Tdiverse vegetation types varying from the pine forests to thorn forests of deserts as per variations of altitude and climate.

Transcription

1 4 FORESTS The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is today he forests of Punjab present a kaleidoscopic spectrum of Tdiverse vegetation types varying from the pine forests to thorn forests of deserts as per variations of altitude and climate.

2 Forests Recorded Forest Cover Recorded Forests : 3463 Sq.km Percentage of Total Geographical Area of State : 6.87% Forest Classifica on Reserved : 1.43% Protected : 36.87% Unclassified : 61.70% Source: Forest Survey India, 2011 Figure 4.1 Trend in recorded forest area in Punjab Area in Sq.Km Years Source : Forest Survey India, 2011 & Sta s cal Abstract of Punjab, 2012

3 State of Environment, Punjab Figure 4.2 District wise recorded forest area in Punjab, Area in Sq.km Gurdaspur* 149 Amritsar** 27 Kapurthala 56 Jalandhar 178 S.B.S Nagar Hoshiarpur Rupnagar*** Ludhiana Ferozepur Faridkot Muktsar Moga 75 Bathinda 27 Mansa 70 Sangrur**** 154 Pa ala 20 Fatehgarh Sahib *Including Pathankot, **Including Tarn Taran,, *** Including Mohali, **** Including Barnala Source : Sta s cal Abstract of Punjab, 2012 As per India State of Forest Report, Forest Survey of India, 2011, scenario of forest cover in Punjab indicates an increase by 100 sq.km between 2007 and 2009 due to enhanced planta on by Forest Department, bringing the total forest cover to 1764 sq. km or 3.5% of the total geographical area. Between 2009 and 2011 assessment of FSI, though the total Medium dense forest cover has increased from 733 sq km to 736 sq km, the open forest cover has increased by 97 sq. km from 931 sq km to 1028 sq. km. The open forest area has 10-40% forest cover density. Of this, approximately 75% i.e. 765 sq km falls under Hoshiarpur, Rupnagar, Nawanshehr and Pathankot districts of Punjab. Similarly scrub land has increased from 20 sq km to 37 sq. km. < >

4 Forests Map 4.1 Forest Cover of Punjab Box 1 Forests of Punjab as per Champion and Seth classifica on Northern Dry Deciduous Mixed Forests: Vegeta on is predominantly xerophy c with preponderance of species like Acacia catechu, A. nilo ca, A. leucophloea and Anogeissus la folia with the scrub of Carissa opaca, Grevia op va, Adatoda vasica, etc. Dry Deciduous Scrub Forests: These are mostly found in Kandi tract with predominant species like Acacia catechu, Dalbergia sissoo, Bombax ceiba, Emblica officinalis, Launea grandis, Toona ciliata, Cassia fistula, etc. Source: Forest Survey of India, 2011 Table 4.1 Forest and Tree Cover in Punjab, 2011 Category Tree Cover Forest Cover Tree and Forest Cover Area (in sq.km) LEGEND Very Dense Forest Mod, Dense Forest Open Forest Scrub Non-Forest Water-bodies District boundary State boundary Capital % of TGA Source; Forest Survey of India, 2011 Khair, Sissoo forests in foot hills, Bela and Mand areas: These forests are mostly man made by plan ng in the foot hills of Bela and Mand areas. Mostly Khair, Sissoo and Eucalyptus hybrid have been planted in these areas. Groves of mango are found in these forests. Shivalik Chir Pine Forests: Pinus roxburghii is the main species found in these forests at an eleva on of 850m and above. Associated species are Terminalia alata, T. bellerica, T. chebula, Anogeisus la folia, Emblica officinalis, Cassia fistula, etc. Dry Deciduous Bamboo Forests: These forests are found in Dasua Forest Division only. The main species found in these forests is Dendrocalamus strictus. The other associates are Launea grandis, Diospyros montana, Butea monosperma, Holoptelia integrifolia and Cassia fistula.

5 State of Environment, Punjab Figure 4.3 & 4.4 Share of different types of forest cover in 2009 and Scrub 20 km² 1% Scrub 37 km² 2% 2011 Open Forest 931 KM² (55%) Medium Dense Forest 733 KM² (44%) Open Forest 1028 KM² (57%) Medium Dense Forest 736 KM² (41%) Source: Forest Survey of India, 2011 Figure 4.5 Forest types in Punjab Subtrophical pine forests, 4.42% Planta on/tof, 14.31% Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests, 81.27% TOF : Trees outside forest Source: Forest Survey of India, 2011 < >

6 Forests Major Forest Areas Black Bucks at Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary, Dis. Ferozepur Shivalik Forest: comprising sub-mountainous zone and undula ng land below the hills in the districts of Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot, S.B.S Nagar and Ropar. This area cons tutes about 77% percent of the total forest area in the state. Bir Forests: Pa ala & Sangrur districts Mand Forest: primarily around wetlands in district Tarn Taran, Kapurthala and Rupnagar

7 State of Environment, Punjab Wildlife Protected Areas Total Area: Hectare Wildlife Sanctuaries: 13 Zoological Parks: 2 Deer Parks: 3 Community Reserves: 2 (first in India) Photo Credit : Dr. Arsh Rup Singh < >

8 Forests Map 4.2 Protected Area Network in Punjab KATHLAUR-KUSHLIYAN WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES COMMUNITY RESERVES KESHOPUR CHHAMB TAKHNI REHMAPUR LALWAN NANGAL HARIKE LAKE JHAJJAR-BACHAULI BIR MEHASWALA BIR DOSANJH ABOHAR BIR AISHWAN BIR BHADSON BIR MOTIBAGH BIR GURDIALPURA BIR BUNERHERI Source : Adapted from ENVIS Centre, PSCST, 2010

9 State of Environment, Punjab Table 4.2 Wildlife Protected Areas in Punjab Category Name of Protected Area Area (ha) Wildlife Sanctuaries Zoological & Deer Parks Community Reserves Bir Mo Bagh Wildlife Sanctuary, Pa ala Bir Bhunerheri Wildlife Sanctuary, Pa ala Bir Dosanjh Wildlife Sanctuary, Pa ala Bir Bhadson Wildlife Sanctuary, Pa ala Bir Mehas Wildlife Sanctuary, Pa ala Bir Gurdialpura Wildlife Sanctuary Bir Aishwan Wildlife Sanctuary, Sangrur Harike Wildlife Sanctuary, Ferozepur, Tarn Taran, Kapurthala Takhni-Rehmapur Wildlife Sanctuary, Hoshiarpur Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary, Ferozepur Jhajjar Bacholi Wildlife Sanctuary, Rupnagar Kathlaur-Kaushlian Wildlife Sanctuary, Gurdaspur Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary, Rupnagar Mohindra Chaudhary Zoological Park, Mohali Tiger Safari, Ludhiana Deer Park, Nilon, Ludhiana Deer Park, Bir Mo Bagh, Pa ala Deer Park, Bir Talab, Bathinda Lalwan Community Reserve, Hoshiarpur Keshopur Chamb Community Reserve, Gurdaspur Total Area (A) Total Area (B) Total Area (C) Grand Total Year of No fica on & & & & Source: Department of Forests & Wildlife Preserva on, Punjab, 2014 < >

10 Forests Major Wildlife Wild animals: Sambhar, Nilgai, Black buck, Wild boar, Barking deer, Hog deer, Jungle cat, Jackal, Rhesus monkey, Hare, Fishing cat, Indian squirrel, Mongoose, Smooth Indian o er, Cobra, Indian pangolin, Python, Rat snake, Monitor lizard, Garden lizard, Chital,Indian porcupine and few sigh ng of Leopard also reported in Shivalik hills areas adjoining to Himachal Pradesh. Birds: Black partridge, Grey p a r t r i d g e, B r a h m i n y m y n a, Common quail, Peafowl, Rose ringed parakeet, Jungle babbler, Spo ed owlet, Dove, Bar headed goose, Common pochard, White eyed pochard, Fishing eagle, Indian skimmer, Blue winged teal, Red munia, Syke's nightjar, Whistling teal, Red jungle fowl, Coot, Green parakeet, Indian cormorant, Indian robin, Red vented bulbul, White breasted kingfisher, White rumped vulture, Shikra, Brahminy duck, Gadwall, Pintail, Jack snipe, Fantail snipe, Mallard & Nothern shoveler. Source: ENVIS Centre, PSCST, 2010 Monitor Lizard at Takhni Rehmapur Wildlife Sanctuary, Hoshiarpur Pangolin at Takhni Rehmapur Wildlife Sanctuary, Dis. Hoshiarpur Bar Headed Geese at Ranjit Sagar Wetland, Dis. Gurdaspur Common Crane at Keshopur Community Reserve, Dis. Gurdaspur Photo Credit : Dr. Onkar Singh Brraich Photo Credit : Ajay Dewan Photo Credit : Dr. Onkar Singh Brraich Photo Credit : Dr. Onkar Singh Brraich

11 State of Environment, Punjab Garden Lizard at Harike Wildlife Sanctuary Photo Credit : Dr. Arsh Rup Singh Peafowl at Bir Aishwan Wildlife Sanctuary, Dis. Sangrur < 2 3 > Photo Credit : Dr. Arsh Rup Singh < >

12 Forests Nilgai at Mo Bagh Wildlife Sanctuary, Dis. Pa ala

13 State of Environment, Punjab Photo Credits : Dr. Arsh Rup Singh Spotbilled Ducks at Harike Wetland < >

14 Forests Bamboo Planta on at Talwara, Dis. Hoshiarpur Major & Minor Forest Produce Table 4.3 Major forest produce from state forests of Punjab (000 cubic metres) Year Timber Firewood Total Total Valve (Thousand Rupees) Source: Sta s cal Abstract of Punjab, 2012 Table 4.3 Minor forest produce from state forests of Punjab (in Rs) Year Bamboo & Canes Fooder & grass Others Total Source: Sta s cal Abstract of Punjab, 2012

15 State of Environment, Punjab Factors affec ng forest & wildlife in Punjab Increased urbaniza on Change in land use pa ern Degrada on of natural habitat & pollu on Increased demand of mber Deforesta on Invasive alien species especially Lantana camara, Parthenium hysterophorus & Eichhornia crassipes Poaching & illegal trade of wildlife products Forest fire and encroachments Soil erosion in shivaliks tracts Figure 4.6 Change in Forest Cover (sq.km) in Shivaliks between 2005 & 2011 Lantana infesta on in Shiwaliks Moderately Dense Forests Open Forests Gurdaspur Hoshiarpur S.B.S. Nagar Rupnagar Degraded forest at Gurdaspur Source: Forest Survey of India, 2005 & 2011 Water hycinath ( E. crassipes ) infesta on at Harike < >

16 Forests Ins tu onal mechanism for conserva on and management of forests in Punjab Department of Forests & Wildlife Preserva on, Punjab Implementa on of Policies, Acts & Rules Management of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) Scien fic management of forest & wildlife and execu on of management plans Afforesta on measures & planta on drives through community involvement to increase green cover Check poaching & encroachment Promote agroforestry & silviculture in collabora on with Agriculture Department Punjab State Forest Development Corpora on Management, u liza on and marke ng of forest harvest Punjab State Heritage and Tourism Development Board Promote eco-tourism in forest areas Implementa on of Punjab Ecotourism Policy, 2009 Punjab Bamboo & Fiber Development Board Implementa on of Na onal Bamboo Mission by increase in area, yield and marke ng of bamboo, bamboo based handicra s and generate employment opportuni es Department of Soil & Water Conserva on, Punjab Implementa on of erosion control measures especially in shivaliks & wetlands Key Forest Policies and Acts Governing Forests & Wildlife The Punjab Land Preserva on (Chos) Act, 1900 The Indian Forest Act, 1927 The Indian Wildlife (Protec on) Act, 1972 Forest Conserva on Act, 1980 The Na onal Forest Policy, 1988 P a r c i p a t o r y F o r e s t Management Circular, 1990 Punjab Appor onment of Tree Rules, 2000 Joint Forest Management no fica on and guidelines, 2003, Govt. of Punjab The Indian Forest (Punjab Amendment) Act, 2004 The Forest Rights Act, 2006 Punjab Regula on of Saw Mills and Veneer Plywood Rules, 2006 The Dra Punjab Forest Policy, 2008 Punjab Ecotourism Policy, 2009 T h e P u n j a b T e n t e d Accommoda on Guidelines, 2010 Wetland Conserva on and Management Rules, 2010

17 State of Environment, Punjab Major ini a ves Implementa on of JICA sponsored afforesta on project covering ha during Planta on in over 13,816 ha area in forest, non forest, government and other ins tu onal lands Integrated forest protec on scheme for fire protec on and other ac vi es on regular basis Management of ha area by forma on of 1224 Village Forest Protec on and Management Commi ees under JFM Crea on of 14 ha of centralized nurseries and planta on of 133 ha forest area under Bamboo Mission Launching of Green Punjab Mission in 2012 with target of plan ng 40 crore saplings across Punjab in eight years ( ) to increase forest cover in the state to 15% at an annual cost of Rs. 180 crore Table 4.4 Annual Forests Plan ng of Major Species in Punjab (sq.km) Year Euclyptus Shisham Kikar Khair Mulberry Chil Misc. Total Source : Sta s cal Abstract of Punjab, lakh plants supplied to various agencies for plan ng over the non forest and ins tu onal areas Accelerated programme of restora on and regenera on of forest cover through 15 territorial forest divisions and 650 JFM commi ees Purchase of land for Compensatory Afforesta on on account of non availability of degraded land in the state Iden fica on of 50,000 ha ins tu onal and 2.5 lac ha farm land for adop ng suitable siliviculture and agroforestry prac ces 170 ha area planted along major roads in the Malwa region 4,439 ha degraded forest area brought under planta on of various species Tree planta on drives through Nanhi Chhan ini a ve, religion supported campaigns Na onal Green Corps and Na onal Environment Awareness Campaign < >

18 Photo Credit : Dr. Onkar Singh Brraich Photo Credit : Dr. Onkar Singh Brraich Cobra at Jhajjar-Bachauli Wildlife Sanctuary, Dis. Rupnagar Python at Takhni Rehmapur Wildlife Sanctuary, Dis. Hoshiarpur Kaya Kalp Vriksh (The Great Banyan Tree of Punjab) at Village Chol Kheri, Dis. Fatehgarh Sahib