AS-IS STATUS REPORT - Pbforests.gov.in

Figure 1 Map of Punjab and its DistrictsBACKGROUND1 BACKGROUNDForests are a renewable resource and performproductive as well as protective functions.Apart from providing various products, forestsreduce soil erosion, regulate the flow of water,control floods, moderate climate, increaserainfall and enrich genetic reserve of flora andfauna. Forests play an important role inimproving the quality of environment.1.1 Forests in Punjab:With over 6% of the state‟s geographical areaas forests, substantial tracts of areas outsideforests where tree planting is taken up, and thelarger need to balance the requirements ofconservation and development in Punjab, theimportance of forests in the socio-economicdevelopment of Punjab cannot beoveremphasized. Forests in the state spanmany forest types including the Tropical DryDeciduous, Tropical Thorn and Sub-tropicalPine Forests, in addition to other specializedforest types. Additionally, wildlife areas takentogether with the forests, present a mosaic ofhabitat types in the state. Figure 1 brings out amap of the state with its main districts.1.2 Threats to the forests in PunjabPunjab is short of the national goal of having aminimum of one-third of the total land area ofthe country under forest or tree coverenunciated in the National Forest Policy, 1988.The obvious reason for the same is that most ofthe geographical area of the State is underagriculture. Concrete and sustained efforts arerequired to increase forest and tree cover inthe state significantly. Therefore, forestryactivities should not only be aimed atimproving the tree cover but also encouragingplantations on farmlands through agro/farmforestry in a big way.Multiplicity of ThreatsThe forest areas in Punjab are however, underserious threat due to a number of factors.Whereas prior to the 19 th century forests wereprotected by local rulers, vegetation coverstarted declining due to unrestricted fellingand over grazing when these areas weretransferred to villages. Subsequent enactmentof the Punjab Land Preservation Act, 1900provided power to the government totemporarily regulate, restrict or prohibitcertain activities in forest areas and take upreforestation and soil conservationprogrammes.High Anthropogenic Pressure on ForestsPoor enforcement of the Act has led todeterioration of forests in Punjab. Further,large displacement of population and its resettlementin the wake of partition of Punjabalso led to diversion of large tracts of forestareas for habitation and agriculture and causingland degradation in general. Forests in thestate are distinguished not just by their“patchy” nature, but also by the extent ofanthropogenic pressures being faced owing tothe dependence of large sections of thepopulation on the forests.To reduce this dependence, there is an urgentneed to take various measures like12