Conservation and Management of Forests in Punjab
Last Updated On: 25/12/2014
Institutional Mechanism in the State:
Deptt. of Forest & Wildlife Preservation, Punjab
- Implementation of Policies, Acts & Rules
- Management of NTFPs
- Scientific management of forest & wildlife & execution of management plans
- Afforestation measures & plantation drives through community involvement to increase green cover
- Check poaching & encroachment
- Promote agroforstery & silviculture in collaboration with agriculture deptt.
- Punjab State Forest Development Corporation
- Management, utilization and marketing of forest harvest
Punjab State Heritage and Tourism Development Board
- Promote eco-tourism in forest areas
- Implementation of Punjab Ecotourism Policy, 2009
Punjab Bamboo & Fiber Development Board
- Implementation of National Bamboo Mission by increase in area, yield and marketing of bamboo, bamboo based handicrafts and generate employment opportunities
Deptt. of Soil & Water Conservation, Punjab
- Implementation of erosion control measures especially in shivaliks & wetlands
Punjab State Council for Science & Technology
- Coordination of wetland conservation & management activities
- Awareness and capacity building activities
Key Forest Policies and Acts Governing Forests & Wildlife: - The Punjab Land Preservation (Chos) Act, 1900,
- The Indian Forest Act, 1927,
- The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972,
- Forest Conservation Act, 1980,
- The National Forest Policy, 1988,
- Participatory Forest Management Circular, 1990,
- Punjab Apportionment of Tree Rules, 2000,
- Joint Forest Management notification and guidelines, 2003, Govt. of Punjab,
- The Indian Forest (Punjab Amendment) Act, 2004,
- The Forest Rights Act, 2006 ,
- Punjab Regulation of Saw Mills and Veneer Plywood Rules, 2006
- The Draft Punjab Forest Policy, 2008,
- Punjab Ecotourism Policy, 2009,
- The Punjab Tented Accommodation Guidelines, 2010,
- Wetland Conservation and Management Rules, 2010.
Major Initiatives:
- Implementation of JICA sponsored afforestation project covering 29221 ha during 2007-09
- Integrated forest protection scheme for fire protection and other activities on regular basis
- Management of 17833 hactare area by formation of 1224 Village Forest Protection and Management Committees under JFM
- Creation of 14 ha of centralized nurseries and plantation of 133 ha forest area under Bamboo Mission
- Launching of “Green Punjab Mission” in 2012 with target of planting 40 crore saplings across Punjab in eight years (2012-2020) to increase forest cover in the state from the present 7% to 15% at an annual cost of Rs 180 crore.
- Plantation of major plant species in 70.35 sq.km area during 2011-12
- Accelerated programme of restoration and regeneration of forest cover through 15 territorial forest divisions and 650 JFM committees.
- Purchase of land for Compensatory Afforestation on account of non availability of degraded land in the state
- Identification of 50,000 ha institutional and 2.5 lac ha farm land for adopting suitable siliviculture and agroforestry practices.
- Plantation along roads in Malwa region to extend tree cover in the state
- Tree plantation drives through Nanhi Chhan initiative, religion supported campaigns, National Green Corps and National Environment Awareness Campaign