Reserved forests in India are rich sources of the diverse wildlife of the country. Reserved forests in India enjoy considerably a higher degree of security as compared to the protected forests of the country. It is because of the reason that reserved forests in India do not permit grazing or hunting in its confines while protected forests allow with some degree of constraints. The term reserved forest was first introduced in the Indian Forest Act, 1927, to refer to those forests granted defence by the government in British India. However, even after the independence of the country, the Government of India held the status of reserved forests as well as integrating new reserved forests. Thus, a large number of forests that came under the jurisdiction of the Indian Government during the political integration of the country were primarily granted such defence. All reserve forests in India, be it the mountainous terrain of the Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve or be it the green plains of Nandan Kanan Reserve Forest, are infused with the sense of adventure.
Features of Reserved Forests in India
Unlike the national parks or the wildlife sanctuaries of the country, the reserved forests as well as the protected forests in India are declared by respective state governments. However, protected forests and reserved forests differ significantly. Protected forests are basically of two types namely demarcated protected forests and un-demarcated protected forests. In reserved forests the rights to activities such as hunting and grazing are not allowed. The reserved forests carry a living indication to helping hands that have been forwarded by Indian environmentalists and keen animal lovers. Reserved forests in India are often raised to the status of wildlife sanctuaries, which in turn may be upgraded to the position of national parks. Like for instance, Sariska National Park was announced a reserved forest of India in the year 1955, later upgraded to the position of wildlife sanctuary in the year 1958, and eventually becoming a tiger reserve in the year 1978. It became a national park in the year 1992.
Bhavnagar Amreli Forest
Bhavnagar Amreli Forest, situated in the Amreli district of Gujarat, is an Indian reserve forest famed for conserving Asiatic lions. Being the pride of Gujarat, the lions of the state were shifted to this forest on the instructions of the Central Government.
Banni Grasslands Reserve
Banni Grasslands Reserve is a part of the arid grassland ecosystem on the southern edge of the desert of the marshy salt flats of Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. Spanning over an area of 3847 square kilometres, the forest is popular owing to its rich biodiversity of flora and fauna. According to the Wildlife Institute of India, it is enlisted amongst the last remaining habitats of the Cheetah in India. The land of the forest has been formed by the deposition of sediments by the Indus and other rivers over a period of about thousand years.
Chari-Dhand Wetland Conservation Reserve
Chari-Dhand Wetland Conservation Reserve is situated over the edge of arid Banni grasslands and the marshy salt flats of the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. It encompasses a seasonal desert wetland which during monsoons gets swampy. It spans over an area of 80 square kilometres and hosts a vast diversity of avian population including the migratory and endangered ones which flock around during winters and monsoon.
Jakanari Reserve Forest
Jakanari Reserve Forest is located in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. It houses the Forest College and Research Institute. It lies in the foothills of Jakanari mountain of Nilgris. However owing to the human activities, the forest has suffered major pollution and damage.
Kukrail Reserve Forest
Kukrail Reserve Forest lies in near Lucknow in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is famous for breeding crocodiles in a park where endangered species of crocodiles are especially bred. The centre was established in 1978 and was funded by Ministry of Environment and Forests and Uttar Pradesh Forest Department. Thus it plays an active role in the conservation of open river crocodiles of Uttar Pradesh.
Nanmangalam Reserve Forest
Nanmangalam Reserve Forest, located near Chennai in Tamil Nadu, spreads over an area of 320 hectares. It is a bird watcher`s delight and hosts a number of exotic birds like Pied Kingfisher, White-Breasted Kingfisher, Indian Eagle-Owl, Grey Partridge, Red-Wattled Lapwing and many more. Many rare territorial orchids are also found in the forest.
Vandalur Reserve Forest
Vandalur Reserve Forest in the suburb of Vandalur near Chennai in Tamil Nadu is a protected area which also hosts the largest zoological garden of the Indian subcontinent called Arignar Anna Zoological Park. The zoo also houses a rescue and rehabilitation centre for abandoned and confiscated wild animals. The zoo was opened to public 24th July 1985.
Other Reserved Forests in India
In addition to these, other reserve forests of India include Hanumasagara Reserve Forest, Begur Reserve Forest, Attappadi Reserve Forest, Sholayar Reserve Forest, Palani Hills Forest Conservation Area, Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve, Nandan Kanan Reserve Forest, New Amarambalam Reserved Forest and Annekal Reserved Forest.
