PUNJAB GK
LECTURE 3
FORESTS AND PROTECTED AREAS OF PUNJAB
FOREST
INDIA STATE OF FOREST REPORT(ISFR) 2019
Released by The Ministry for Environment, Forests and Climate Change .
Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (Goverment of India) :- Prakash Javadekar
• ISFR is a biennial publication of Forest Survey of India (FSI), an organization under the Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change.
FOREST IN PUNJAB
Department of Forest and Wildlife (Punjab)
Department of Forest and Wildlife Preservation
ਵਣ ਅਤੇ ਜੰਗਲੀ ਜੀਵ ਸ ੁੱਰਖਿਆ ਖਵਭਾਗ Agency overview
Formed
1966
Headquarters
Mohali
Minister responsible
• Minister for Forests and Wildlife
Minister
Sadhu Singh Dharamsot (INC Member and elected from Nabha constituency of Punjab)
According to ISFR Report 2019 published by FRI Punjab has only 1,849 sq km area under forest cover which is 3.67% of its total geographical area of 50,362 sq km under forest, Punjab – an agricultural state predominantly with 83% of its total area under cultivation – has the second lowest forest cover among the states.
Only Haryana, which is also an agricultural state, has a lower forest cover at 3.62% of its geographical area.
With major portion of the land under agriculture in Punjab, there is limited scope to increase the area under forests except by bringing the wastelands and degraded lands.
Among the districts Hoshiarpur has maximum forest area under Punjab.
PROTECTED AREA OF PUNJAB
Type of Protected Area
1) National Park – None
2) Wildlife Sanctuary – 13
3) Zoological Park – 1
4) Tiger Safari -1
5) Dear Park (mini Zoo) -3
6) Community Reserve- 3
7) Conservative Reserves – 4
8) Wetlands -21
Wildlife Sanctuaries
There are 13 wildlife sanctuaries duly notified in the State. The sanctuary is declared for the purpose of protecting, propagating, for devloping wildlife or its environment. The important features of these Sanctuaries (Protected Areas) are briefly described as below:-
1. Bir Moti Bagh Wildlife Sanctuary
●This Sanctuary is situated In Patiala district and is spread over 654.00 ha of Government area.
● Animal Black Buck, Chital, Hog Deer, Blue Bull, Wild Boar, Jackal, Rhesus Monkey, etc. are found here in this Sanctuary area.
●A Deer park is also situated in this Sanctuary area.
● The bir area was declared as wildlife sanctuary on 28th feb 1952 under the Preservation of Fauna of Patiala Rules, 1896
2. Bir Gurdialpura Wildlife Sanctuary
●Bir Gurdialpura Sanctuary is situated in Patiala district and is spread over 620.53 ha of Government area.
● Wild Boar, Blue Bull, Jungle Cat, Jackal, Hog Deer, Rhesus Monkey, Peafowl, Black and Grey Partridges, Dove and Spotted owlet etc. are found here in this Sanctuary area.
● This sanctuary was first declared as Wildlife Sanctuary in 2003.
3. Bir Bhunerheri Wildlife Sanctuary
● This Sanctuary is situated in Patiala district is spread over 661.66 ha of Government area.
●A number of old Shisham & Kikar trees are found in the Sanctuary area which provide good habitat to wildlife.
●Hog Deer, Blue Bull, Porcupine, Black Buck, Sambar, Jungle Cat, Jackal, Rhesus Monkey, Peafowl, Black and Grey Partridges, Dove and Spotted owlet etc. are found here in this Sanctuary area.
● The bir area was declared as wildlife sanctuary in 1952 under the Preservation of Fauna of Patiala Rules,
4. Bir Mehas Wildlife Sanctuary
●The name of Bir Mehas refers to village Mehas, which is located adjacent to the Bir.
●The Santuary is situated adjacent to Nabha town on Nabha-Malerkotla Road and is spread over 123.43 ha of Government area that falls in tehsil Nabha of District Patiala.
● The bir area was declared as wildlife sanctuary under the Preservation of Fauna of Patiala Rules, in 28-2-1952.
●Inspite of local people pressure and other disturbances, this sanctuary harbours many wildlife species such as Rhesus Monkey, Jungle Cat, Peacock, Blue Bull, Jackal, Black and Grey Partridges etc.
5. Bir Dosanjh Wildlife Sanctuary
● Bir Dosanjh wildlife sanctuary is also situated adjacent to Nabha and is spread over 517.59 ha of Government area that falls in tehsil Nabha of District Patiala.
● The bir area was declared as wildlife sanctuary under the Preservation of Fauna of Patiala Rules, in 28-2-1952.
● Blue bull, Jungle Cat, Jackal, Rhesus Monkey, Peafowl, Black and Grey Partridges etc. are found here in this Sanctuary area.
6. Bir Bhadson Wildlife Sanctuary
●This Sanctuary falls in district Patiala and is located on the left side of Nabha- Bhadson-Gobindgarh Road.
●This Sanctuary is spread over 1,022.63 ha of Government area.
● The bir area was declared as wildlife sanctuary under the Preservation of Faunae of Patiala Rules, 1896 in 28-2-1952.
●It harbours many wildlife species such as Blue Bull, Jungle Cat, Jackal, Rhesus Monkey, Peafowl, Black and Grey Partridges, Hare, Spotted owlet etc.
7. Bir Aishwan Wildlife Sanctuary
●Bir Aishwan Wildlife Sanctuary is situated 3 Km from Sangrur city in District Sangrur.
● This Sanctuary is spread over 264.40 ha of Government area.
● The bir area was declared as wildlife sanctuary under the Preservation of Faunae of Patiala Rules, 1896 in 28-2-1952.
●It harbours wildlife species like Blue Bull, Jungle Cat, Jackal, Rhesus Monkey, Peafowl, Black and Grey Partridges, Hare, Spotted owlet etc.
● An Environment Chetna Kendra also exists in this Sanctuary area.
8. Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary
●This Sanctuary is located 8 km. from Abohar city in district Ferozepur.
●This Sanctuary is famous for Black Buck and covers an area of 18,650.00 ha.
● The entire area of Sanctuary is private or community owned land of 13 Bishnoi villages.
●This Sanctuary was first declared as Wildlife Sanctuary 07.9.2000.
●Black Buck and Blue Bull are the main wildlife species found in this sanctuary area.
● An interpretation center exists in this Sanctuary area where awareness about wildlife preservation is provided to the
public.
9. Harike Wildlife Sanctuary
●This Sanctuary is spread over 8,600.00 ha of Government area that falls in Ferozepur, Taran Tarn and Kapurthala Districts.
● Harike Sanctuary is a Ramsar site of International importance declared on 23/03/1990.
10. Takhni Rehmapur Wildlife Sanctuary
●This Sanctuary is situated at a distance of 15 km. from Hoshiarpur . This Sanctuary is spread over 382.00 ha of Government area that falls in District Hoshiarpur.
● This Sanctuary is situated at the foot – hills of Shiwalik Range of Himalayas .
● Barking Deer, Pangolin, Python, Hog Deer, Jungle Cat, Jackal, Mongoose, Wild Boar, Rat Snake and Kalij Pheasant are found in this Sanctuary.Takhni-Rehmapur area in Hoshiarpur was first declared as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 8.6.1999.
11. Jhajjar-Bachauli Wildlife Sanctuary
●This Sanctuary is situated 15 Km. from Anandpur Sahib city in the Government forest area of District Rupnagar. It has an area of 116.00 ha .
● This area was first declared as Wildlife Sanctuary vide Punjab Government in 1998 and final notification was issued vide Punjab Government Notification in 2003.
●Sambar, Barking Deer, Hare, Jackal, Python, Cobra, Rat snake, Leopard (migratory) etc. are found here in this Sanctuary area.
12. Kathlaur Kushlian Wildlife Sanctuar
●This Sanctuary is located on the new bye pass of Amritsar–Jammu Highway in Tehsil Pathankot of District Gurdaspur.
● This sanctuary is spread over 758.40 ha of Government protected forest area .
● This area was notified as Wildlife Sanctuary in 28.06.2007.
●The sanctuary has good population of different deer species.
13. Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary
● This sanctuary is located on the 15 km from Anandpur Sahib city in Ropar.
●This sanctuary is spread over 116 ha.
● This area was notified as Wildlife Sanctuary in 2009.
●Main wildlife species found in the sanctuary are Sambar, Barking deer,Hare, Jackal, Python, Cobra, Rat snake, Leopard (migratory) etc.
● As per forest classification the sanctuary falls under the Dry Deciduous Forest type.
Community Reserves
In Punjab there are 3 Community Reserves- the first ever-notified in India. The total area under these Reserves belongs to community/panchayat area. The important features of these Reserves are briefly described as below:-
1. LALWAN COMMUNITY RESERVE
● This Community Reserve is situated in Tehsil Garshakar in Hoshiarpur District and is spread over 1266.80 ha (3167 acres, 6 kanals) Lalwan Panchayat .
● This area was declared as Community Reserve in 2007.
2. KESHOPUR CHHAMB COMMUNITY RESERVE
● This Community Reserve is situated close to the District town of Gurdaspur and is spread over Panchayat Chhamb area consisting of 340.00 ha .
● This area was declared as Community Reserve in 2007.
● The area is swampy and belongs to Keshopur wetland that is on the verge of extinction.
● Migratory birds from Central Asia and Siberia visit this area in winter months.
3. Siswan Community Reserve
● This community Reserve is situated in Sahibjada Ajit Singh Nagar and is spread over3199.45 Acres of land.
● This area was declared as Commuity Reserve in 2017.

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CONSERVATION RESERVE :- 4
1. Rakh Sarai Amanat Khan Conservation Reserve
This Conservation Reserve is situated in Tarn Taran district and is spread over 1223 Acres of land.
This area was declared as Conservation Reserve in 2010 .
2. Ropar Wetland Conservation Reserve
This Conservation Reserve is situated in Ropar and is spread over 521.12 Acre of land.
This area was declared as Conservation Reserve in 2017.
3. Ranjit Sagar Dam Conservation Reserve
This Conservation Reserve is situated in Gurdaspur and is spread over 4559.71 Acre of land.
This area was declared as Conservation Reserve in 2017.
4. Beas River Conservation Reserve
This Conservation Reserve is situated in River Beas and is spread over River Beas with all its water channels from 52 Head Talwara to Harike Barrage including all Government areas in river Beas.This area was declared as Conservation Reserve in 2017.
Zoological Park-1
1) Mahindra Chaudhary Zoological Park or Chatt Bir Zoo:-
● Located near Zirakpur.
● Chhat Bir once shooting reserve of the Maharaja of Patiala, is today a wildlife heaven.
● It was on 13th April, 1977 that a Zoo was inaugurated here by the then Hon’ble Governor of Punjab Shri Mahendra Mohan Chaudhury, and it was christened as Mahendra Chaudhury Zoological Park.
● A lion safari, a drive-in deer safari, a shallow lake, landscaped lush green lawns and near-natural forest environment are the hallmarks of this zoo.
● This zoo houses about 82 species of reptiles/animals/birds, some of which are rare and endangered
LUDHIANA ZOO (TIGER SAFARI), LUDHIANA
● Ludhiana Zoo is located on Ludhiana-Jalandhar road.
● This zoo was previously called Tiger Safari.
● This zoo is spread over an area of 8 ha.
● The total livestock position in this zoo is around 150.
MINI ZOOs (DEER PARKS)- 3
● The three Deer Parks in the State are now termed as Mini Zoos. The detail of which is as under:
1. Mini Zoo (Deer Park) Bir Moti Bagh, Patiala
● This Mini Zoo is situated at a distance of 5 Km. from Patiala city on Patiala-Dakala Road.
● It is located in compartment No. 10 of Bir Moti Bagh Sanctuary, Patiala.
● The total livestock position in this mini zoo is around 350.
2. Mini Zoo (Deer Park) Bir Talab, Bathinda
● This Mini Zoo is situated approximately 5 km from Bathinda City.
● It is located in Bir Talab forest area.
● The Deer Park is surrounded by a boundary wall.
● The total livestock position in this mini zoo is around 250.
3. Mini Zoo (Deer Park) Neelon
● This Mini Zoo is located on the Banks of Sirhind canal.
● It is 5 km from Samrala Town and 20 km from Ludhiana City.
● The total livestock position in this mini zoo is around 180.
Wetlands Of Punjab
Wetlands are dynamic aquatic ecosystems found all over the world. A wetland is an area of land that is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands can be freshwater, brackish(partly salty), or saline (very salty).
• Punjab has total 21 wetlands
• 12 natural
• 9 man-made
• Categorization of Wetlands Of Punjab
• Wetlands of International Importance
• Wetlands of National Importance
• State Wetlands
• Other identified Wetlands
Wetlands of International Importance : 3
1. Harike Wetland
2. Kanhji wetland
3. Ropar Wetland
1) Harike Wetland (Man-made)
• Also known as “Hari-ke-Pattan” largest fresh water wetland in Northern India
• Area: 4,100 ha (Kapurthala, Tarn Taran and Ferozepore Distrcits).
• In the border of Tarn Taran Sahib district and Ferozepur district and Kapurthala district of Punjab state.
• It came into existence in 1952 and is located downstream of the confluence of Beas and Sutlej rivers.
2) Kanjli Wetland (man made)
• Located in Kapurthala
• Area: 1.83 sq km (Kapurthala District)
• Created in 1970
• designated as wetland of interNational Importance in 2002
3) Ropar Wetland (man made)
Area: 135 ha (Ropar District)
Created in 1887 at Satluj River near Ropar city
designated as wetland of interNational Importance in 2002
➔ Wetlands of National Importance : 2
• Ranjit Sagar Wetland
• Nangal Wetland
1) Ranjit Sagar wetland (man made)
● Located on river Ravi 24 km upstream of Madhopur headworks.
● 2006: designated as wetland of National Importance
2) Nangal Wetland
• Nangal Dam constructed on river Satluj forms an artificial lake called Nangal Lake
• 2008: declared as wetland of National Importance
• 2009: declared as wildlife sanctuary
➔State Wetland – 5
1. Jastarwal Wetland : natural ; Amritsar district
2. Kahnuwan Chamb Wetland : natural ; Gurdaspur District
3. Keshopur-Miani Wetland : natural ;Gurdaspur District
4. Mand- Bharthala wetland : Natural ;SBS Nagar
5. Dholbaha Reservoir wetland : manmade : Hoshiarpur district
OTHER IDENTIFIED WETLANDS – 11
• Aliwali Kotli : natural Amritsar district
• Bareta : natural ; Mansa district
• Narayangarh : natural ; Hoshiarpur district
• Sital Sagar : natural ; Hosiarpur district
• Rababsar : natural ; Kapurthala district
• Lobana : natural ; Patiala district
• Lehal Kalan : natural ; Sangrur district
• Gobindgarh Khokhar : natural ; Sangrur district
• Hussainiwala Reservoir : man made ;Ferozepur district
• Maili dam : man made ; Hoshiarpur district
• Mangrowal Dam : man made ; Hoshiarpur district
RAMSAR SITE IN PUNJAB
A Ramsar site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
The Convention on Wetlands, known as the Ramsar Convention, is an intergovernmental environmental treaty established in 1971 by UNESCO, which came into force in 1975.
Signed to preserve the ecological character of Wetlands.
There are 6 Ramsar sites in Punjab :-
1) Harike wetland – Tarn Taran district – declared in 1990
2) kanjli wetland – Kapurthala district – declared in 2002
3) Ropar wetland- Ropar district – declared in 2002
4) Keshopur- miani wetlands – Gurdaspur districts – declared in 2020
5) Nangal wildlife sanctuary – Roopnagar district – declared in 2020
6) Beas river conservation reserve – river Beas ( between Harike headworks to Talwara) – declared in 2020
QUESTIONS
Q 1) Which among the following is not a wetland of international importance?
A) Harike wetland
B) Kanji wetland
C) Ropar wetland
D) Ranjit sagar wetlands

Q2) Ropar wetland exists over which of the following river of Punjab?
A) At river beas
B) At the confluence of satluj and beas
C) At satluj river
D) None of the above

Q 3) The rights of people living inside which of the following sites are not affected?
A) Conservation reserve
B) Community reserve
C) Wildlife sanctuaries
D) both A and B

Q4) Which among the following is manmade wetland in Punjab?
A) Jastarwal wetlands
B) Dholbaha reservoir
C) Kahnuwan – chamb wetland
D) Kesopur – miani wetland

Q 4) Which among the following is NOT a Ramsar site in Punjab?
A) Nangal wildlife sanctuary
B ) Kesopur – miani wetland
C) Harike wetland
D) Ranjit sager wetland

ANSWERS
Q1) -D
Q2) -C
Q3) -D
Q4) -B
Q5) -D