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FOREST RESOURCES
OF BTC
The forest wealth in BTC is very rich in
terms of variety of species that are yet
to be inventoried and identified especially
those having medicinal and commercial value.
BTC has a recorded forest area of 3,53,994.95
Hectares, that is, 3539.95 sq. kms., most
of which is located along the international
boundary with Bhutan.
The entire northern belt of forest is situated
in Sub-Himalayan alluvial tract of a typical
formation known as "Bhabar tract"
characterized by low water table and deep
bouldery deposits with an underlying layer
of gravelly sand of varying degree of thickness
of overlying sandy looms with humus varying
from almost nil to 30cm.
The forest types available in BTC ranges
from Semi-Deciduous Forests in the west
with Sal as the dominant tree species to
broad leaved Wet Evergreen Forests in the
east including Khoir Sissoo and Riparian
Fringing Forests (riverian) showing typical
Riparian plant succession especially in
Jamduar, Kanamakraand Manas.
The Forest areas under Reserved Forest
(RF), Proposed Reserved Forest (PRF), Un-classed
State Forest (USF) and Protected Area (PA)
in BTC are as follows:
| 1. |
R.F. |
2,59,128.40 Ha. |
43 nos. |
| 2. |
P.R.F. |
27,407.75 Ha. |
19 nos. |
| 3. |
U.S.F. |
421.70 Ha. |
5 nos. |
| 4. |
P.A. |
67,037.00 Ha. |
8 nos. |
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Total: 3,53,994.95
Ha.=3539.95 Sq.Kms.
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For effective management and protection of
forests in BTC, the Forest Department is being
re- organized into the following Circles and
Divisions :-
1. Conservator of
Forest, Western Assam Circle :-
All the Territorial Forest Divisions are under
the control of the Conservator of Forest,
Western Assam Circle (CF,WAC), Kokrajhar.
The CF, WAC, has also been declared as the
Council Head of the Department of Forest,
BTC. The following are the Territorial Forest
Divisions:-
i) Kachugaon Forest Division
ii) Haltugaon Forest Division
iii) Parbatjhora ForestVivision (i.e.
Par/of Dhubri Division)
iv) Chirang Forest Division (i.e. Part
of Aie Valley Division)
v) Dhansiri Forest Division (i.e. Part
of Darrang & North Kamrup Division)
In addition to the above, two Social Forestry
Divisions are also under the control of the
CF, WAC, Kokrajhar. The Social Forestry Divisions
are :-
vi) Kokrajhar Social Forestry Division-
To cover the overlapping areas of whole Kokrajhar
and Chirang districts.
vii) Baksa Social Forestry Division -
To cover the overlapping areas of whole Baksa
and Udalguri districts. Further, the non-functional
Division viz, Working Plan cum Silviculture
Division with Hqr. at Kokrajhar will remain
under the Territorial Circle i.e. CF, WAC,
Kokrajhar.
2. Field Director, Manas Tiger Project
:- All the protected areas of BTC are
under the control of the Field Director, Manas
Tiger Project. The divisions under him are:-
| 1. |
Manas National Park |
Hqr.-Barpeta Road |
| 2. |
Orang National Park |
Hqr.-Mangaldoi |
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