Guwahati, Aug 30: The Assam government plans to upgrade the Poba Reserve Forest to a Wildlife Sanctuary soon, Assam Environment and Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary informed the state assembly on Friday.
“Today, I am happy to announce that we are upgrading Poba Reserve Forest to a Wildlife Sanctuary soon. I have discussed the issue with our Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also. The Chief Minister always emphasizes the government’s commitment for the conservation and sustainable development of the state’s natural resources and biodiversity, and that this move marks another significant step in this direction.
“The new Poba Wildlife Sanctuary will encompass an area of 257.29 sq. km, including the Poba Reserve Forest, Kabu Chapri Proposed Reserve Forest, and the surrounding riverine areas,” Patowary said.
On July 14, 2020, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that Poba would be upgraded to a wildlife sanctuary due to the severe flood erosion.
In his short notice question, Pegu raised the demand for upgrading the Poba Reserve Forest into a Wildlife Sanctuary.
Patowary said the Poba Reserved Forest is located in a critically vulnerable geographic area under the Jonai subdivision of the Dhemaji district in Assam. The forest was created in 1924 and covers an area of 10,221 hectares. A rich rainforest in the Northeast, the abundance of flora and fauna has made Poba a biodiversity hotspot.
“The foothills of Arunachal Pradesh Himalayas lie to the north of the reserved forest, and towards east and south are the confluence of Rivers Siang, Dibang, and Lohit. The Poba Reserved Forest is also considered a vital elephant corridor that links the foothills of Arunachal Pradesh and Dibru Saikhowa National Park,” Patowary also said.
The Minister also said this forest is home to many big cat species like leopards, elephants, leopards, jungle cats, squirrels, slow loris, Assamese macaque, rhesus macaque, etc., and more than 200 species of birds, some of which are parrots, black-necked storks, large whistling teals, etc.
