]

This is the first Sri Lankan World Heritage site to be designated in 22 years, since the Sinharaja Forest Reserve was enlisted in 1988.^[2] Originally submitted for inscription as a mixed cultural and natural site, the Committee recognized only the natural values of the site.^[3] On 31 July 2010, the World Heritage Committee holding its 34th session in Brasília inscribed Central Highlands of Sri Lanka and Papahānaumokuākea of Hawaii as new World Heritage Sites.^[4]