Pine is the only conifer
species planted in wide scale in Sri Lanka. Pinus caribaea(introduced in 1965) has mainly been
planted in low country wet zone and P. patula(introduced in 1966) has been planted in up
country. The main objective was to rehabilitate the degraded land. As a
non-wood forest product, resin tapping was also suggested at that time.
However,
growing pine in Sri Lanka created a dialogue over its unsuitability for the
natural evidences. There were evidences such as drying out of streams,
reduction of ground water level, no undergrowth and lack of animal diversity
after planting pine. Therefore, Forest Department has taken a policy decision
that new pine plantations would not be established again in Sri Lanka
