Popham Arboretum is situated about 2.5 kilometers away from Dambulla by the Kandalama road. This unique site was owned by an Englishman, Mr. F. H. (Sam) Popham, who gifted it to NIFS (then IFS) in 1989 to carry out research and educational activities. The original site bought by Popham in 1963 was a seven and half acre scrub jungle. Popham allowed the indigenous tree saplings in the site to emerge and establish by removing the ‘weedy’ shrubs around them. Consequently, the original scrub jungle was turned into a tall woodland with a closed canopy. After taking over the land in 1989, NIFS bought and added another 27 acres of adjoining scrub land and expanded the arboretum. Popham method of “Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR)” was practiced to convert that land also into a dense woodland.
8 сен 2024
